British luxury boat builder Fairline has announced plans to launch an the Targa 53 Open, an open version of the Targa 53GT that will only make its debut at the Southampton Boat Show. If it sounds like Fairline’s jumping the gun with the announcement of an off-shoot model from another model that hasn’t been introduced yet, it’s because it is a case of that. Still, there’s been a lot of excitement surrounding the arrival of the Targa 53GT so it appears that Fairline’s merely trying to leverage the hype by announcing an open version of the boat.
According to the company, the 53 Open will use the same hull and power trains as the enclosed saloon version. It will receive a large, peeled-back sunroof that allows passengers to bask in the heat of the sun. The deck layout of the boat will be divided in such a way that it creates enough space for a dining section, forward-facing seats in the front, a slab of sundae aft just atop the tender garage.
Prospective customers of the boat will also be given a chance to choose between two or three cabins. It’s Fairline’s way of inviting would-be clients to personalise the cabins as they see fit.
The 53 Open will be powered by two different shaft-driven engine options: Volvo and Cummins. Specific details of these engines will be unveiled during the 53GT’s debut at the Southampton Boat Show but as early as now, Fairline is estimating that the 53 Open will be able to reach a fully loaded top speed of 30 knots on account of its lighter weight than its enclosed counterpart.
Likewise, pricing details of the two boats are being kept under wraps for the time being. What’s expected is that the 53 Open will be made available beginning in the spring of 2016.
Continue reading to learn more about the Fairline Targa 53 Open.
Why it matters
It’s an exciting time to be Fairline these days. The British brand is arguably at the peak of its powers so it’s understandable why it’s going all out with the announcement of the Targa 53 Open. I’ve been in one of Fairline’s older yachts in the past and I can attest to the top-class craftsmanship of its boats. Every thing about the company is world-class and its products have done their work in establishing that.
That's a big reason why I'm so excited for the Targa 53GT. The boat has all the makings of another high-quality creation from Airline so I expect the 53 Open to be the same. It’s a shame that Fairline isn’t debuting both models at the same time, but as far as having the cache to do what it wants when it wants to, I’d say that Fairline has earned the right to host two separate debuts for its two new models.
I just wish that Fairline has more details about the 53 Open so we won’t have to spend a lot of time speculating on what kind of amenities it’s going to have. I hope there’s at least a sneak peek at the Southampton Boat Show. That’s not too much to ask.