Thuderbirds are go!

[Jon Brooks]

Well I mentioned a few weeks back my new toy, Avon SR4.
After taking delivery she went right off to get the engine serviced and checked over. Few parts needed and it seems to be all fine.
We have nicked named her Thunderbird 1 at the mo and her full name is a working title!

Here are a few pix of her on her, well our, maiden launch of her on Saturday. A mate paced us and we recorded 33mph, god I forgot how much fun a little boat can really be!

The speedo is a classic! sadly not working.
Spoke to Avon and from the serial number they think the boat is of late 70's vintage.

Not sure if tpo leave her like this, make for a bouncy ride in the swell but really comfy in the smooth.

[samt]

Nice

What hp is that evinrude?

[matt h]

what a great little boat

[Jon Brooks]

Have to am really pleased with her so far.
Yes its an old Evinrude 30ph on the back.
Did have a bit of trouble at the weekend and turned out to be the cable from the kill switch to the engines. Someone had bodged a join and not sealed it correctly so put a new lenght of cable front to back and now is sweet.
For an old engine its very good, always starts 2nd or 3rd pull.

Am taking her out in the next day or so to start the clean up and re-fresh.
Going to strip her out and run run all the cables in a loom. This will also make it easier to get all the crap out of her, leaves and stuff.

Sized the dash for a radio and a little chart plotter so that will go in asap. Only problem there is no 12v out of the engine to charge a battery. Not a major issue as she will be in a garage when not being used so the battery can be topped up.

All in all a really good buy so far.

Cheers

[Nasher]

Luverly.

[Andy JC]

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

Only problem there is no 12v out of the engine to charge a battery

Surprised to hear that, even if it is pull start. I have a pull start 25hp Evinrude of a similar vintage that has a charging output.

Sure it's not got one on there somewhere?

[Jon Brooks]

There is, on the right side of the engine as you look aft, a rubber cover with pins in it.
This could well be 12v but not had chance to check as yes.

Where is it on the 25hp?

[Andy JC]

Jon,

From reading the thread here it looks quite likely that it won't have a charging output.

Best thing would be to put a meter across some of the pins and see if you get any readings. As it says in the thread, you might have an AC light generator which could possibly be modified to a charging output by adding a rectifier.

HTH

[Jon Brooks]

Cheers Andy,

That plug that the other post mentions, near where the fuel pipe goes, is exactly what I have.
Just need to see what output is has if any.

[Andy JC]

Yeah the last post seems to imply that you might, defo worth checking out - would be nice to have piece of mind at sea that your battery is charging, even if you don't rely on it for starting the motor it's useful for things like bilge pump etc.
Would also be a little less hassle than having to charge the battery after every use

[prairie tuber]

Neat boat. She'll seem like a complete teatotaller next to something as thirsty as a 9 m RIB.

[PeteSmith]

It may be a daft question but what are you planning to use her for when you have a 9m Ribcraft?

Pete

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by PeteSmith

It may be a daft question but what are you planning to use her for when you have a 9m Ribcraft?

Pete

Not daft at all Pete,

Mainly as a play thing for my daughter and me. She loves being on the water and this is a better option than letting her play in the 9m, which does does like to do. I have a couple of other idea's in mind but will let you know on those as things.

And yes she does seem teatotal campared to MDB another good thing!

Cheers

[Tim M]

Saves a bit on the fuel too I would imagine! That's why I bought a 3m Rigiflex to play with