Searider 5.4 Project

[whisper]

That is awesome

More pics please

[colcreate]

a shot over the bows....

[Squid Boat]

I'm a newbe here and just wanted to say what a outstanding project. I've been working a couple hr after work on refitting a old Avon CRRC and needed your inspiration to commit more time. I really enjoyed reading your site and this great thread, thanks.

Cheers, Don

[colcreate]

Thanks Don, It's been a struggle to get motivated at times but things are starting to come together now. Getting the Avon badges stuck on after they had been sat in a drawer for two years was a boost. Still need to fabricate some parts and fit all the wiring and fuel lines etc into trunking before fitting the engine. Hopefully have it in the water for August (2012'ish ??)......

[kerny]

Love the black and battle ship grey tubes

Stay motivated

[colcreate]

I've been busy this weekend, while it stopped raining...
Decided to fabricate some stainless transom plates and some fibre glass deck panels.
Tig welded some plates together to sandwich the transom, then decided it would be a good idea to attach strips either side to run across the top edge of the transom. Only polished the top and inner piece at the moment as I have only got a small drill powered buffing mop at home.
It just slips over the transom and fits like a button in a chickens lip! Just waiting for some self tappers to arrive before Sikaflexing it in place.
Should be able to drop the engine on at the weekend!

[whisper]

we're not worthy....

[colcreate]

OK, I know the general consensus will be for a Yamaha 90 two stroke (great power to weight ratio) or maybe an etec 90 (out of my price range..... Unless finance, open to offers) but what four stroke would be best for a 5.4?
I'm leaning towards a Mercury 80 Efl 2007 model .......
More concerned with comfort than speed nowadays.

[Rogue Wave]

Etec 90 is very heavy for a 2 stroke 142 kg lightest 90 4 stroke is a Suzy I believe its 155 kg

I've been looking at new engines for a Searider 5.4 and its either going to be a suzi 4 stroke or Yammie/mariner 2 stroke opti and etecs are just two heavy

I think the engine you are looking at is 188kgs I don't think you'll get much comfort from that as its going to be arse heavy and tend to porpoise.

[benjytaylor]

Originally Posted by colcreate

OK, I know the general consensus will be for a Yamaha 90 two stroke (great power to weight ratio) or maybe an etec 90 (out of my price range..... Unless finance, open to offers) but what four stroke would be best for a 5.4?
I'm leaning towards a Mercury 80 Efl 2007 model .......
More concerned with comfort than speed nowadays.

Great choice would be mariner/mercury 75hp+ as long as you are aware that's at the limit (weight) and might require a small amount of ballast at the front. I had 35kg grp'd along with a bow locker up front to stop the Chine walk.
To be honest my 2001 carb mercury 4 stroke is faster than my other sr5.4 with a yammie 80hp, Tohatsu 90hp (2 smokes) and the twin 40's that came off it before.
Plus you will save half on fuel and gain on speed! Hope that helps

[colcreate]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Etec 90 is very heavy for a 2 stroke 142 kg lightest 90 4 stroke is a Suzy I believe its 155 kg

I've been looking at new engines for a Searider 5.4 and its either going to be a suzi 4 stroke or Yammie/mariner 2 stroke opti and etecs are just two heavy

I think the engine you are looking at is 188kgs I don't think you'll get much comfort from that as its going to be arse heavy and tend to porpoise.

Avon have quoted around 340lbs (155kg) max transom weight for the 5.4 so the etec with it's alledged better running cost and better throttle response (have I been duped by Evinrude blurb) seemed to be a better choice than any 80ish 4 stoke. Agree the Merc is overweight but we have all seen bigger and heavier lumps on the back of Seariders before now. (Honda 90 4s, twin Honda 40 4s, Merc 150 2s.....seriously!) Has anyone had practical experience with these heavyweights? Suzuki sounds promising but I'm very firmly in the second hand market and the choice is limited.

Originally Posted by benjytaylor

Great choice would be mariner/mercury 75hp+ as long as you are aware that's at the limit (weight) and might require a small amount of ballast at the front. I had 35kg grp'd along with a bow locker up front to stop the Chine walk.
To be honest my 2001 carb mercury 4 stroke is faster than my other sr5.4 with a yammie 80hp, Tohatsu 90hp (2 smokes) and the twin 40's that came off it before.
Plus you will save half on fuel and gain on speed! Hope that helps

Attachment 70359

I thought the Merc 75 & 80 4s were pratically the same weight at 180kg
What HP is your 2001 Merc, sounds impressive.
Oh and I have moulded a nice big bow locker and moved the console up a tad just in case.

