FAIRLINE TARGA 45GT
LOA 46ft 6in BEAM 14ft 2in (4.32m) DRAFT 3ft 10in (1.17m) FUEL 438 litres ENGINES Twin 440hp Volvo Penta IPS600 - 650 MAX SPEED 33 knots PRICE FROM £564,000 ex VAT CONTACT www.fairline.com
We wouldn’t normally get too excited about a new model variation but the GT version of the Targa 45 really seemed to capture people’s imagination at Düsseldorf. The yard sold over £13m worth of boats at the show, with the new 45 GT taking a good chunk of that.
Perhaps that’s because not many of Fairline’s rivals make a 45ft sportscruiser with a fully enclosed deck saloon, presumably because it’s tricky to find the right balance between inside and outside space while still making it look half decent. Fairline seems to have nailed it, retaining the Open model’s good looks but adding the comfort and convenience of a deck saloon that you can slide shut without the hassle of canopies and covers. It even has the option of a third bunk cabin for families.
It all seems to work even better than expected with few of the compromises you might expect of a boat this size. There is still enough room for a tender garage under the cockpit (designed to house a Williams Minijet) while the cockpit itself has space for a goodsized dinette and a wet bar with grill opposite so that any barbecuing can be done outside. Sliding doors give access to the saloon on the starboard side matched by a lift-up window to port creating a single big opening that links the inside and outside spaces. A large powered sunroof over the helm completes the transformation, giving an open feel under way.
Below decks it’s business as usual with a small galley opposite a lower dinette or the bunk cabin. The other two cabins both have their own bathrooms, albeit with access to the forward VIP’S heads from the saloon for day guests. Volvo IPS power provides plenty of shove with a top speed of 33 knots. In fact, it all works so well that unless you want a completely open cockpit the GT may well become the default choice.