First proper sib help

morgan968 · 30 May 2013, 10:32

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking at getting my first proper sib, at the moment I'm trying to get a honda marine t35. Any head up on these would be great.

I know it can take up to a 20hp which is what I would like but is a short or long shaft outboard best.

With my smaller 2.5 sib I've got a small 3.3hp short shaft but I was wondering would a long shaft be better for a larger boat?

Also if anyone could give me a information on other decent sibs which are above 3 meters and able to go out into the sea safely. I wish to fish from the boat so a hard floor is a must also i want to use it for fun such as with a donut.

I don't suppose anyone knows what the robe is called which connects to the boat and then to the donut.

Any help would be very much appreciated, thank you

Morgan

AJ. · 30 May 2013, 10:37

Definitely short shaft it will perform better. Long shaft tend to cause splashback. Have a look at Bombard.

tom72 · 30 May 2013, 11:50

Bombard 380 Aerotec with a 25 don't be put off it may have a air floor but I have had it for 11 years and fish off it never had any problems I also pull a donut with my sons on 14 and 15 stones only 1 at a time .it is also a lot more stable than most normal inflatables hope this helps

morgan968 · 30 May 2013, 12:25

Thanks for that AJ, I've just had a quick look now and what do you think about the zodiac 3.5 mk2? Would you say these are better than the honda marine t35?

The only thing I can see different is that the zodiac can take up to a 40hp instead of the Honda which can take a up to a 20hp

Thanks

Morgan

morgan968 · 30 May 2013, 12:26

Thanks for that Tom, that sound perfect for what I want! I just worry about hooks with the inflatable floor!

I will check them out now and see what there like

Thanks

Morgan

AJ. · 30 May 2013, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by morgan968

Thanks for that AJ, I've just had a quick look now and what do you think about the zodiac 3.5 mk2? Would you say these are better than the honda marine t35?

The only thing I can see different is that the zodiac can take up to a 40hp instead of the Honda which can take a up to a 20hp

Thanks

Morgan

I honestly couldn't tell you as I only have a diddy SIB. I have seen the Bombard as PeterM on here has one and it is as previously posted a nice stable SIB. I know some people on here put old carpet on the airdeck to prevent punctures

whisper · 30 May 2013, 13:15

Bombard 380 for sure even my mum had a go in PeterM's yesterday! It was awesome 4 up with a 25 short shaft

morgan968 · 30 May 2013, 14:35

Thank you for all your feedback but I'm still unsure.

I do really like the honwave t35 but I also like the bombard. There is one up for sale at the moment with a solid floor as I'm unsure about the inflatable floors and wish to continue with a solid floor.

Would both these boats be able to attach a donut to the back with an 15-20hp outboard?

Some places which I've read say the honwave is slightly better than the zodiac.

I have seen a zodiac funtua mk 2 which looks quite nice, what are these like compard to the 380 and the t35?

Thank you

Morgan

whisper · 30 May 2013, 14:42

You should contact PeterM, he has a spare bombard 380 in grey! You never know, he might let it go???

tom72 · 30 May 2013, 14:47

all the boats you are looking at are good all I can say in favour of the bombard that I have got is the when the sea gets rough the bombard is properly the best of the bunch as the deep v hull gives it the advantage it respond's more like a rib

whisper · 30 May 2013, 15:13

I've got an ex RNLI Y Class and it's awesome if you can find one, the only disadvantage it really needs a trailer although some on here use an estate car....

Johnny5vikk · 30 May 2013, 17:00

Hi there. I have the t35 ally floor and use it for bass fishing in west Wales. I think it's brilliant. I have a 15 hp four stroke which is quick with just me on board. Would go for a 20 though if you want to pull doughnut etc. only down side for me is it is quite heavy, but I trailer mine so no prob. If you don't trailer I would say that inflating and putting in ally floor every trip would be a right pain in the arse. Can't recommend it more. Good luck

Landlockedpirate · 30 May 2013, 18:15

I had a Honwave T40 last year with a 20hp 2 stroke Yamaha. Really really nice boat, excellent quality and massive interior. Performance was OK, but really needed the Max HP rating to make it sparkle, would tow a light person on a ringo or kneeboard. The T35 with the 20 will be better. It was a pain to assemble so bought a trailer.

