boat report

Motor Boats MonthlyDecember 2011

Botnia Targa 32
It’s safe, it’s practical and it goes like a rocket.
Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of theTarga, now with added luxury REPORT BY MARK TURLEY

The brief...
All good things mustcome to an end, but when
I heard that Botnia wasto withdraw its superb
Targa 31, I felt a senseof deep personal loss.
Moreover, the fear is thatby trying to make a great boat better, youeither lose the original character or blow thebudget. I should have had more faith. MarkLOA: 35ft 4in (10.78m)
PRICE: from £221,000
TOP SPEED: 36 knots
BUILDERS: Botnia Targa
ENQUIRIES Tel: 01202 700702
www.wessexmarine.co.uk

30Targas may not be the sleekest,
most handsome boats in theworld, but to know them is to love
them. Aside from the tough build
and super-safe decks, there is theperformance and sea-kindliness – it almost
makes the boat’s uniquely boxy looks a pointof honour. These belt and braces facts aside,
no one we’ve ever met has knocked thecosiness of the teak-clad wheelhousescomplete with an exceptional view out.
Another slightly more peculiar trait is theonboard aroma that a Targa seems to produce.
Scent is, apparently, one of the strongest
elements at work when we choose a partner.
This one mixes the richness of a walk-in
humidor with the woody fragrance of Swedish
sauna into a sort of catnip for men, but notnecessarily women. The fairer sex has, if therumours are to be believed, not always been

December 2011

BOAT REPORTBOTNIA TARGA 32

PHOTOS: WILLIAM PAYNE

Scan the QR code
to watch theTarga 32 inactionenamoured by some of the Targa traits, suchas the 31’s slide-out toilet which, as any Targa
27 owner will tell you, is pure luxury comparedto their outside loo.
Later and larger Targas have sought to deliver
more luxury, though, and the 32 continues
this theme with more interior space andcomfort. So, ladies, the good news is thatyou can now use the toilet without having tofirst build it. The bad news is that the plaintive

motorboatsmonthly.com

but plausible arguments you have used as towhy the man in your life can’t have the boathe wants are no longer valid.

Design and build
The new deep-vee hull is longer than the 31’s
with the same angled transom as that seen on
the Targa 42/44. The real win for on-board
space, though, is its extra beam, which allows

the wheelhouse to breath out while still
delivering the usual enormous Targa
walkaround decks. These are protected bydeep gunwales and chunky wood-topped rails,
with access either side through breaks in theguardrails or over the easily negotiatedbathing platform.
Sharp-eyed Targa spotters will notice thatthe new hull’s transom has a wideuser-friendly double gate and that there>>31

BOAT REPORTBOTNIA TARGA 32
is more attention to the seating in and aroundthis aft cockpit area. The seat lockers on either
quarter are more generous and there is a neatdrop-down section to the bench that runs
across the rear of the wheelhouse. Topping off
the back of the wheelhouse is Targa’s adrenalin
central, otherwise known as the outside helm
position. The 2+1 seat arrangement might looka tad exposed, but once you’re installed you
feel well protected behind the solid coamings.
The actual look of the superstructure has
been given a facelift, with several softening
nips and tucks; its sides cant in ever so slightly
and while the window line still gives a greatview out, it has had its sharp corners knocked
off. To non-Targa aficionados these details
are pretty minor, but the overall effect gives
a cleaner, smarter, more contemporary look –adding some pleasing aesthetics but without
losing the practical benefits.
Inside the wheelhouse, configuration follows
the traditional Targa layout, with sliding doorseither side and an L-shaped dinette to port. But
because of the extra width, there is now a full
double co-pilot seat by the port hand door, theseat back flipping over to make the L of seating
behind into a more sociable U-shape.
Ahead of the co-pilot seat, tucked under theteak console area beneath the screen, is thegalley unit with a two-burner gas hob andsensibly sized sink. Beneath these is a double
stack of all-wood drawers and cupboards,
and just so there is absolutely no chance ofrunning out of storage, the same treatment
is given to the seat plinth.
The one thing you do end up rather light on
is countertop, the only surface to hand being
the closed hatch to the fore cabin. However,mind where you pour the soup as the hatch
lid incorporates a series of tidily built-in
compartments for charts, pencils andmiscellaneous bits and pieces.
In just the same way as its predecessor, the32 has two cabins. But rather than the almost
straight drop down from the wheelhouse andlimited standing room, the new model
abandons the 31’s abseil access and is far more
spacious, with masses of headroom. The extra
space is down to a larger bulkier coachroofthat pushes into the forward cockpit. On deck
the only real side effect is that you have to
make do with moulded seating on three sides
rather than the 31’s four.
The aft cabin enjoys an even more luxurious
makeover. A double berth to one side of thewell – formed by the dinette above – is joinedby a single to starboard. With decent sitting
headroom above both berths, the single
could be used as a settee, giving the aftcabin a master feel. Arguably the biggest
improvement is to the toilet compartment.
Sure, it still has to be accessed via the aft cabin,making it inconvenient for sharing couples. But
it is now a decent size and smartly turned out
with an electric toilet as standard.

