Avon SR 5.4 project

[GrahamSR5.4]

Bought my first Searider 5.4 and decided to restore it completely. It was built in the 80s and is still running the original Yamaha 70hp 2 stroke perfectly.

Day 1 down and the engine is off, deck is stripped and ready for sanding

Plan is to coat the deck and hull black and fabricate a custom console + seats

[Nos4r2]

Welcome to Ribnet
Nice project
I don't think that's the original motor, that looks like an ex mil-spec boat (Grey dust and straps on tubes gives it away) that would have had a Merc 75 on it at a guess. Looks to have been refurbed before.

[GrahamSR5.4]

Cheers ! Ah right interesting, just presumed it was as it's a 1988 motor and no sign of the serial plate on the transom. Yeah it's an ex police boat you can still make out the lettering on the tubes which have seen better days !

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by GrahamSR5.4

Cheers ! Ah right interesting, just presumed it was as it's a 1988 motor and no sign of the serial plate on the transom. Yeah it's an ex police boat you can still make out the lettering on the tubes which have seen better days !

I think the rubbing strake has been changed too I'm sure it should be flat on a searider

[GrahamSR5.4]

Yeah the strake is new, tubes are painted grey and look terrible so probably end up getting new tubes for it at the end

[GrahamSR5.4]

Day 2 : I got the majority of the deck sanded and fuel tank surrounds removed as one was starting to rot. Will be fitting a bench in it's place to store tanks inside. Another half day of sanding left and it will be ready to flip over and get cracking on the hull !

[GrahamSR5.4]

Update :

Currently waiting on a few seals and bearings to reassemble the lower assembly along with the new water pump kit and housing.

Work carried out on engine so far :

Compression test
Fabricated engine stand
Cleaned carbs + gasket replaced
Thermostat + gasket replaced
Fuel filter cleaned
Spark plugs replaced
Tab trim fitted (missing)
Anode plate replaced

[smallribber]

Any update on your progress

[GrahamSR5.4]

Engine is good to go but unfortunately I haven't been able to work on the rib the last month however I will be back on it soon !

[GrahamSR5.4]

Finally back working on the searider !

I decided to remove the raised deck and front timbers along with the supports glassed on the aft of the deck where a brace was fixed to the transom. My plan is to make and custom A frame which will be fixed to the transom and to new supports soon to be glassed on to the deck. I also sanded back the holes to be filled.

I was going to block up the elephant trunks as they were screwed into the transom which would eventually cause it to rot however, thanks to some advice I will glass in 4" tube and keep the trunk system as it works better than a bilge pump and will ensure the transom is sealed.

I will also be making a custom mould for a new console along with a transom plate !

[GrahamSR5.4]

Finally got around to glassing the deck

[GrahamSR5.4]

Tubes off, flipped over and ready for sanding

[GrahamSR5.4]

Paint stripped and sanded back to gelcoat

[GrahamSR5.4]

Gel coat repairs + flow coated

[ollyit]

looks amazing mate well done

[Limecc]

Originally Posted by ollyit

looks amazing mate well done

I agree and thanks to GrahamSR5.4 for starting the build thread!

[GrahamSR5.4]

Thanks guys, new tubes ordered from Henshaws and will be wet sanding the hull next

[GrahamSR5.4]

Finally got around to finishing the hull, not 100% happy with how the finish turned out I would prefer to do it again but it will have to do for this year as I want to get it in the water by next month !

-Wet sand 320 - 600 - 800 grit
-G3 compound
-Polish
-Wax

[GrahamSR5.4]

Filled all 24 holes in the transom and fitted the glass tubes for the trunks last night, ground it all back this morning for glassing over.
Going to make a mould next week of a basic console I designed on solidworks.

[ollyit]

looks superb well done