{"id":108684,"date":"2020-01-09T08:34:27","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T08:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/?post_type=review&p=108684"},"modified":"2023-02-09T16:38:49","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T16:38:49","slug":"botnia-targa-25-1-gt-outboard-powered-boat","status":"publish","type":"review","link":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/reviews\/wheelhouse-walkaround\/botnia-targa-25-1-gt-outboard-powered-boat","title":{"rendered":"Botnia Targa 25.1 GT review: Outboard powered boat is built like a missile bunker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the dawn of Targa, Botnia<\/a> has been fitting its iconic commuter boats with single or twin inboard engines and sterndrives. It\u2019s the Targa formula and it\u2019s been working a treat for more than 30 years.<\/p>\n

Yet such is the clamour for outboard<\/a> propulsion that even Botnia has caved and fitted its Targa 25.1 with a pair of them in a first for the shipyard. It must have been an easy decision, no doubt customer pressure played a part but outboard technology is so good that it\u2019s a win-win, especially when you start with a blueprint as good as the Targa 25.1.<\/p>\n

Botnia being Botnia though, it hasn\u2019t just slapped the motors on the bathing platform and sent it off to market. The transom and aft end of the hull has been completely remodelled for the outboard version and the bathing platform split to give access down each side.<\/p>\n

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Botnia has modified the aft end of the hull to suit outboards. Photo: Richard Langdon<\/p><\/div>\n

Without wishing to be unkind it\u2019s not as if you can unbalance the aesthetic of a Targa so having the engines on the outside of the boat makes no real difference to the look and in fact they suit the boat\u2019s boxy styling rather well. They suit the hull well, too.<\/p>\n

The instantaneous power of petrol outboards means the Targa 25.1 GT shoots out of the hole like a startled ferret, reaching 30 knots in just 10.8 seconds and topping out at 44 knots soon after. It\u2019s quiet, too. Our sound readings appear quite high but that\u2019s nothing to do with the engines and more likely to do with the booming and rushing of water on the hull.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to forget that the Targa 25.1 is just 27ft 5in (8.4m) long; its solid build and workmanlike decks making it feel larger than it is. It\u2019s a small boat though and weighs just 3.5 tonnes so you can\u2019t bash the waves aside in the nonchalant manner of larger Botnia models.<\/p>\n

The hull can take it because the boat is built like a missile bunker but the ride can be hard so it comes down to what the passengers can take as they\u2019re far more likely to give in before the boat.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve not tested the standard Targa 25.1 but the GT has a tendency to porpoise so attention needs to be paid to getting the outboard tilt and trim tabs in the correct position to level out the running attitude, something that would be easier if Botnia fitted trim gauges and not just rocker switches for the tabs.<\/p>\n

A rudder indicator would be helpful too, given how much of a stretch it is to see the outboards from the helm when berthing. The rest of the dashboard is pure Targa simplicity and hard to fault. You miss a bolster action on the seat, especially given that the wheel and throttles tilt on a panel through four different angles so you can stand and drive the boat if you wish.<\/p>\n

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The teak dashboard looks great and feels built to last. Typical Targa. Photo: Richard Langdon<\/p><\/div>\n

Practicality is not an issue and there\u2019s a bonus on the GT because the lack of an inboard engine means the space where it usually is becomes a vast storage void, easily accessed via a gas-powered hatch in the aft deck.<\/p>\n

The familiar forward cockpit is also decked out with storage options, including a bespoke slot for the table, and though the \u201coutdoor\u201d heads, accessed via a door in the front of the wheelhouse isn\u2019t that practical in the middle of the night, it\u2019s great in the day and a decent size.<\/p>\n

Accommodation comes in the form of a pair of pipe berths that stretch back beneath the cockpit. It\u2019s not luxurious but it\u2019s comfortable enough and there\u2019s adequate storage for extended stays on board.<\/p>\n

The addition of outboards does nothing to water down the tough appeal of the Targa and \u2013 this is meant as a compliment \u2013 the feeling is unremarkable. In that it feels like a natural pairing, big outboards and the Targa.<\/p>\n

Botnia will fit any brand and size of twin outboards you want within reason but these 200hp Mercs are a fine match providing smooth performance and a decent range at fast speeds. The ability to cover 150nm (with a 20% fuel reserve) at 32 knots is quite something.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since the dawn of Targa, Botnia has been fitting its iconic commuter boats with single or twin inboard engines and sterndrives. It\u2019s the Targa formula and it\u2019s been working a treat for more than 30 years. Yet such is the clamour for outboard propulsion that even Botnia has caved and fitted its Targa 25.1 with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":407,"featured_media":108681,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[1620],"review_manufacturer":[68],"review_category":[46],"review_type":[],"review_award":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review\/108684"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/review"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/407"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108684"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review\/108684\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":125061,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review\/108684\/revisions\/125061"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108684"},{"taxonomy":"review_manufacturer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_manufacturer?post=108684"},{"taxonomy":"review_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_category?post=108684"},{"taxonomy":"review_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_type?post=108684"},{"taxonomy":"review_award","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_award?post=108684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}