Maneuvering made easy
That morning, the Terhi 480C was put through its paces on Lake Päijänne, in the heart of Finland. The weather was mild, and the boat, only 4.80 m long, was small for this lake of imposing proportions, the eighth largest in Europe, with a length of almost 120 km.
But the advantage of a small boat is obvious when you cast off. Everything is simple and effortless. The small hawsers are stowed in the lockers right next to the cleats. With 3 passengers, including two well-built Scandinavians, moving around and getting on board quickly translate into a bit of a heave-ho, but you still feel safe.
Everything at your fingertips
The pilot, seated on the starboard side, has all the controls within easy reach. Although it may feel a little cramped, the steering wheel can be safely maneuvered, as can the bulwark-mounted throttle. You can almost release the stern point without standing up!
With 60 horsepower, the maximum recommended, our Terhi 480C pulls away from the quay without a care and joins the day's test fleet. Despite the slight chop on the water and the wake of the other boats, we stayed dry.
Go-kart driving!
Once we reach a more open area of the lake, it's time to test the boat's speed potential. There are 3 of us on board, and two 25-litre fuel tanks are used to power the 60-hp Yamaha outboard. The water, which remains fairly calm, allows us to push the boat to a maximum speed of 6,000 rpm and reach 27 knots with a fuel consumption of 20 L/h. At cruising speed, the Terhi 480C reaches 20 knots at 4,500 rpm and 0.49 L/mile.
The hull remains small, and therefore sensitive to heeling when cornering. Just as a go-kart on land can feel like a toy, the Terhi 480C's size enhances the sensation of speed. Optional rear trim tabs compensate for the crew's off-axis loading and keep the boat flat.
When we disembarked, the results were quite positive, both in terms of speed and passage through the chop. And since small is beautiful, we're tempted to imagine ourselves scouring the lakes with our boat in tow.
