Terhi Oy, based in the Finnish fishing villages of Rymättylä and Ähtäri and in Stockholm, has been selling around 5,000 boats a year since it was founded 51 years ago. To achieve this goal, the company employs around 90 people. Today, Terhi Oy forms the TerhiTec Group together with the brands Sea Star, which builds commuter boats, and Silver Boats, which manufactures aluminium boats. Several Terhi models have become classics and can be found in almost every major harbour. In this country, the boats are imported by Boat Solutions GmbH from Utting am Ammersee, among others, which also produced our test Terhi. They are sold via a nationwide dealer network. There are 22 models to choose from, ranging in length from 2.35 to 4.75 metres.
Special features of the ABS plastic hull
The boats are made of saltwater-resistant ABS plastic. This recyclable mixture of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene offers several advantages over conventional GRP, according to the Terhi philosophy. There are no stress cracks, as can occur with fibreglass boats. The cavity between the machine-prefabricated hull shells is filled with closed-cell polyurethane foam and the moulded parts are permanently bonded together under an enormous pressure of 30 tonnes per square metre. A positive side effect of this production method is the high buoyancy, which should make the Terhi unsinkable even when fully flooded.
But now to the boat. One of the most important aspects of a fishing or sports boat is the stowage options. There are two options for stowing things on the Terhi. There is a small box in the bow for drinks or an anchor, for example. There is a large bench seat in the stern, under which there is also plenty of storage space. In our opinion, this is the best place to store the petrol tank. It is then concealed under the wooden bench and secured against slipping. The petrol hose can also be fed through an opening to the outboard motor. Both back boxes are locked with a hinged latch. Both areas can be locked with a padlock.
The double-walled ABS hull has anti-slip strips and a kind of foot wedge to prevent slipping. Whether the boat is wet or dry inside makes little difference. If there is too much water in the boat, it can be channelled back out through a drain plug in the hull. There are also two side storage compartments in the stern. The Terhi 400 is powered either by the 2.52 metre long oars for rowing or by a motor. The maximum engine output is 15 hp.
Speed and fuel consumption of the Terhi 400
We have the 400 as part of our 6 hp outboard comparative tests with a 6 hp outboard motor from Suzuki. With the Suzuki DF 6 AS, the boat reaches speeds of up to 13.1 km/h with two people. The Terhi consumes 2.11 litres per hour. When travelling alone, the engine has enough power to bring the boat into planing speed. When cornering, the Terhi 400 falls back into displacement speed, as there is not enough horsepower on board. If you wish, you can choose extras from the extensive options list. These include a bow handle, cushions or a harbour cover with an aluminium bracket. The boat can also be purchased as a C version. Then there is a small steering position with remote control and steering wheel for the engine.
Technical details
- Length: 4,01 m
- Width: 1,50 m
- Weight: 120 kg
- Maximum passengers: 4
- Maximum motor power: 11.05 kW / 15 hp
- recommended motor weight: 42 kg
- Colour variants: white, green
- CE category: D
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Jan-Ole Puls
Editor Test & Technology
