Botnia Targa 44, MINERVA – The 4×4 of the Sea

MINERVA has come to the market as her owner, who has thoroughly enjoyed owning, cruising, and maintaining this outstanding Botnia Targa 44 since new, is changing his boating plans. Accordingly, she represents a rare opportunity to acquire a comprehensively specified, low-hours Targa 44 at an attractive price point. As emphasised by her recent yacht sales video –

History of Botnia Targa 44, MINERVA

Finland’s Oy Botnia Marin Ab was set up in 1976 by the Carpelan family, who still control and manage the company. From its early days building in sheds around Malax, just south of Vasa, Botnia built H-Boats (an 8.3-meter One-Design keelboat). Their first powerboat was the Botnia 23, which remained in production until 1991. Throughout the early 1980s, many 23s were moulded and delivered alongside sailboat production. However, any Targa devotees will recognize the dramatic leap forward in 1984 with the release of the first Botnia Targa 25—a superbly versatile design featuring a central wheelhouse with a blister flybridge, an open foredeck, and walk-around decks inside a high, solid bulwark, all set on a brutally efficient, stiff GRP V-hull.

The Targa 44 was launched to instant acclaim in 2009, winning the coveted Motor Boat of the Year award, with the Targa DNA remaining 100% intact. Botnia delivered these hulls to private clients, family users, and commercial entities worldwide—this is simply an immense platform. Offering three good-sized cabins, the Comfort Fore Cabin (CFC)—introduced in 2010—provides a forward ensuite with full amenities (including a washing machine in MINERVA) in an entirely private area. Complementing this is a cosy aft single cabin and a large separate aft double cabin (with shared shower facilities). This supremely capable hull can berth eight with ease—a remarkable feat for a boat so well-designed that a standard production Belgian Botnia Targa led the main fleet in the 2008 Round Britain Powerboat Race, running gamely into Force 7 around Land’s End and averaging 31 knots on the first long leg.

Exploring the Accommodation & Deck Equipment of Botnia Targa 44, MINERVA

So, what about this particular example? Well, we could comment on how clinically clean she is. We could mention that her original owner has kept her professionally maintained, regardless of cost, and that he is so meticulous about perfection that we even replaced her mighty air horns due to a small area of surface corrosion. Recently, all of her exterior timber was stripped in our preparation sheds and re-coated with six layers of Owatrol D2 Deks Olje high-gloss wood finish. At the same time, a new wrap was applied to her forward wheelhouse eyebrow and transom. She is in truly remarkable condition, with an unblemished interior, and everything—from her upgraded powered Grammer wheelhouse helm seat to her custom Grammer flybridge seating—is covered and protected to ensure maximum longevity.

Her equipment list is extensive, but rest assured—she lacks nothing. If you need air conditioning, she has it, with 17,000 BTU of cooling power. If your precious D6 engines are feeling the cold, she is equipped with thermostatically controlled radiators in the engine bay to keep frost at bay. Extended diesel tanks increase her cruising range, and she can even produce her own water via a Spectra Aquifer AF-360 12VDC water maker, with a useful output capacity of 57 liters per hour. Her three Volvo Penta docking joysticks, supplemented by bow and stern thrusters, make pinpoint docking effortless. She is easily handled by a small crew, and her decks are so safe, broad, and secure underfoot that it’s no surprise Motor Boat & Yachting hailed the design as the perfect driver’s boat: ‘Fantastic helm ergonomics, great visibility, and offshore suspension seats make helming in rough conditions a pure joy.

An Insight into the Current Plans for Botnia Targa 44, MINERVA

MINERVA has recently been through the Berthon preparation sheds, where her exterior timber was renovated with Owatrol Deks Olje. In addition, her wheelhouse valance was wrapped to match the blue of her hull, and her transom was also prepared and wrapped. She has undergone an extensive re-valet and is presented in exceptional order. We note that VAT/tax has not been accounted for, making her fully transportable. At time of writing, she is lying ashore in the Berthon Customs Warehouse facility.

https://www.berthoninternational.com/yacht-sales-brokerage/yachts-for-sale/botnia-targa-44-minerva/

Contact hugh.rayner@berthon.co.uk.

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