Cheap Avon Seariders, what to look for

[Channel Ribs]

I have noticed that Seariders ocassionally come up for silly money, ie under a grand for a trailer boat and sometimes even an engine.

Clearly these boats are not everybody's cup of tea and sometimes get 'well used' and downright scruffy, but what make a good one? In the pannel's view.

[Rogue Wave]

There a bit like me really, strongly built, functional, can take a knock but sadly inelegant. Well you can't have it all can you?

The Searider hulls are very strong and will always respond to a bit of filling and sanding, It is difficult to modify the internal layout on them as the deck has a longtidudinal raised ridge which is a foot wide and slightly offcentre.

The toobs may be as much as twenty years old in which case they can be difficult to maintain, however mostly they are servicable.

I think they are fantastic boats, make great workboats and cos they are cheapish you can beat them up without to much devaluation.

If the boat is old then you have to look for signs of delamination around the flooding hull exhaust and also check to see it hasn't been pranged too badly

[Nos4r2]

What size?

If you mean sr4 then:-

No cracks/damage to underside (they all have the odd scrape),
Solid transom,
Original unpainted tubes in good condition,
Centre console,
PTT engine (not many up to 50hp that are out there actually have it).
Decent perimeter framed trailer.
Engine service history.

The most important thing is "Does the current owner have a clue what he's doing?" though. It means less hassle sorting out bad bodges later on.

'spose most of that's true for the 5.4 too.

[Chris]

Send a PM to matth on here, Matt has done up a 5.4 Searider and is in the process of doing another so knows what to look out for.

Chris

[9D280]

To echo Rouge's comments, "floppyt floors" and hollow transoms are probably the main evils on these boats. Most tube problems can be solved relatively easily with a patch kit.

Other thing - they were designed round 2- strokes, and being officially sold as "workboats" they can still legally carry 2-strokes. Net result is you may find a problem with engine weight if you want to put a nice shiny 4- stroke on the back right up at the max HP. (I'll now duck as you all tell me how easy it was! )

Other than that if you don't mind tinkering with an older engine thay are bulletproof boats, and will take any sea you care to throw them at. Not the driest RIB out there, but very capable. Only got a humber now 'coz I couldnlt find a 4.7, and the humber was at a nice price......

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

There a bit like me really, strongly built, functional, can take a knock but sadly inelegant. Well you can't have it all can you?

Am sure you missed fraid round the edges, scruffy looking but a good solid work horse?

Not sure how to compare the flooding hull but am sure Garfi will

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Other thing - they were designed round 2- strokes, and being officially sold as "workboats" they can still legally carry 2-strokes. Net result is you may find a problem with engine weight if you want to put a nice shiny 4- stroke on the back right up at the max HP. (I'll now duck as you all tell me how easy it was! )

Dead Right. I had a few engines on the back of my Searider and the Four Stroke was way to heavy. Modern with PTT.
My mates 2 stroke was far better and his boat rode the waves a lot better. 4 Strokes are nice though.

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

:

Not sure how to compare the flooding hull but am sure Garfi will

Excellent.. .....I think that's probably something I'll have too look forward to in a few years

[ribraff]

Work in progress:

Seating layout changed by moving the helm seat forward and installing two jockey's behind, there's still plenty of leg room, I have raised the whole deck up on this one to match the original raised section level, 18 mm marine ply glassed in, flowcoated and anti slipped.