Which engine for Ribcraft 4.8

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 23:15

What do people think. Im currently pondering over either a Mariner 50 4-stroke or a 60 2-stroke.

The uni rib has a 60 4-stroke which is plenty of power. It's so quiet and smooth. However I dont think student funds will run to a 60 4-stroke. Im a tiny bit worried 50hp won't be enough power (and if I get the 50 I will always be thinking about the 10hp I don't have). However it will be a lot more economical than the 60.....

Im confused. Does anyone have any experiance of running a Mariner 50 4-stroke (or any other 50 for that matter) on the back of a Ribcraft 4.8 - if so what top speed do you get?

Hightower · 18 August 2006, 23:40

Howard Zippy ran a Yam 50 4stroke....PM him.

matt h · 20 August 2006, 14:26

i had a 70 suzuki four stroke on mine and did me no favours,i tried them all afterwards and a perfect ongine would be a e tec 75 in terms of weight or a 60 2 stroke, for weight and power, good boat tho !!

Tim M · 20 August 2006, 17:26

I really don't want anything bigger than a 4-stroke. I've been looking on boats and outboards and theres a few Mariner/Merc 60 2-strokes. There is also a nearly new 50 4-stroke which I quite fancy. The smoothness and quietness of a 4-stroke makes it really appleaing. I would love to know though how much speed I will loose with that engine over a 60-2 stroke.

BogMonster · 20 August 2006, 17:44

I was window-shopping on the Ribcraft website yesterday and the max for a 4.8 is 60hp so would a 75hp be pushing it a bit? I guess it would go well though

Unrelated to the question, but there are some nice video clips on there too, I like the 4.8 one in particular

ribit · 20 August 2006, 19:09

XR2 that way you would be so quick you would be back before you left

Tim M · 20 August 2006, 19:13

As I said the uni Ribcraft has a 60 on the back and that feels a tad flighty at WOT so I dread to think what a 75 would be like.

matt h · 20 August 2006, 19:50

my suzuki 75 four stroke did 36 knots tops which was litterally too fast for it, it used to chine very quickly,and quickly flick out of control, BUT would struggle to get on the plane with 3 medium build persons on it, (as its ass was so heavy)
if i had too do that set up again, i would put a Yamaha 60 four stroke (110 kgs) Suzuki was 162 kgs, it was way too heavy or i would go for a e tec 60 (107 kgs or if your waterskiing a 75 e tec at 138kgs,those are the only decent sized units i would consider,

ribit · 20 August 2006, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

my suzuki 75 four stroke did 36 knots tops which was 162 kgs,

Was it made from lead, xr2 200hp+ 159kg

Golly · 21 August 2006, 19:35

I've got a 4.8 with a 60HP Suzuki 4 stroke. 2005 model bought earlier this year with only about 10 hours use on the boat/engine. Goes pretty well - I can just get 30 knots with 2 fairly substantial adults on boards, but feels very stable at that speed. Makes me think it could take either a bigger engine or a lighter one. Wouldn't want to go with any less HP.

Also agree that Ribcraft recommend 60HP max, but the Suzi DF60 does seem pretty big for the HP. Very smooth and quiet when pottering, though, and I don't need to put much fuel in her.

Gerry

Tim M · 21 August 2006, 19:39

Im 95% sure Im going with a Mariner 60 2-stroke now. I don't want to put any more than 60 on it, but I want the best performance I can possibly can within my budget. It's not like a 60 is going to drink that much fuel anyway even if it is a 2-stroke (compared to a 115 2-stroke anyway!)

robin · 21 August 2006, 19:48

Tim

My 4.8 had an etec 50.
Did 32 knots (was swinging a rather large prop) didn't use much fuel
Was a superb boat but would have been superberer (arf) with an etec 60.

Happy shopping

Tim M · 21 August 2006, 19:51

Thanks Robin

Have had a look at e-tecs but I think they're out of my budget.

ADS · 22 August 2006, 11:34

Tim,
My sailing club has a Raider 4.8 (Same as the Ribcraft 4.8) with a 50HP Mariner 4stroke (not efi), tops out at about 30knots and feels like it needs more power, ideal for a rescue boat though.
Ribcraft have fitted several with 75HP ETECS for skiing although I think they have been sold to employees.
I had a friend with a 4.8 powered by a 60HP Mariner EFI 4stroke, very nice combination, did around 35 knots and extra economical. I have found the EFI 4strokes to be more responsive than the older designs still running carbs such as the Hondas. A 60HP 2 stroke would be lively, how about a Tohatsu 50 TLDI (direct injection, do they do a 60HP variant of this????)

matt h · 22 August 2006, 16:50

60 two stroke would be perfect!

rbw156 · 23 August 2006, 18:20

I agree ... 60hp would be ideal. Last year I had a go in a demo Ribcraft 4.8 with a 75hp. The acceleration was awesome, but perhaps a little over powered for day to day use.

Tim M · 13 September 2006, 11:20

I got a Mariner 60 2-stroke in the end. Took it out for it's first test run yesterday and got 32 knots out of it. I think it needs raising though as there was a lot of spray from the lower leg.

Jimbo · 13 September 2006, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

I got a Mariner 60 2-stroke in the end. Took it out for it's first test run yesterday and got 32 knots out of it. I think it needs raising though as there was a lot of spray from the lower leg.

You should be getting substantially more than that. The Uni rib with a 60hp 4 Stroke BigFoot Mariner (big heavy engine) I have managed to get up to 37.5kts, with just me on it.

What sort of revs are you pulling?

Tim M · 13 September 2006, 15:20

Not sure (no rev counter yet) but we certainly weren't hitting full revs.