The Targa line has been making headway in the Pacific Northwest thanks to local dealer Cardinal Yacht Sales in Bellingham, Washington. The Targa 44 leads the way as one of the larger models from the Finnish family. The slightly larger, but very similar, version of the Targa 42, the 44’s Nordic roots are readily apparent.
The exterior has many prominent features, including the generous swim step off the transom accessed by a swinging gate. The woodwork of the cockpit deck, swim step, and flybridge looks very Northern Lights-chic. There are several layout options for the flybridge, one of which extends aft over about half of the cockpit area as a sort of observation deck and weather cover. The flybridge itself, complete with cushioned seating and a complete nav station, will probably be the most popular spot aboard on a sunny day when underway. All Targas, from the smaller builds in the 20-foot range to the T44, feature very deep, secure walkways forward, an important feature for boats meant to adventure to rugged locations. The foredeck has enough space for a few passengers to take in the views.
The interior is richly styled with woodwork and a hyper-ergonomic philosophy. Just about every aspect of the design seems maximized to fulfill multiple purposes. Generous amounts of light stream in thanks to the large windows. Like many other elements of the T44, there are several options with regards to engines, ranging from twin inboard diesel Volvo D6 engines (660 hop to 800 hp each) to twin Volvo IPS drives (740 hp to 870 hp each). With a top speed between 35 to 39 knots and a suggested cruising speed of approximately 30 knots, she look and feels like a traditional trawler but with more pep.
All in all, the Targa 44, like the many Nordic immigrants who settled the Pacific Northwest, seems right at home on Puget Sound and beyond. If interested, check out cardinalyachtsales.com.
