Bill Higham

trd · 22 December 2010, 10:01

I was going to buy an evinrude 70hp from him, my problem is im living in Ireland and not sure is it worth taking a chance just getting it delivered without seeing it running and in the flesh. Any one have any dealings with him? Any help appreciated

chewy · 22 December 2010, 11:12

He's expensive but seems to be ok, the Rude will be ex RNLI is it?

trd · 22 December 2010, 11:30

Ya its an ex rnli engine, think its a 1999 model but commissioned in 2001. He's giving 3 months warranty with it but just worried bout taking his word on it. Will be a lot of hassle if somethings wrong with it. Very hard to get a good used outboard in Ireland.

two stroke mick · 22 December 2010, 11:54

I purchased a 40 hp tiller from him . It was Ex RNLI seemed to be a very clean unit. I never used it in anger but sold it to Andrew O reidron (posts here) you should drop him a PM to see if the enginge gave him any bother. I think he found it good

TSM

chewy · 22 December 2010, 12:18

If its direct RNLI then it should be fine, the Rudes never really gave us any problems, does it come with the stainless prop?

trd · 22 December 2010, 12:32

Im not sure if it has a stainless prop, must find out, pretty new to this, its my first rib. Bought a humber assault with a dt65 but the engine is not worth fixing, which leads me to the evinrude 70hp. Is there an advantage with stainless props?

spartacus · 22 December 2010, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by trd

Im not sure if it has a stainless prop, must find out, pretty new to this, its my first rib. Bought a humber assault with a dt65 but the engine is not worth fixing, which leads me to the evinrude 70hp. Is there an advantage with stainless props?

The stainless propeller is rigid and cuts through the water better. You will see a marginal improvement in performance (on small to medium sized hp engines). More noticable on bigger engines. One thing to be aware of, if you hit a rock, then the gearcase may strip, unlike an aluminium propeller, where you're likely to bend or break a propeller blade first.

bogib · 22 December 2010, 14:18

Bought one from them this summer, took a while for them to deliver.

We got good clean unit and the customer is very happy.

Bogi

chewy · 22 December 2010, 17:31

He'll have been supplied with the stainless props from the RNLI so you may as well have it.
We never wrecked a gearbox through striking rocks, just the prop.

willk · 22 December 2010, 19:41

If you buy - consider our very own Speedshift for the delivery. The owner is a member on here and I used them to ship from Wales to Derry recently. Good outfit, good price.

CJL · 22 December 2010, 23:30

Bought a new Verado and an ex RNLI 50hp from him.

Price on the Verado about the best on the market and the ex RNLI engine had seen very very little use - bargain!

In retrospect I wouldn't go to him for an install again. There were lots of things I would have expected him to ask me about but no phone call and when I called him they'd already fitted it all without asking. (Left hand throttles are not for me!)

Chris

ADI · 28 December 2010, 20:20

Cheapest is not always the best

clinton2006 · 30 December 2010, 19:49

I have always been wary of buying one of these engines due to the fact that most of these engines have completed a certain RNLI exercise which requires the engine to be swamped and then re-started. With an engine in very regular use this may not be to much of a problem but you will always get some salt water residue and we all know what this can do when left sitting on the lower mains bearing for a period of time (i am a natural worrier).
As far as Bill Higham marine goes, i have used the company many times and had very good service.

Cheers Clint

chewy · 30 December 2010, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinton2006

I have always been wary of buying one of these engines due to the fact that most of these engines have completed a certain RNLI exercise which requires the engine to be swamped and then re-started. With an engine in very regular use this may not be to much of a problem but you will always get some salt water residue and we all know what this can do when left sitting on the lower mains bearing for a period of time (i am a natural worrier).
As far as Bill Higham marine goes, i have used the company many times and had very good service.

Cheers Clint

Are you sure the RNLI get brand new engines then dip them in salt water just to make sure they restart....

bosun · 02 January 2011, 19:11

I've got one of these ex RNLI 70 evinrudes and I can't fault it,it came with several spare stainless props and a big box of bits including a complete spare gearbox! (mine came from an RNLI crewman not Highams)
If your humber is a 5m you'll need a 17'' stainless prop.Thats what I ended up with after trying a few.
I believe when fitted to the atlantic 21's there was some sort of snorkel/intake shut off device fitted that the RNLI removed before disposing of the engines?
An RNLI mechanic told me this,its no longer fitted to mine though.
No corrosion on mine (2001) I guess how well they were looked after depended on the station/mechanic where the engines were.

chewy · 02 January 2011, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosun

I believe when fitted to the atlantic 21's there was some sort of snorkel/intake shut off device fitted that the RNLI removed before disposing of the engines?
An RNLI mechanic told me this,its no longer fitted to mine though.
No corrosion on mine (2001) I guess how well they were looked after depended on the station/mechanic where the engines were.

They have a letter box on the air intake which shuts when activated by a mercury switch. All this is removed as it can be used on other engines.
The comment about dunking them in saltwater is bollocks.

bosun · 02 January 2011, 19:50

Thanks for that, I wondered why they bothered removing the gadget, there's no sign of anything there now. But obviously they re-used them on the replacement engines.
Yamaha 90's I believe?

chewy · 02 January 2011, 20:07

The Evinrudes have an alloy box and the Yams have a carbon fibre one.
Can't find any of the Rude's alloy airbox.

spareribs · 08 July 2012, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinton2006

I have always been wary of buying one of these engines due to the fact that most of these engines have completed a certain RNLI exercise which requires the engine to be swamped and then re-started. With an engine in very regular use this may not be to much of a problem but you will always get some salt water residue and we all know what this can do when left sitting on the lower mains bearing for a period of time (i am a natural worrier).
As far as Bill Higham marine goes, i have used the company many times and had very good service.

Cheers Clint

Surely if they see something wrong with any parts they will change them straight away, there not going to go to the lengths of practicing diving the boat under water to make sure a rescue is a success, and then leave the engine full of salt so it breaks down are they. The point is the RNLI are very vigilant about boat and engine care , almost where RNLI are the only used engines and boats out there that carry that "well looked after label" plenty of people put the label on but the're the only ones that seem carry weight. If I knew a boat of engine had been in the hands of the RNLI for 10 years , I would consider it only 5 years old compaired to an engine that someone says has been looked after, "honest mate!". But you do have a point, theres the x-rnli that ran aground or was washed down a mains sewer I supose.

Slaphead · 08 July 2012, 22:41

I bought one of the last Mariner 15 two strokes off him a few years back and got it very quickly. Obviously it came with the Mariner warranty but for the engines that come over here from him second hand, there's a chap in Newtownabbey who does the warranty work if required....can't remember his name but he should be in the yellow pages.