2017 Fairline Targa 43 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $225,000–$310,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
Fairline builds a well-finished, refined yacht that punches above its price used. The Targa 43 is sporty and livable — a proper weekend or short-passage boat. The IPS drive service is the make-or-break item. If records exist, this is an excellent European sportcruiser at a fraction of new price.
What we checked
Not checked against public records
Boats are the Coast Guard’s, not NHTSA’s. It publishes a Cases and Campaigns file, but its model and year fields are free text and the recent entries are mostly hull-ID and capacity-label paperwork, so we have not been able to join it to a specific boat honestly yet. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2017 Fairline Targa 43
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The Targa 43 runs twin Volvo IPS pods. At 7 years old, the IPS seals and actuators need inspection and likely service. IPS system neglect is the single most expensive mistake buyers make on pod-drive yachts.
Repair cost (estimate): $8,000–$20,000 per pod service
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Fairline's GRP construction can develop moisture in the deck laminate if teak deck caulking or stanchion base seals fail. A moisture meter survey will identify any issues.
Repair cost (estimate): $5,000–$30,000 depending on extent
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗No IPS service records — non-negotiable on a pod-drive boat at this age
- ✗Soft deck areas (stanchion bases, deck hatches) indicate moisture ingress
- ✗Used as a charter vessel — the commercial use intensity is brutal on interior and systems
Good Signs
- ✓Volvo Penta-certified dealer service records for both pods
- ✓Moisture survey clean on deck and hull sides
- ✓Single private owner who used the boat for coastal cruising
- ✓Full cover for salon and cockpit — protects interior from UV
Similar yachts
2021 Beneteau Oceanis 40.1
$185,000–$240,000
2016 Carver C52 Coupe
$280,000–$380,000
2005 Nordhavn 43 Passagemaker
$320,000–$450,000
2018 Sea Ray Sundancer 320
$95,000–$135,000
2019 Formula 400 Super Sport
$380,000–$520,000
2019 Tiara Yachts 43 Open
$420,000–$550,000
2001 Bertram 60 Sport Yacht
$450,000–$650,000
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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