32

CURVACEOUS CABINETRY

FORWARD CABINIMPROVED HEADSAFT CABINInterior
Small changes,
big difference

Mouldings and linings make more of an
appearance on the 32 than the 31, but
the yard has stuck to traditional and very
warm teak joinery for the bulk of the fitout.
THREE BERTHS AFTDecember 2011

WHEELHOUSEShock, horror… it has even worked in a good few
curves to the cabinetry, softening the on-board
aesthetics. It’s worth noting that aside from thestyle all this hard-wearing timber delivers, it
makes for a solid, sound-absorbing ride too.
The galley is out of sight until wanted and you
can’t believe the number of drawers, cupboards
and assorted cubby-holes they incorporate
here and around the wheelhouse. A good-sized
fridge is housed beneath the helm seat and there
GALLEY

is a neat drinks locker behind.
Stowage in the two cabins is lessimpressive and Targa seems to haverealised this a little too late, with two
hastily cut lockers in the forwardcabin. Ultimately, you now have two
cabins you will want to spend timein and, while the aft cabin toilet isstill an issue, overall it is a far morecrew-friendly interior.
WHEELHOUSE SALOONFRIDGE>>
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33

“It planes soeasily and once
you open thethrottles, it clips
along effortlessly”“Once you open
the throttles, it clips
along so effortlessly”
Performance & handlingTarga’s ability to deliver mind-bogglingly goodhulls is the stuff of legend and, like all goodlegends, it comes with a hint of mystery. The
deep vee, sterndriven hull looks pretty
orthodox, while the superstructure with all
its top-hamper should make even the mostconservative of hulls a little tender andsensitive, especially if you add three people’s
bodyweight up at the outer helm to theequation. But, of course, it doesn’t and this newhull shares all the great attributes that Targasavvy folk know and love.
First off, it planes so easily and once you openthe throttles, it clips along so effortlessly thatthe only way of knowing whether you aredoing 30 knots and not 20 is to a glance at theGPS. For that matter, you might not even knowthat you are indeed launching the boat over
the waves; we certainly didn’t. OK, it wasn’t
particularly rough during our trials, but there
was a steady metre-plus sea running with34

some underlying rollers to look out for. Whileplenty of 30ft craft could cut a dash throughsuch conditions, the enthusiasm to maintain
30 knots or so would fade fairly quickly. On theTarga 32, the overriding feeling was to push
on and take this lumpy head sea flat-out at
36 knots. At this speed our six-tonne two-cabin
cruiser performed as if enjoying a flat, calm sea.
The handling is always precise and predictable
and if you really want to up the comfort levels,
just helm from the whisper-quiet wheelhouse,
where the view out remains excellent.
If we haven’t got you excited enough, justremember this: the boat we sea-trialled had apair of 260hp D4 units, but the standard set-up
is more likely to run to 300hp D4s. Not enough?
Then how about a pair of D6s at 400hp apiecedelivering in the realms of 45 knots? Given
Volvo’s recommended continuous rating of3100rpm, that gives you a nice, sensible 40
knot cruising speed for your nice, sensible Targa.

December 2011

BOAT REPORTBOTNIA TARGA 32

Exterior

FORWARD COCKPIT

Totally protectedsidedecks make the 32
the ultimate walkaround
Extending the forward coachroof has
reduced the forward cockpit in size, but it
is still a great spot with plenty of seating.
An optional teak table stows in one of thecavernous seat lockers. Lots of practical
Targa features come as standard, with vastand easy-to-use 16in sidedecks, loads ofhandholds and plentiful stowage, including
the wine-rack type fender slots under theoutside helm. In the aft cockpit, the sidelockers double as seats along witha flip-up bench.

AFT COCKPIT SEAT

From the helm

EXTERIOR

Outside for fun, inside for calm

In just the same way as its predecessor, the 31, the 32 comes with an outside helm
position as well as a wheelhouse one. The latter is so well protected and the visibility sounimpeded that it is easy to use this on all but the sunniest days. But that would bea mistake because up top is where you really get to understand and enjoy the full-fat
Targa experience. It might appear a bit of a perch, but you’re actually sat well down inthe boat with the bulk of the wheelhouse in front and solid coamings to the sides. Theconsole area on the 32 has been increased over the 31’s, but the helm and two-person
passenger-seat arrangement is the same, as is the stainless radar arch and mast. Our
only slight criticism is that thesteering wheel is a bit upright andan adjustable one would be
preferable. However, when it comesto the interior helm, it is not just thewheel that can be angled but half
the dash, so that the key throttle,
trim tab and wiper controls all drop
to hand if you are seated, or canbe flipped more upright once theskipper wants to stand. Both helms
have room for all the usualelectronics and larger items caneither be bracket mounted or,if desired, an extra tie of teakconsole can be added to theINTERIOR
interior console.

