Take a look at the best new boats on display at the Southampton Boat Show, which takes place 14-23 September
Fairline Targa 43 Open
The launch of the Targa 63 GTO this time last year and the upcoming reveal of the sporty F-Line 33 are important milestones in the rebirth of Fairline, but neither of those boats are as important for the yard’s future as the Targa 43 Open. Some of Fairline’s best work has been sportscruisers of this size, be it the original Targa 43, the Targa 40 or the IPS-powered Targa 44. All class-leading models at the time, they set standards that this latest version will be desperate to maintain.
The lines are from the pencil of Alberto Mancini, the man responsible for the striking 63 GTO and muscular F-Line. If the renderings are to be believed the 43 looks the business: it’s sleek and purposeful, well proportioned while ensuring the interior space is as generous as the market demands. See it at Berth M138
Sealine F430
The F430 is the flybridge version of the C430 coupé (launched at last year’s show) and the first chance to see this model on British soil.
The design feels like it was destined to be a flybridge from the outset and for a boat just shy of 45ft (13.7m) the top deck is impressively large thanks to its extended overhang. There is space for a double helm seat, generous dinette and a wetbar up here.
The foredeck seating features a flip-up bench at its forward end, so a couple can sit and enjoy the view from here too.
The interior is exactly the same as its coupe sibling (minus a sunroof) and includes a bright saloon with an aft galley that opens up easily to the well-protected cockpit. Glass plays a huge part in the main deck’s appeal and it’s always good to see a side door adjacent to the helm so the skipper can help with crewing. Berth M206
Sunseeker Predator 50
You can read our full test of the Predator 50 on p60 of the October issue of Motor Boat & Yachting, out 6 September, so we won’t give too much away here except to say that Sunseeker’s new ‘entry-level’ boat is an important one and will have its global debut at the show. It’s the least expensive way to join the Sunseeker family (though you’ll still need £800,000) and it promises generous living spaces both on the main deck and in the three cabins down below. Berth M611
Bénéteau Swift Trawler 47
The UK has been a strong market for Bénéteau’s Swift Trawler range and the French giant will be hoping the new 47 continues this success. The initial renderings look promising; it is the most handsome Swift Trawler to date with very sweet proportions.
The sociable flybridge has a centrally located helm station flanked by seating, with a wetbar and open deck space aft.
The lower helm is also in the middle of the boat, which puts the companionway steps down the starboard side leading to a three-cabin lower deck arrangement. The VIP ensuite is up front and a twin and double guest cabin take up the space amidships sharing a bathroom between them. Berth M124
Bavaria Nautitech 47
Bavaria’s French-built power catamaran will be on display at the show for the first time.
As cats go it’s a stylish thing with a great mix of living spaces on deck including a fabulous foredeck with opposing seating and a table and steps that lead up to a large sunpad above the wheelhouse.
The cockpit is massive, with seating on all sides, and leads into a saloon that is bright and spacious and features a well-equipped galley adjacent to a cosy dinette.
For owner-run boats the three-cabin layout’s massive master suite will appeal, but if there’s an eye on charter the four cabin alternative is bound to prove popular. Berth M359
Lagoon 630
The 630 isn’t exactly a new boat but it’s the first opportunity to see it at a UK show and it is an impressive bit of kit.
First of all there’s the range, which is almost 2,000nm if you can face cruising at 5 knots or a more realistic 1,300nm at 8 knots.
Being over 30ft wide the deck spaces are extraordinary, allowing guests to lose themselves and relax in their own quiet corner, be that in the vast cockpit or laid-back foredeck lounging area.
Below decks, if you want to maximise sleeping space you can opt for up to six double cabins, but the layout we’d go for puts the galley aft in one hull and the master suite in the other, both with access via glass doors directly to the transom. It’s one of the best power cats on the market. Berth M524
Sasga Menorquin 42
This charming Menorquin is sure to cut a dash inside Mayflower Park as it makes its UK show debut.
Built on Menorca, the 42’s roots lie in the sturdy fishing boats suited to the choppy waters of the Balearics but the teak clad interior is as classy as any of its rivals’. It boasts a two- or three-cabin layout and a top speed of over 20 knots, with a pair of 300hp Volvos.
The semi-displacement, resin-infused hull is reassuringly solid in the chop, and that handsome flared bow does a fine job of keeping spray off the teak-lined decks.
For a 43ft boat the flybridge is a little pokey, a compromise that comes with such sweet lines, but the yard has managed to squeeze a single helm, compact dinette and token sunpad up top. It’s a left-field choice but a good one. Berth 147
Botnia Targa 27.2
The chance to view a new Botnia Targa doesn’t come along all that often, so the replacement for the popular 27.1, with its brand new hull, (slightly) softer lines and tweaked interior, is worthy of note. This is not a revolution, however, and the Targa’s reputation as a fearsome rough weather tool remains firmly intact. There is a nod to modernity with the rounded corners and the optional Blackline trim, but that’s about it. On board the practical saloon separates the aft cabin, with a double and single berth, from a full-height forward wet room accessed via double doors in the middle of the dash. It isn’t the last word in luxury, but will suffice for a couple who want to enjoy a few nights on board. Berth M237
Galeon 460 Fly
Few boats will have a showpiece to rival the 460. The aft balconies whir down to create by far the most spacious and appealing cockpit in the class.
It’s a boat that ripples with clever thinking, from the sliding side windows in the saloon that open the aft end up to the brilliant foredeck with sliding seat modules and flip-up backrests for every seat.
Importantly, none of these things feel like a gimmick, with all features genuinely adding to your enjoyment of the boat. Below decks there is a more formulaic three-cabin layout with an particularly impressive full-beam master ensuite located amidships. Berth M532
Rhea 850 Timonier
This is a must-see at the show if you happen to be looking for a posh SUV (sports utility vessel) with a bit more finesse than a Jeanneau or Arvor. It’s the flagship of Rhea’s Timonier range and is positively dripping with top quality timber detailing, while its semi-displacement hull will confidently battle through choppy waters and get you home if the weather turns.
On board, the cockpit gets the largest chunk of deck space and is ideal for fishing, though pop-up benches offer somewhere to sit for lunch on the hook and a cosy cuddy and separate loo take care of any overnight excursions. Berth M230
Read the full article in the October issue of Motor Boat & Yachting, out 6 September
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