But I really wanted something I could roll up easily and put in the boot, managed to get hold of a Zodiac Futura Mk2C fastroller over the winter and mated it with a 25hp 2 stroke Yamaha. To say its quick is an understatement, it also has a bit more room than the Bombard 380 because of its greater width.

I don't think you will be disappointed with any of the 3 boats you are considering, they are all excellent buys.

morgan968 · 30 May 2013, 18:42

Thank you for all your feedback about this, it's getting harder on which to go for now

I do agree about the zodiac as these can take up to a 40hp. The issue I have is that I can't get a trailer as I have no where to place it, so I need to get it in and out the car each time.

I don't want to purchase a boat and find I wouldn't be able to upgrade the engine so it's fast enough to pull a donut and possibly ski/wakeboard. That's why I want to get the best I can now rather than buying one then regretting not getting a better more powerful sib.

I don't the effort about getting the boat in and out the car each time along with the engine as I just want the best I can for on the water fun/fishing.

If I found a second hand honda t35 in good condition how much should I be pay for it also with a zodiac mk2 funtua how much should these be?

Thank you

Morgan

morgan968 · 30 May 2013, 18:44

Sorry I miss read the zodiac can take up to a 25hp

Johnny5vikk · 30 May 2013, 18:51

The t35ae only costs 850 pounds brand new so under 500 for second hand. I really think you will regret getting ally floor if you intend inflating/deflating each time. Also you would need a two stroke engine so it can lay flat in a boot. The effort involved in packing car, assembling boat at waterside and carrying heavy engine to boat is a real bind in my opinion. But good luck with your choice.

morgan968 · 30 May 2013, 19:21

Thank you for that johnny but I have no other option, I've got no drive and no garage so a trailer is out the window.

I'd love to have a trailer!

I know it might be a pain having to re-build every time but that's something which I will need to do if I want to get out on the water.

Do you think the t35 will be quick enough with a 20hp on the back? Also I'm thinking of using out in the bay where I live, do you think it'll be safe enough on the sea's?

Thank you

maxitope · 30 May 2013, 19:32

i have t40ae with 20hp 4stroke great fishing platform and will take 30hp but as said befor bit of a pain to inflate /deflate pluss engin rather heavy to lift in and out of boot with 20hp 3adults on i get 21knts gps, hope this helps.

thestig1973 · 30 May 2013, 19:47

I've had a honwave T35 ally floor on a trailer, cracking sib but I definately would opt for air floor if your not using a trailer

Like "landlockedpirate" I now have a futura mk2 fast roller, with a yamaha 25 2smoke, I transport it in the boot, assemble each trip and inflate with a bravo electric pump. This setup is very quick, would easily pull a donut, very stable on calm waters, it's good fun in the sea if your feeling brave but like others have said the bombards deep v should perform better in the rough.

IMHO it depends on budget, obviously honwave are much cheaper than bombard/zodiac, especially new, but after owning honwave and zodiac I can see why the futura is more expensive..... Id still never pay the listed 3k + personally though

Johnny5vikk · 30 May 2013, 20:07

Yeah 20 hp will be rapid on your own and very quick 2 up, would say that 3up would get considerably slower but realistically not enough room to fish 3 anyway. I get about 23 knots on my own with 15hp with good conditions, prob about 18 knots 2up. As for sea capability I thinks it handles chop very well for small craft and is very stable, obviously check weather before every trip. If I went out without any fishing gear it would handle quit rough conditions if it had to but fishing rods and tackle boxes don't mix well with rough stuff. All I can say is that everyone I hear from with solid floor sibs end up getting a trailer if they intend to keep it or change to an air floor if they want to continue using a car. Having done the inflate/deflate thing I can tell you that packing a car with all the stuff( boat/ally floor, pump, fuel, engine, fishing tackle, cool box, clothing, food) drive to your destination(in my case anything from 30 mins to 1 hour and 30 mins) unload car by water side pump up boat, insert floor, inflate to full pressure load up boat with tackle, food , fuel then carry engine to boat(massive struggle if on your own) bearing in mind is tide rising/falling while all this is going on. Park car. After all that your ready to go(this may have taken between 2 and three hours to do. Then repeat on return. Don't let this put you off the t35 but that's the reality of using it out of a car for fishing. Don't mean to be negative but have been there and got the t shirt. Whatever you decide let us know what you get and how you get on