Marex 310 Fairline Targa 53 Open

The Marex 310 was so fresh out of the factory when it arrived at Mayflower Park it was practically warm to the touch, but the effort from the Norwegian yard was well worth it because this has proven to be a very popular little boat. It’s essentially a scaled-down version of the 375, which has been out for some time now, but combines a winning formula of spacious cockpit, comfy sleeping spaces and practical detailing.

The 310 is much the same, just smaller. That said, you would have no idea it was 31ft long once on board. The key to the feeling of space is a very clever oversized companionway hatch, which ensures that masses of natural light can pour down on to the lower deck. The front section drops down into the deck and the sliding section stretches nearly as far forward as the windscreen, making for a gigantic aperture.

There’s a practical galley to port with two cabins sharing a decent bathroom opposite. The forward cabin has an angled double berth to maximise floor space and the midships cabin, though tight over the bed, has standing headroom to change by the door and an impressive amount of storage too.

The boat at the show had a single Volvo Penta D6-370hp on a sterndrive – good for around 35 knots, but there is also a 300hp option. The slippery sterndrive should make for meagre fuel consumption, plenty of fun out on the water and surprisingly attractive pricing for such a classy Scandinavian craft.