[Bushrider]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Etec 90 is very heavy for a 2 stroke 142 kg lightest 90 4 stroke is a Suzy I believe its 155 kg

I've been looking at new engines for a Searider 5.4 and its either going to be a suzi 4 stroke or Yammie/mariner 2 stroke opti and etecs are just two heavy

I think the engine you are looking at is 188kgs I don't think you'll get much comfort from that as its going to be arse heavy and tend to porpoise.

What about the new 70hp Yammi 4 stroke ? Same weight as the 90hp 2 stroke !
Would be my favorite outboard apart of the 90hp Suzuki .
Cheers - Jürgen

[benjytaylor]

Originally Posted by colcreate

Avon have quoted around 340lbs (155kg) max transom weight for the 5.4 so the etec with it's alledged better running cost and better throttle response (have I been duped by Evinrude blurb) seemed to be a better choice than any 80ish 4 stoke. Agree the Merc is overweight but we have all seen bigger and heavier lumps on the back of Seariders before now. (Honda 90 4s, twin Honda 40 4s, Merc 150 2s.....seriously!) Has anyone had practical experience with these heavyweights? Suzuki sounds promising but I'm very firmly in the second hand market and the choice is limited.

I thought the Merc 75 & 80 4s were pratically the same weight at 180kg
What HP is your 2001 Merc, sounds impressive.
Oh and I have moulded a nice big bow locker and moved the console up a tad just in case.

It's 177kg, 2001 75hp merc. There is the same engine on eBay, mariner 75hp £2850 might be worth a stab. Nice set up btw very impressed!!!

[Rogue Wave]

We bought an F70 and put it on Jaspers 5M and its a stunning engine. but I don't think the 5.4 deserves to be 20hp down on power that however is your call. The last three posters are welcome to come and try it out if they want

I also don't see the point in buying an engine that is so heavy you have to build a 35kg bow ballast in to make the boat behave like it would with a proper ( all right all right) a lighter weight engine on it. Nice bow locker and filler position by the way out of interest how much faster is the 4 stroke powered boat

You won't beat a 90 BETOL Yammie on an Avon but they are harder to get hold of nowadays.

Re Honda 90's etc is anybody going to put an underpowered and overweight lump on a boat and claim they didn't have a result, but I'd be very surprised if they did. The Honda 90 power was measured at the crank so that was a 200 + kilo engine knocking out 80 horsepower that emoticon is going to be the boat hitting the waves.

before I bought an Etec I'd be talking to independent service agents to see what they feel about them



Mr. Colcrete remarkable job on your Searider must be nice to have that kind of talent. I though my latest project Powerage was going to set a new standard but yours is very hard to beat.

[benjytaylor]

I agree totally with what rogue wave says. He has extensive knowledge from what I can see on the sr5.4 and would be more than happy to put a yammie 90 on it. That is a cracking engine and I have used them for years.
I also agree that it is a ridiculous idea to have weight grp'd in the front (at least without sea trialing first) I purely did it through having the yammie 40's on it previously and it handled like a dog. They weighed 164kg. So the boat had been modified before slapping the 75 fat boy merc on it however it works a treat. I simply found the correct weight distribution from sandbags and fuel tank placement. I guess I'm lucky I get to spend over 1000hrs a year on this particular craft now, so have time to fiddle and get the bet result. I do have 3 other 5.4 and in a way I am lucky I can compare.
Very very impressed with your work and you simply have a stunning SR5.4 

[Squid Boat]

That SS transom cap is sweet.

Cheers, Don

[whisper]

Just been looking at your website, looks awesome

Avon Searider - Project 5.4

[falcon0310]

did you make that console ?

[colcreate]

It's been a while but I am finally able to get outside and work on my Searider.
1st Job was to fit Dual battery changeover switch in the left side of the top half of the console
I used an Ice cream tub and some cardboard as a makeshift mould and made a simple glassfibre mounting box to fit inside the console and accessed from the outside by an inspection hatch.
Drilled 3 x 1" holes in the back for access to the terminals and 3 x 18mm cable entry holes in the bottom. It will all get Sikaflexed in place as well as the self tappers when I do the final fit.
(Yes Falcon I made the consoles as a joint project a friend of mine).
I also bolted on a charge isolator to the side of the box.

[teamplonker]

Originally Posted by benjytaylor

It's 177kg, 2001 75hp merc. There is the same engine on eBay, mariner 75hp £2850 might be worth a stab. Nice set up btw very impressed!!!

Attachment 70365



Attachment 70366

Just looking at your set up and it looks similar weight to mine, what speed were you getting ?