There are boats where you immediately recognise what they were built for. The TG 7.9 Supreme belongs exactly in this category. Its silhouette is immediately recognisable at first glance in the Nagu marina. Not a design experiment, but typically Scandinavian: functional, robust and built for every season. You can tell straight away that this boat is not just for summer days on the lake, but also for autumn storms or the first cold crossing in spring. But it is also particularly suitable for the very places where we found ourselves during our test: the Finnish archipelago.
Who the TG 7.9 Supreme is suitable for
In Scandinavia, it is common to have a summer house on your own little island. To get there, you need a boat. Some people have a simple rowing boat or a small open model with an outboard motor. Those who travel further, love fishing or simply want more comfort and options will opt for a cabin boat. This is exactly where the TG 7.9 comes into play.
Before I create a false image of a Finn: these islands have mostly been in the family for generations, some still without electricity and heating. Not all places deserve to be called islands either. You could also call it a rock big enough to build a red wooden house on. Nevertheless, it is still beautiful!
For those who don't know TG: TG Boats was founded in the 70s in Porvoo near Helsinki, Finland, back then under the name TG-Marin. It all started with GRP racing boats, which can still be seen on the helm today. The first cabin boats soon followed, and from the mid-1980s the company specialised entirely in them. The breakthrough came in 1988 with the TG-7000 model. TG has been part of the Otto Brandt Group since 2021, together with brands such as Terhi and Silver, as well as the Finnish Honda marine distributor. But back to the actual topic - the TG 7.9 Supreme.
Layout on board
We go on board via the foredeck and stand between the unusual separate sleeping cabin and the passageway to the actual saloon with the steering position. But let's stay forward here: there is a small room on the starboard side that houses the toilet. If you fold down a cushion, you can also spend the night here. However, there is no room for more than one person. The cushions required for this are an extra. An electric toilet with macerator is installed in our test boat. This is also an extra.
There are no ventilation options in the form of a window. So you wouldn't really feel comfortable here overnight. However, if necessary or just for a few hours, it's always fine.
In the saloon, the dark felt on the walls immediately catches the eye. Together with the large windows, this results in a mixture of work boat and do-it-yourself coach conversion. Everything looks solid and durable. Two extra berths in the rear starboard deck are easily sufficient for short trips, storage space is available, but luxury is less so. If you're looking for that yacht feeling, you're in the wrong place - the Supreme is designed for people who simply want to go on a safe and uncomplicated tour. This is what we call water touring. A seating area with cosy cushions and a cool multifunctional area make up for this. This is equipped with a washbasin and gas cooker.
There is a small seating area outside the cabin in the stern, with a table if required. In fact, everything you need. The roof of the TG 7.9 can also be opened by hand. This allows a little more fresh air into the interior of the boat. Our test boat is equipped with a Webasto parking heater. Lucky for us, the air outside the boat is only eight degrees.
The test drive with the TG 7.9 Supreme
Underway, the boat then shows its greatest strength: stability - even in cross waves. The deep V-hull cuts cleanly through the water, absorbing impacts well. The Supreme doesn't look sporty at first, more like a safe travelling SUV: confident, relaxed, calm - even when the weather changes. It even takes the waves of a Targa 41 in its stride. However, if you push the throttle lever further forwards, the boat surprises you. At 6,100 revolutions per minute and a well-trimmed outboard motor, the log shows a boat speed of over 50 knots. The feeling is a little more tippy than at lower speeds, but by no means uncontrollable. Harbour manoeuvres are also no problem. The boat turns tight circles, typical of an outboard motor. The bow thruster can be added if required. This is an extra.
Manoeuvring is really fun in the steering position built around the driver. The power is also easy to control thanks to the electronic gearstick, which is available at extra cost. In our opinion, this is an extra that should be included in the equipment list.
The motorisation
The Supreme is powered by a Honda outboard engine. A maximum of 350 hp can be attached. This is also the difference to the normal TG 7.9: the hull, structure and transom are reinforced to be able to carry so much engine. In addition, the tank is about 60 litres larger. This means that top speeds of over 50 knots and a little more range are possible.
If you don't need that, you can also take a look at the standard version of the TG 7.9. It has a maximum of 200 hp, which should definitely be enough for normal driving. The handling characteristics should remain the same, just significantly slower. The workmanship remains the same for both boats. We think they are good and, even on closer inspection, find no serious defects or problems that need to be mentioned.
Finally, a look at the deck: The narrow gangways take some getting used to at first, but prove to be practical. Everything is laid out in such a way that you can easily manage on your own, but also with a larger crew or a full boat. Either one or two searchlights can be installed on the roof as required. The railing and cleats are anodised black. This gives the boat an even more modern touch.
Technical data
- CE category: C/12
- Length over everything: 8,02 m
- Width: 2,60 m
- Displacement: 1,550 kg
- Draught (top drive): 0,60 m
- Hull material: GRP
- Fuel tank: 260 l
- Max. motorisation: 257 kW (350 hp)
- Test motorisation: Honda BF350 A XDU with 257 kW (350 hp)
- Price: from € 91,900
- Distribution test boat: boatsolutions.com
Measurement results
| Speed rpm | Speed kn | Consumption l/sm | Range sm |
| 650 | 3,15 | 0,79 | 311 |
| 3.00 | 23,3 | 1,08 | 227 |
| 6.100 | 50,8 | 2,57 | 96 |
Conclusion on the TG 7.9 Supreme
The TG 7.9 Supreme is a really successful boat. It may look rather boring from the outside, but the tide turns 180 degrees when you're on board. The workmanship and construction are perfectly fine and we can't find any faults.
Advantages
manoeuvrable
good workmanship
quiet inside
Disadvantage
perhaps a little too bare inside
