hello, newbie to the group

[Jason Welch]

Hi every one, i am just about to purchase my first SIB, mainly because i need a boat to get to the other side of a large reservoir im fishing, i can only row on the reservoir as it is a nature reserve to, this will be the first boat ive owned and have been offered a Quicksilver 310 airdeck, mainly because my wife and i would like to use it from the beach for fishing too as well as rivers and lakes, i will be getting an outboard for the beach etc! i have been offered the SIB for £700 can anyone advise me if this is a good choice and price as like i say i am a complete novice, thanks and hope to be part of the community soon.
Jase

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Jason Welch

Hi every one, i am just about to purchase my first SIB, mainly because i need a boat to get to the other side of a large reservoir im fishing, i can only row on the reservoir as it is a nature reserve to, this will be the first boat ive owned and have been offered a Quicksilver 310 airdeck, mainly because my wife and i would like to use it from the beach for fishing too as well as rivers and lakes, i will be getting an outboard for the beach etc! i have been offered the SIB for £700 can anyone advise me if this is a good choice and price as like i say i am a complete novice, thanks and hope to be part of the community soon.
Jase

Hi Jase and welcome to Ribnet. I am not a sibber myself but a ribber but there will be a few along to advise on your purchase who have the correct background and knowledge.
In the meantime I wish you many safe happy hours with your sib.
Cheers
J

[Max...]

Hi Jason,

Welcome! Do bear in mind SIBs are not much fun to row and they make little way in the water and are very easily blown around. Is there the option of using an electric OB?

£700 may be a little toppy for a 3.1m QS, do you have a link to the sale?

[Jason Welch]

thanks Jambo.

Max,
i dont have a link as its at a marina about an hour from me and went to have a look this week,

i do have the option to use an electric motor on the reservoir if needed

Jase

[Fenlander]

Welcome to the forum Jason.

Loads of stuff to read here... first have you seen the "sticky" thread http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/which-s...sib-62208.html which gives you some ideas to start from.

Is this Quicksilver brand new because it's about the price of a new Honwave around that length which are equally as good. For £100-£200 more you should get a whole used outfit including outboard and sometimes launch wheels etc. Like this outfit that sold recently...

Quicksilver Inflatable Boat/Dinghy with Mariner 8 2 stroke engine | eBay

Max who will be about later I'm sure is the no.1 guy for linking to interesting outfits on Ebay around a given budget.

Edit: Oh he already beat me to it!

[Jason Welch]

hi Fenlander,

yes i have read the which sib post, very interesting lots of info thank you
the quicksilver is used not a new one

just thought a post might give me a better idea of you guys as to whether i was being overcharged or not as i really dont have much idea yet as to the price of boats just thought a bit of input from you guys would help me get my head around buying my first Rib or Sib

Jase

[Fenlander]

OK well look at this one that just sold... a 3.2m air floor Honwave for £455. That's nearer the money I'd want to pay at this end of the season... and it had launch/transom wheels.

Honda Honwave 3.2 Airdeck Inflatable Dinghy | eBay

[Fenlander]

Or this Honwave 3.2 air floor with Honda 5hp engine sold for £890...

Boat Honwave inflatable dinghy + Honda 4 Stroke 5hp Engine | eBay

You can see price pattern forming!

[Jason Welch]

thats excellent Fenlander thanks for your help i will hold off and keep looking

[Max...]

Yes, agreed! For another £400/500 and some searching and patience you will find a complete outfit of SIB/engine, ideally if planning sea trips then the forum consensus of 3.4m and a 2 stroke 9.8 - 15hp and probably some extras (pump, LJ's, etc) thrown in. £500 is the sort of price for a nice used QS, Honwave etc. Maybe a little more for a Zodiac Fastroller or similar. Won't waffle anymore - all in the sticky or other recent similar Q's. But if rowing is going to be a major part then choose the SIB carefully, some are better suited to rowing. Or forget the whole SIB thing and buy a tub or dinghy better suited to rowing.

[jeffstevens763@g]

I know I keep plugging this no benifitt to me but a good site to compare SIBS & engine packages of loads of manufactures (Ron hale marine) when I bought my rig this year it was £1000 cheaper than anyone else,seamark nunn seam to be competitive too.so when buying secondhand you have a comparison some good stuff out there on eBay if you know what to look for
Good luck

[Jason Welch]

thanks for the information guys, made me stop and look at a different angle, much appreciated

[Mikefule]

Rowing a SIB is hard work compared to a hard boat. If you row a wooden rowing boat, you give a good pull on the oars and it glides for a bit before the next oar stroke. Because SIBs are generally light, quite dumpy in shape, and they ride high int he water, they are very sensitive to the wind and tend not to glide between strokes. The best way to row a SIB is lots of short oar strokes rather than a few long ones. They are not really rowing boats.

That said, a few years ago I rowed my SIB across Loch Long to a dive site - but mainly to say I'd done it.

There are lots of cheap SIB hulls around. Unless you are keen to buy new,bide your time.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Have a look at takakat bit on the expensive side but the light 3m boat looks a good prospect it's a catamaran plane with low hp and stable.