The Finnish-built Terhi 450 is popular in Scandinavian countries as a commuter boat for travelling from the mainland to the holiday island and back again. However, the Terhi 450 is not only used in Scandinavia, but also on lakes, rivers and coastal waters. It is ideal as a fishing boat as well as for exploring and swimming. The Terhi is made from a robust plastic known as ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene). The double hull, which is filled with a closed polyurethane foam, makes the boat unsinkable, according to the shipyard.
Terhi recommends outboards between 15 and 40 hp, which can be operated with tiller steering like our test boat or with remote control and cable steering from a steering console. There are three versions of the latter: The 450 CC with centre console, the C version with a steering position on the port side and the latest version as a sloop - again with the steering position in the centre.
We drive without a driver's cab
We drive our test boat with a 20 hp Suzuki outboard motor without a helm. Loaded with one person forward and the driver aft, the Terhi glides effortlessly, the bow lifts only slightly and the test combination glides economically between a good 5000 rpm and 5500 rpm (13.5 and 15.7 kilometres). The consumption is then 0.34 l/sm and the 12-litre tank is sufficient for 30 nautical miles plus 15% reserve. At full throttle we reach around 18.5 knots with a consumption of 0.37 l/sm. The Terhi can be easily operated and safely steered using the tiller with twist throttle and gear lever. On slalom courses, the boat reacts directly to steering movements and always remains easy to control. The same applies when the tiller is twisted. In fast, increasingly tighter circles, the test boat lies on its side normally, brakes automatically and the propeller draws air at the end. If you set the tiller to straight ahead in this situation, the propeller quickly regains traction and the test boat accelerates again. The hull coped well with small choppy waves on Lake Schwerin, even when cornering. Harbour manoeuvres can be made tightly and the boat stays on course well at slow speeds. The driver sits on the stern bench, with additional seating at the front. If you want to improve the seating comfort, order the optional cushions. You can even get a sun lounger and a canopy for the bow area. There are sturdy grab handles to hold on to.
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Reinforced mirror
A robust rubbing strake provides all-round protection. The boat is secured to suitable cleats and the outboard motor is bolted to a reinforced transom. The tank fits neatly under the rear bench and the equipment fits into other lockable storage compartments and shelves. The bilge system is particularly pleasing: in addition to the hand bilge pump, Terhi also supplies an oil drum and installs a rainwater drainage opening so that the boat can also lie open on the jetty without the floor being under water. In order to transport the boat by land to the most diverse areas, the road captain needs an unbraked trailer. The Terhi importer Boat Solutions offers Harbeck trailers for this purpose.
Conclusion
The Terhi 450 is a small all-rounder that travels well with our 20 hp test engine and tiller steering It is easy to trailer and offers space for five people on its benches. There are plenty of stowage options
Technical data
- Shipyard: Terhi/Fin
- Type: Terhi 450
- CE category: C/5
- Length over everything: 4,45 m
- Width: 1,85 m
- Displacement (without motors) 275 kg
- Depth: about 0.60 m
- Fuel tank: 12 l
- Test motorisation: Suzuki DF 20 AL 14.7 kW (20 hp)
- Package price: 9999 Euro
- Sales and dealer verification: boatsolutions.com
Measured values
Ralf Marquard
Deputy Editor in Chief BOOTE
