Cruise Desolation Sound by Zodiac SRA-750 Rib in 3 Minutes

[clloyd]

We did 10 days cruising in Desolation Sound Marine Park in BC Canada in our new Zodiac SRA-750. Epic trip. Loving the new ride.

Here's some accelerated video of the scenery.

https://vimeo.com/182941392

https://vimeo.com/182941389

https://vimeo.com/182941388

[jyasaki]

Very nice. Flat flat water, beautiful scenery. One of these days I'll drag the boat up that way.

Thanks for posting.

jky

[clloyd]

Warm water too. 70+ degrees.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Great video wish I could have full screamed it fantastic did you wild camp?

Cheers

[clloyd]

Thx

If you click the "VIMEO" logo you can watch it direct on VIMEO and full screen it. Avail in 720p and 1080p HD.

We actually stayed in a house (off the grid) on an island that had a private dock. Pretty sweet.

[mick]

Can't get onto vid without a password

[sailrib]

Looks beautiful

Question: How easy or accessible was getting fuel?

[clloyd]

re Fuel: Easy to get fuel. Cove we stayed in has a fuel dock and general store.

re passwrd protected. Strange I double checked and open to anyone. Also logged out of site and checked in a different browser and no passwrd required. Sorry if that is not the case.

[Bigtalljv]

beautiful. You need some waves for that boat

Jason

[headdamage]

Head out to Toffino to let that boat stretch it's legs

[clloyd]

It was really rough coming back in the Straights of Georgia on the way home. Luckily the family was not with. Boat is pure confidence in the shitty stuff. I gotta say, Im liking the outboard. The fuel economy is better than the diesel with the Evinrude ETEC G2.

Getting 3 nmpg at 28-30kts cruise, it doesn't drop much if you go faster either.

Boat now has a hydraulic jackplate and I can adjust engine height at full power 5.5 inches up and down. Down for really rough water. Up a bit for economy and full up for shallow and beaching.

@headadamage - yes! next year!

[mick]

Originally Posted by clloyd

re Fuel: Easy to get fuel. Cove we stayed in has a fuel dock and general store.

re passwrd protected. Strange I double checked and open to anyone. Also logged out of site and checked in a different browser and no passwrd required. Sorry if that is not the case.

Sorted it was because I was using the app
Looks superb.

[clloyd]

Can't help myself. Best vacation in recent memory. What ribbing is all about.

[sailrib]

Originally Posted by clloyd

Can't help myself. Best vacation in recent memory. What ribbing is all about.

Actually your not posting enough photo's, more pics are always encouraged.

I actually use a rib a lot at Cascade Locks during the summer and your giving me lots of incentive to take it up to Desolation for a vacation afterwards.

[tworotorturbo]

Great photos! Now show us one with that zodiac going airborne

[spartacus]

Great pictures. That Zodiac looks like it could handle anything.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by mick

Can't get onto vid without a password

first one works for me - not tried the others.

[kerny]

That's one awesome rib you have got there....and also an awesome playground :thumbup:

[ncp]

What prompted you to jet the jack plate? Automatic jack plates aren't cheap to there had to be a good reason!

Awesome pictures, looks like a great trip.

[clloyd]

@everyone
Thanks for looking and the nice comments

@sailrib
Ive seen that blue VSR in cascade locks for the sailing events. We ran safety for Double Damned this year and also the Outrigger Canoes racing.

@tworotorturbo
Airborne? Oh yeah she does that just fine.

@ncp

Good question.

After some experience with the boat in the gorge, the boat in very steep and heavy seas downwind was cavitating a bit too when the bow fell down each wave. Also, on aggresive turns, the prop would cavitate and the engine couldn't keep the boat on rail and she would come up again (Rough and not so rough conditions)

I felt that the engine was too high. It was great for fuel economy but not great for better bite. Unfortunately it was already on the lowest setting on the BIS hole pattern for the bolts.

I could either drill new holes and weld shut the old ones, or come up with another solution. Anyway, that led me to jackplates. All the jackplates actuallly are setup to give you lift but not lowering off your existing mount. So the solution involved machining new holes into the jackplate to allow it to be mounted 1.5" lower. The jackplate I have is 4.5" deep so that also offsets your engine back 4.5" which effects where the prop sits and the leverage exerted on the boat as well.

I couldn't be happier with the result. I can now go full down for rough days or when I want to be able to make aggressive turns. I can go 1-3" up for calmer days and better economy. I can go 5.5" up for beaching, low water, crossing the jetty etc.

The boats turning performance is so much better and feels like what I expect a 7M Hurricane Pedigree RIB to perform like.

Luckily with the ETEC G2, even with jackplate all the way down, the engine can still tilt all the way out of water with no clearance issues.

If I was to setup the boat without a jackplate I'd put the holes 2" lower. The single is already an XL shaft with how far the distance is from transom to deep vee bottom.

I think twins it's easier since you are not on the tallest point of the VEE.

Jackplate has a paddle control to left of wheel. It also has a guage for height on the dash. I rigged it myself. It was a pain but that saved a bunch of labor.

Then difference at 30kts cruise between all the way down (in calm seas) and 2-3" up is about .2 nmpg.