Design and Construction
The Targa 96 is a solid-fiberglass monohull with both hull and deck molded in the same material, which keeps the seasonal maintenance load light for the owner fiberglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season. Her ballast ratio sits at 36 percent, a figure higher than only about a quarter of comparable designs, while her displacement-length ratio of 247 places her among the "moderate racer" category rather than the heavy cruising end. A length-to-beam ratio of 3.19 makes her slimmer than just over half of similar boats, and a wetted surface near 26 square meters keeps her footprint in the water modest for the length.
Keel and Draft
Targa OY offered the 96 with more than one keel configuration. One alternative is an iron fin drawing roughly 1.50 to 1.60 meters dependent on load, letting the boat into most marinas enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.50 - 1.60 meter. A lead fin was also available, shallower at about 1.40 to 1.50 meters and able to reach even shallow harbours. The skeg-hung rudder and fin-keel plan are conventional for the era but the draft spread gave buyers a real choice between coastal reach and ultimate stability.
Rig and Handling
Two rigs left the factory: a fractional rig and a masthead rig. The fractional version carries a mainsail and jib totaling 36.5 square meters and its smaller headsails make tacking easier, a point the original review flagged as useful for both cruisers and racers smaller headsails which make tacking easier. The masthead rig is slightly smaller at 34.8 square meters. Across all versions the boat is slightly overrigged relative to 73 percent of similar sailboats, and her sail-area-to-displacement with a 135 percent genoa reaches 16.2 — enough that she is quicker than only about 18 percent of peers in light wind, a honest admission that she is no featherweight ghoster.
Performance Profile
The theoretical hull speed is 6.8 knots and the capsize screening value of 1.85 would, by that formula alone, admit her to ocean racing. Her Motion Comfort Ratio of 23.4 to 25.8 puts her more comfortable than 62 percent of similar designs, and the immersion rate of about 157 kg per centimeter speaks to a hull that settles predictably under load. The Relative Speed Performance of 31 means she outpaces roughly a third of her class, consistent with the moderate-racer label.
Accommodations
Below, the Targa 96 was fitted with six or seven berths, a galley, and a toilet facility. Fresh water capacity is 150 liters, paired with a steel fuel tank of the same volume. The layout supports a small family or a racing crew overnight, and the fiberglass construction keeps the interior surfaces easy to live with through a season.
Engine Options
Two diesel lines appear in the records. From 1975 to 1978 the boat could carry a Volvo Penta MD2B of 25 horsepower with shaft drive, calculated near 6.0 knots max. From 1978 to 1984 the MD11C of 23 horsepower with saildrive is listed, quoted at 7.6 knots. Either is a modest auxiliary for a 9,000-pound boat, suited to marina exits and calms rather than sustained passage-making.
The Verdict
The Targa 96 is a thoughtfully varied Scandinavian design that rewards a buyer who reads the spec plate. Her multiple keel and rig choices, coupled with a comfort ratio that beats most peers, make her a credible small cruiser-racer, while the modest engine options and light-air performance ceiling are the trade-offs.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck with low seasonal maintenance
- Shallow-draft lead keel option for extended coastal cruising
- Fractional rig eases tacking for short-handed crews
- Comfort ratio above 62 percent of similar designs
Cons
- Light-air speed below most comparable boats under genoa
- Small auxiliary diesel limits motoring performance
- Fewer than 200 built, so specification varies widely boat to boat
