My new targa.

[Saintly Fish]

Tell us Gordmac.

[Gordmac]

Great boat, steep learning curve!

Arrived at Dunstaffanage Monday to a fairly miserable day, quite wet and windy. For reasons not unrelated to the low tide we were hanging about for about five hours before launch. Yard guy had to show me how to unlock the electronic control before I could lower the outdrive, like I said, steep learning curve!

Staggered along towards the fuel berth, straight line, what is that? No idea which way outdrive is pointing and steering has about double the turns my old boat had. Boat on pontoon so tried parking elsewhere with no success, outdrive is quite different to twin shafts! Nearly made it on umpteenth attempt but had to move as the boat belonging to the berth arrived. Eventually put it in on the inside of the fuel berth as a large boat was being refuelled, something like 1500l I think, ouch! 

Eventually got fuel and headed home, a bit choppy due to the wind but boat coped fine (not sure about crew though!) low 20kn. Bit smoother turning North and got a lot calmer after a few miles, sat about 25kn easy enough and very quiet. By the time we got home wind was well down and it had stopped raining, just the weather we would have liked earlier!. 

Put on club pontoon easy enough and easier to get off than old boat would have been, not so hard with little wind! Picked up tender and put on mooring, relieved to find the mooring strop would actually fit!

Spent the last few days reading the instructions! There is a rudder position indicator on the autopilot, that is very useful. Went over the boat, only thing I can find not working is the shower drain pump. Went through all the menus on the plotter sounder, even got the radar working, no idea what it shows, but it works!

There is a frame at the forward cockpit and lots of canvas bits that sort of fit with it, only two bits I have no idea about! I need to refit the wheelhouse table and there are two smaller tables for the forward cockpit.

Been messing about with outdrive trim and trim tabs. Bit windy Friday so spent a while pontoon bashing, slowly getting the hang of it! Most difficult thing for me is no steering unless in drive, rudders on last boat worked well in neutral so you could go slowly and steer. The Targa picks up speed quickly when put in gear.

I am impressed how easily it will travel quickly in a bit of a chop and it is so quiet, quieter than a car. The side doors and wide walk around bits are good for getting out to the ropes quickly. Rear door is useful but not necessary. Bags of space outside. High bow and bow flare hinders visibility a bit particularly when going for the mooring buoy. Will go for another play today and maybe a bit of fishing Monday.

Will stick up some pics later.

 

 

[Andy135]

Good write up. Sounds like there's bit to learn but good that you're getting the hang of it. 👍

[Saintly Fish]

Nice one Gord, sounds like you picked up a goodie just in time for the summer to actually start. Mind you, with a boat like that who needs summer?? 
I in particular look forward to hearing about your targa adventures. Mainly because I would love one, but they just don’t fit for my family life style. 
Enjoy!

[Gordmac]

Thanks.

[Gordmac]

First go at fishing from her a day or two ago with my cousin. Side decks and forward cockpit make it easier and more versatile. No Mackerel about yet but got three large frying pan sized Lythe (Pollack) and kept a couple of frying pan sized codling. Dinner for four and a bit left over!

 

 

[Saintly Fish]

Very nice Gord, the scenery looks amazing where you are! 
but where are the fish? 

[Geoff]

Great boat and location pics. Geoff.

[Gordmac]

Thanks.

Mine is the fishing version (Tarfish) of the Targa 27 so a bit smaller than that one, more basic inside and no flybridge. But a lot cheaper!

 

 

[Gordmac]

Some pics of arrival:

 

[Gordmac]

Thought I might add a bit to this.

Now ashore for the winter, I covered almost 500 nautical miles without actually going anywhere! Average consumption about 1.5L/m. Initially sat about 22kn but later about 27kn as the boat feels happier at that speed. Fantastic boat, if anyone is considering one go for it. Hard to imagine something better except maybe a bigger one!

We went out fishing fairly often but not venturing far away, normally with my cousin but his sister started coming with us and I think she is now hooked! Caught a fair number of Mackerel, they make good fishcakes for the winter. Quite a few what we refer to as Lythe (Pollack) and some Codling. I also got what I think was a small Scorpion fish, never saw one before. Too busy not touching it whilst unhooking for a picture!

We would normally get fewer Lythe but more small Cuddies (Coalfish) but never saw a cuddy this year for some reason. Aunt was disappointed, she loves them!

 

 

 

 

[Gordmac]

This would be the biggest, size 9 feet for comparison.

A few close to that size. 

Was away a couple of times for trips on a friend's BT 35. Put a pot down in Port Ellen, Islay.

We get prawns rather than lobster here. I don't like shellfish though.

 

[Andy135]

Some great catches and pics there Gord. Sounds like the new boat is working out well for you 👍

[Gordmac]

[Saintly Fish]

Nice one Gord. The BT is truly an epic boat. I had the chance to helm a BT31 in the summer and it was most impressive! 

[Odyssey]

Looking good 🙂 glad you’re enjoying. 
 

(stunning scenery by the way 🙂 )

[willyhookit]

Cracking  Boat  You have       you need to Freeze  a few  Cole fish   and save them for  Skate fishing    might see you around as ill be up  in Oban come  April / May    time  Launch out the Dive Center   usually have  a  short blast  round  the back of Karkera    not sure of the Spelling    had  Skate   to 225LBS      we had 17  in two days fishing         Tight lines Alain 

 

[willyhookit]

[willyhookit]

this is my warrior 175    moored up at the Oban Dive Center   i use a  3 m  Inflatable  as a Tender     

 

[Gordmac]

Lot of skate, 225lb a big fish!