Lightweight SIB advice

[Hurt]

Hello,

I have the chance to keep a SIB in a rack and outboard in a locker near the river, as such I'm looking for advice on the best setup to get. I would like to take my family of 4 on the river and at sea, but i'll be doing the lifting/launching solo.

From my research I'm after a 9.8hp 2-stroke Tohatsu and a Honwave 3.2 airdeck. I want to buy secondhand so want something common enough it's likely to come up in the next couple months and these seemed like popular recommendations?

Any advice on other engines or boats to consider?

Kind regards

[Wazzajnr]

Good luck finding the twatsu, they are like rocking horse doodoo.
You say 4 up, is that 4 adults? If so, that's gonna feel awful cramped on a 3.2.
2 adults 2 kids is pushing it a bit.
Also, depending how big everyone is, it's possible 9.8hp might struggle a bit. 2 adults and 1 9yo is doable but anything more than that I would want something a bit bigger.
Most 10hp motors in 2 stroke guise are manageable if you're reasonably fit.

[Steve509926]

Hi, IMO anything less than a 3.6 is going to be a very, very snug fit and with a 9.8hp Tohatsu, you will struggle to get on the plane.

I have an SD360 with a 15hp efi Merc:-

2 adults, dog and a bit of kit - handles and planes very well.
2 adults, teenager- small adult, dog and kit - handles and planes ok
2 adults, 2 teenagers, dog and kit - handles like a soggy mattress and falls off the plane a lot.
4 adults and kit - OK at displacement speed, not enjoyable to be on the tiller

[GARYSHORT]

Agree with above. Go with a 15hp. Consider a hard floor (aluminum or composit). Make sure yo have oars mounted to the side too.

[Steve509926]

Can't comment on an aluminium floor as I've never had one, but the OP did say he wanted a lightweight SIB which would tend to lean towards an airdeck.

[909]

If you can lift :

120lbs get a 30 HP 2 stroke
70lbs get a 15 HP 2 stroke

For a family of 4 get a 340

[Hurt]

Thank you for the advice. I've got to be able to get this out the water on my own - up a gravel slope. Then upend the boat into a rack and carry the outboard into a clubhouse and into a locker. So if I need bigger based on my requirements:

What's the lightest 15hp?

Honwave don't make a 3.4/3.6, so what would you recommend?

[Fenlander]

Lightest 15hp is any of the Mercury, Mariner, Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude/Johnson 2-strokes. Around 35/36kg. Still awkward and heavy over a distance, uneven ground, steps etc.

Re size... What is the makeup of your family... 4 adults... 2 adults and two small children maybe??

A gravel slope is energy sapping if just yourself... so the lightest possible outfit that will fit you all is essential.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Hurt

Thank you for the advice. I've got to be able to get this out the water on my own - up a gravel slope. Then upend the boat into a rack and carry the outboard into a clubhouse and into a locker. So if I need bigger based on my requirements:

What's the lightest 15hp?

Honwave don't make a 3.4/3.6, so what would you recommend?

Dragging a dead weight up a gravel/sand slope is torture. Regardless of what engine you decide on, get yourself an outboard trolley. Drop the outboard onto the trolley at the water’s edge & split the load. Trust me on this.

[Wazzajnr]

On a flat smooth hard beach, wife and I can take our a good few hundred yards. 3.2 Ali floor with johnyrude 9.9 on the back using transom wheels.
At ullswater, the pull up the slope from the beach is 20yds and kills us.
We normally take the car onto the beach now and chuck everything out then park up and set up by the water.
Where are you based? If we knew that, a kind owner may be happy to show you what they have and you can try moving it by yourself.

[Hurt]

Thanks! I’m in Totnes, Devon.

Any recommendations on a 3.4 or 3.6 boat?

[Wazzajnr]

I bought my 3.2 off amazon in 2015. Chinese cheapy basically to see how I got on with it. Still going strong.
The boatworld boats look pretty good. If you want to pay a bit more, the ellings are well thought of but you will struggle to get one now as they are Ukrainian.
Excel is another good brand.
Unfortunately, I'm up north so unless you want a trip to Wales or the lakes or to wait until August when I'm down there, I won't be much help on the demo front!

[Steve509926]

Morning, are you going to be using the slip at Totnes and storing your sib at the back of the rowing club?

[Hurt]

No at the stoke gabriel club, but will also take it to hope cove etc on the roof rack!

[Steve509926]

At Stoke Gabriel you will definitely need a good outboard trolley to get the OB down to the SIB and fit it/remove it at the waters edge. With a "good" quality (not the one I bought!) trolley you will be able to move upto a 15hp (46kg) OB
You should easily be able to move an empty SIB (55 - 60kg) with well fitted transom wheels.
I wouldn't even attempt to try and move the SIB either to or from the water with the OB attached at Stoke Gabriel, you'll do yourself an injury. The slip at Totnes is much, much easier, and can be used at most states of tide.
Launching at Hope Cove is the same, if your on your own, split the load to get it to the waters edge.
When you say, put it on the roof rack, what vehicle do you have?

[Hurt]

Good advice thank you! I’ve got a big box roof rack on an xc90 so should be fine

[Steve509926]

If it's just yourself putting your sib on the roof rack, you will stuggle, in fact I'd say you won't be able to do it. We stopped doing it as I know I would have put my back out eventually and my better half started to refuse to do it!
We now use a trailer.

https://www.rib.net/forum/attachment...5&d=1597266582

[Blankton]

I put mine onto the roofrack by Myself - Passat estate. Its a fairly heavy aluminium floor Yamaha boat as well. I think with the right technique its pretty easy, when people try to "help" it generally makes it worse!

I start with the boat back-to-back with the car. Then lift up the bow of the boat and walk it up onto the cones. Once it goes past vertical I lower it down onto the car with the bow line.

Once the boat is resting on the roof, its just a case of hotching it forward 'til its in position. It ends up upside down with the bow pointing forward, which I think is the most aerodynamic arrangement for driving.

I think OP needs to consider who will usually be using the boat, if it is always 4 people, then a bigger boat might be best. If it is generally just going to be one or two people, but occasionally 4, then I would try and make do with a 3m boat.

[Steve509926]

I tried that technique. Doesn't work as well when it's a tall vehicle (Navara) and the roof bars are well forward of the rear of the vehicle (rear canopy)
Good if you can do it, but I couldn't have done it on my own.

[Hurt]

Thanks all, I'll keep an eye for a suitable airdeck boat a 15hp 2-stroke.

Can you recommend a launching trolley/OB trolley as mentioned?