Fairline Targa 31, an Early-1990s Sports Cruiser for Sale

The Fairline Targa 31 sits between two famous Targas

The Fairline Targa 31 is an early-1990s member of the Targa family, younger than the original 1984 Targa 33 and older than the 1997 range that Fairline's website listed as 48, 39, 37, 34 and 29. It is a 30-foot 10-inch open sports cruiser with twin Volvo Penta sterndrives, a radar arch and a teak-laid bathing platform.

Fairline published very little about it online, and neither the builder nor the magazines we checked give production years or a build count. The boats we found for sale were 1992 hulls, plus one Italian listing dated 1998. Because the 31 does not appear in Fairline's 1997 lineup, treat any later date with suspicion and check the hull identification number.

That lack of documentation is the main thing to understand about buying one. You are buying an individual 30-plus-year-old boat, and its survey and invoices matter far more than any brochure figure.

An open-plan forward saloon and a double mid cabin

A detailed 1992 listing from Plymouth describes the layout well. Forward is a U-shaped settee and table that converts into a double berth. The galley is an L-shape to starboard with a stainless sink, pressurized hot and cold water, a 12/240-volt fridge and a two-burner gas cooker with oven and grill. The heads compartment is to port with a marine toilet, shower and basin, and a holding tank was fitted.

Aft, under the cockpit, a large mid cabin has a double berth, a hanging locker and an opening port. Another listing describes the aft cabin with two single berths and an infill that turns them into a double. Either way the boat sleeps four, two in the mid cabin and two on the converted dinette.

This is the same idea as the very first Targa 33s, before Fairline's Touring layout added a separate bow cabin. It suits couples who use the boat mostly by day and sleep aboard occasionally.

A cockpit laid out for six

On deck the helm is to starboard with a bench seat and a chart table, facing an L-shaped settee to port. A sink unit with storage sits between them and the aft U-shaped settee, whose table drops to make a sunbed. A transom door leads to the integral teak-laid bathing platform with a hot and cold shower and a ladder.

Listings mention a radar arch, a stainless pulpit with guard and grab rails, an electric windlass and a full cockpit canopy. A canopy in good condition is worth paying for: replacing a full camper cover on a 31-foot boat is a significant expense.

Three engine choices seen on the market

Three installations appear in the listings we found. A 1992 Plymouth boat had twin Volvo Penta AD31 150 hp four-cylinder turbo diesels on Duoprop drives with A6 propellers. An Italian boat had twin Volvo AD41 200 hp diesels, which the broker said gave about 24 knots at cruise and 31 knots flat out. A 1992 Poole boat had twin Volvo Penta 570A 5.7-liter V8 gasoline engines of 275 hp each, which the broker quoted at about 28 knots cruising and 38 knots maximum.

These speed figures are brokers' claims, not instrumented tests, and we have not used them in the specification table. As a rule, the gasoline V8 boats are the quickest and the cheapest to buy, and the AD41 diesel boats are the best compromise between pace, economy and resale value.

Tank sizes in the listings are inconsistent, from about 400 to 545 liters of fuel, so verify capacities on the boat.

• 2 x Volvo AD31 150 hp diesel: economical, modest performance
• 2 x Volvo AD41 200 hp diesel: broker-quoted 24 knots cruise, 31 knots top
• 2 x Volvo 570A 5.7-liter 275 hp gasoline: broker-quoted 28 knots cruise, 38 knots top

The dimensions we could verify

A UK broker's specification for a 1992 boat gives 9.41 meters (30 feet 10 inches) overall, 8 meters (26 feet 3 inches) on the waterline, a beam of 3.35 meters (11 feet), a draft of 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) and a displacement of about 5,250 kg. An Italian listing gives the same 9.41-meter length with a 3.31-meter beam, and a Plymouth listing quotes a 3-foot 2-inch draft.

Compared with the later Targa 29, which MBY measured at 31 feet overall and 10 feet 2 inches in beam, the Targa 31 is about the same length but roughly 10 inches beamier, which shows in its cockpit seating.

How to survey a 1990s Targa

Start with the hull. One listing noted preventive epoxy treatment below the waterline, so ask about osmosis history and look at moisture readings, particularly around the transom and sterndrive cutouts. Check stringers and engine beds for soundness.

Then the machinery. On diesel boats, ask for Volvo dealer service records and look for overheating history; on gasoline boats, check blowers, fuel hoses and exhaust manifolds and risers. Every boat needs its drive bellows, gimbal bearings and steering inspected, and hydraulic steering should be bled and leak-free.

Finally, wiring. Many boats of this age have accumulated aftermarket electronics, inverters and heaters; make sure the installation is tidy, fused and not overloading the original panels.

Is a Targa 31 a sensible American purchase?

The Targa 31 was built mainly for the British and European markets, so most boats will be in the UK or the Mediterranean, and some have 240-volt shore power and European fittings. That makes it a buy for an enthusiast who wants a classic British sports cruiser, not for someone who simply needs an inexpensive 30-footer.

If you find one in North America, budget roughly $8,000 to $16,000 a year for a slip or rack storage, insurance, engine and drive service, antifouling and canvas care. Volvo AD31, AD41 and 5.7 gasoline engines are all familiar to US mechanics, which helps.