motorboatsmonthly.com>>35

BOAT REPORTEngine bay

BOTNIA TARGA 32

Specification & value
Targas might not be cheap but it is easy to see
where your money goes: solid hull, solid fitout,
solid engineering, solid, solid, solid… and wellfinished too, with loads of practical details. The
initial fear that the 32 would be priced way overwhat you would have paid previously for the 31
has been allayed; helped to some degree byaggressive pricing from Targa’s UK dealer
Wessex Marine in Poole. That said, you’re still
looking at the thick end of £250k as the starting
price for a twin-engined example and to thisyou need to add several items that one might
consider as being standard – shorepower andcharger, windlass and a bow thruster. The list
moves into downright picky territory, thenwith gas struts for the engine hatches and thetopside ports in the midships cabin. Back on
the plus side, the standard inventory includes
warm air blowers for the windscreen, theelectric toilet, trim tabs and Targa’s signature
remote spotlight fixed to the wheelhouse top.

Technical data
KEY DIMENSIONS

BUILD
GRP
RCD
B
LENGTH OVERALL
35ft 4in (10.78m)
HULL LENGTH
32ft 2in (9.82m)
BEAM
11ft 1in (3.37m)
DRAUGHT2ft 10in (0.85m)
DISPLACEMENT
6300kgs
FUEL CAPACITY
176gal (800lt)
WATER CAPACITY
26gal (120lt)
WIDTH OF SIDE DECKS
16in (40cm)
HEADROOM IN SALOON
6ft 6in (1.98m)
FORECABIN BERTHS 6ft 8in x 2ft 4in (2.03 x 0.71m)
MID CABIN BERTH
6ft 8in x 4ft 6in (2.03 x 1.37m)

The yard’s standard ofengineering has neverbeen in doubt, but now
they have upped the ante
again while ensuring
everything around theboat and in the engine bay
is accessible. The engines,
in this instance a pair ofVolvo D4-260s, are tucked
below two manageablesized hatches in the rear
cockpit. At first glance theylook hidden by thetransom’s sloping counter,but once down in thecompartment service
points can be readily got
at and most of it hassound insulation.
As well as the various twin
engine options, a single
D6-400 is also offered,maximising on engine bay
space as well as
ownership economy.

752575SCORE

THE VERDICT

100

Worth the wait? Definitely. Sharper, smarter and more
accommodating than the 31, this new 32 takes Targa’s 30ft
offering into full luxury cruiser mode for the first time.
And as an open-water performer, when it comes to speed,
sea-kindliness and comfort, it sets the benchmark.

7592%
2550

Meet the family

PERFORMANCE
Engines
Configuration
conditions
Load
RPM KNOTS
2300 20.2
2500 23.4
3000 29.53200 32.6
3500 36.4

twin Volvo D4-260 diesels
4cyl, 3.7lt, 260hp at 3500rpm
wind W Force 3/4, sea slightfuel 75%, water 50%, crew 2
GPH LPH MPG RANGE NOISE
7.5 34 2.69 380
70
9.7 44 2.41
340
71
15.0 68 1.97
277
73
17.8 81 1.83
258
73
22.9 104 1.56
224
74

Range figures quoted above are in miles based onstandard fuel tanks and include a 20% margin. GPH &MPG refer to imperial gallons. These figures may vary due
to weather conditions, air, water, engine temperature,crew numbers, hull fouling, fuel quality and other issues.
Noise readings in dB(A) were taken in the wheelhouse

BIGGER
Targa 35 Price from £317,200LOA 38ft 6in (11.76m)
More elbow room, with the same two-cabinlayout as the 32. Access to the head is via theaft cabin. Extended flybridge version is available.

SMALLER
Targa 27.1 Price from £134,130

LOA 29ft 2in (8.90m)
One cabin, but tighter wheelhouse layout.
Redesign allows the head to be accessedfrom the wheelhouse rather than the cockpit.

The rivals

PRICES
STANDARD BOAT
with twin Volvo D4-260s
BOW THRUSTERHEATING
ELECTRIC WINDLASSSHOREPOWER & CHARGER
COCKPIT TEAK & SEATINGDELIVERY & COMMISSIONINGBOAT AS TESTEDinc VAT£245,390£6,700£3,575£5,270£2,230£2,390£5,630£274,600

Base price includes shipping to UK and commissioning.

36

Minor Offshore 31 from £192,000

Paragon 31 from £215,000

LOA 31ft 10in (9.73m)
Plusher walkaround wheelhouse model. Twocabins but no outside helm position. Wheelhouse opens up thanks to a large sunroof.

LOA 32ft 6in (9.91m)
Wheelhouse design doesn’t come more
exciting than this. Two cabins, the forward
one also houses the galley.

December 2011

SCORE