Fairline Targa 65 GT (2020-)

The Fairline Targa 65 GT was designed with both young and old at heart. Whether embarking upon a couples retreat for a night with your best friends or entertaining the kids and the in-laws, she’ll accommodate. Thanks to her 1,092-gallon (4,134 L) fuel capacity, she’s a serious cruiser.

• Power glazed run roof
• F-drive (Fairline multi-function glass bridge)
• Four cabin layout plus crew
• Full beam
• Galley up and aft arrangements
• Seakeeper gyro stabilizer

Alberto Mancini was born and raised in Trieste, Italy where at a young age, he was exposed to the diverse Latin and Germanic culture that defines the city. Being called the “Vienna by the Sea,” his nautical passion began here. He studied at the European Design Institute of Torino, Italy, where Mancini began his collaboration with some of the top naval architects and designers.

The Challenge and Solution. Clients often want to experience bigger spaces. Mancini found this to be a challenge on fiberglass production yachts. So, through maximizing glass usage and increasing the wood gloss to a higher than normal finish, he blends it all with strategically placed lighting to create open transparency throughout the boat. Mancini also found that more loose furniture adds to this experience and thus creates a flexible atmosphere. We also see the beautiful use of dark and light to create that warm and cozy, yet open and airy feel to his design.

Swim Platform

Beginning in the aft section, our test boat was outfitted with the optional hydraulic teak-laid swim platform. We find this excellent for extending the entertainment space of the aft deck, along with the addition of a flip-down bench seat. As the platform is fully submersible, it provides an easy way to access the water and the retractable swim ladder.

Moving forward, the aft deck is accessible to port and starboard via a staircase. The main attraction is the C-shaped sofa complete with a table. Two stools to port provide an additional seating area. Off to starboard, there’s an outdoor galley.

Side Decks

With the galley aft, it remains central to the gathering areas of the main deck. Here was can see how Mancini uses a C-shaped design to open and maximize this space. With a standup refrigerator, four-burner Bosch induction cooktop, optional microwave and dishwasher plus plenty of storage space beneath, it’s easy to imagine how this could function as a main bar and integral entertainment area.

The salon is forward and combines dark wood, trim and white vinyl upholstered bulkheads. American white oak decking continues, while the trim is a combination of American black walnut and stylized high gloss ebony Maccasa panels between the windows. Again, Mancini makes use of a floating sofa to starboard and opposing seating, which consists of a sofa to starboard and a U-shaped settee to port.

The helm is starboard mounted and includes a soft-touch dash with no glare effect. The main attraction is the f-Drive, Fairline’s multi-function glass bridge comprised of triple 15” (38.10 cm) displays flanked by welcomed climate control vents. These units are tied into the boat’s full engine instrumentation – tachometers, fuel gauges, temperature gauges, audible alarms and rudder position indicator. A lower panel houses two stainless beverage holders just below each of the vents. Immediately off to the right side of the helm, we have our port and starboard electronic single-lever throttle and gear controls.

Note that the decking is laid on cork so it’s not only easy on the feet but it’s also quiet. We measured just over 76 decibels at the helm going full throttle.

The focus of this stateroom is the 79” x 58” (200.66 cm x 147.32 cm) berth mounted on the centerline, thus minimizing motion. It has a sprung mattress. There are climate and lighting controls off to the side of the berth, along with soft-close pullout drawers. To port there’s counter space with storage drawers below and two lamps atop. Hull side windows are to port and starboard. Right below is a soundbar.

Fairline put a lot of thought into sound reduction here. The bulkhead between the engine room and the master head has been infused with a sandwich of several sound-deadening materials, which is 5.4” (128 mm) in total thickness.

A ladder leads down below into the Targa 65 GT’s engine room. Just aft are the two main 1150-hp CAT C18s that are housed atop vibration absorbing engine mounts. The engines use straight shafts and dripless shaft seals. Engine sea strainers are located to either side and are very accessible. To the outside of each engine are two 618-gallon (1,236 gallons/4,679 L combined) fuel tanks, thus restricting access.

The engine room has a fixed firefighting system that automatically, in case of fire, shuts down the engines and closes. Between the blowers are the combination fuel filters and water separators: two for each engine. The water heater with coolant bottles are to the sides. The port fuel tank feeds the port engine, starboard feeds the starboard main, and the generator.

Aft and to port are the dual 48,000 BTU air conditioner chillers.

Note that on the other side of this bulkhead is the master bathroom. Fairline has put in a sandwich of several sound deadening and absorption materials that are over 5.4” (13.72 cm). At full throttle, we recorded only 78.3 decibels in the stateroom, which is a remarkable reduction in noise.

With an empty weight of 74,957 lbs. (34,000 kg), 70-percent fuel and six people onboard, we had an estimated test weight of 82,125 lbs. (37,251 kg). With a pair of twin CAT C18s (1150-hp each) turning twin (38x49 each) 5-bladed props on straight shafts, we reached a top speed of 30.2 knots at 2300 rpm and a best cruising speed of 16.1 knots at 1500 rpm.

In acceleration tests, we reached planing speed in an average of 7.8 seconds and hit 20 mph in 9.2 seconds. We found the Targa 65 GT to be quite responsive, heeling roughly 15-degrees into turns.

• 3 or 4-cabin layout
• Large hydraulic, remote control swim platform
• Passerelle
• Galley refrigeration units
• Aft hydraulic canopy
• Twin Caterpillar C18 shaft drive, diesel (1,150-hp each) or twin MAN v8 1200 shaft drive, diesel (1,200-hp each)

The price is in the ballpark of $3.6 million.

The 65 is a very important boat for Fairline. With it, they are putting both consumers and their competitors on notice that there is a potent new player in the rarified atmosphere of 60-something plus motoryachts. More models are on the way.

The Targa 65 GT is an impressive result of blending together the triumvirate of Vripack for the naval architecture and engineering, Alberto Mancini for the Italian styling and panache both inside and out, and the in-house design team at Fairline. Unsung but equally important are the shop personnel who have crafted a vessel with a fine fit-and-finish from bow to stern. We suspect that there is new esprit de corps among the small army of people that build this boat.