Looking for a new sib

[SeanKent]

I have an old zodiac with a 25 on it, engine is sound but boat has past its best. Time for a new one and hope to fond something a bit newer that isn't about to have all the glue give up!

Thought I'd mention it encase anyone is selling on here or knows of one for sale.

Would ideally find an aerotec but am willing to consider other boats.

Thanks

[Fenlander]

What sort of model/age is the old Zodiac? Is it failing or do you just fancy a change?

[SeanKent]

M2 c 20 odd years old, baffles have gone, needs some glueing too

[Fenlander]

Ahh OK. To get the best chance of being free of glue issues on PVC boats you really need to look at 2005 and newer.

Assume yours is an alloy or wood floor?? You mention an Aerotec, are you looking for an air floor this time?

[SeanKent]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Ahh OK. To get the best chance of being free of glue issues on PVC boats you really need to look at 2005 and newer.

Assume yours is an alloy or wood floor?? You mention an Aerotec, are you looking for an air floor this time?

Mine is an alloy floor, the hypalon is in good condition and boat is usable (wont sell until I have bought another, don't want to be sibless !) but it's clearly hit the age where it's starting to have issues and with the baffles gone and some of the people I take out being non swimmers........

I'd look at another ali floor sib but having read all the really positive comments on the aerotec I quite fancy one of these. I pack up my boat rather than trailering (drive a van anyway) and wheel it down the beach (engine and all) on launch wheels. The aerotec is meant to be superb for this and guess with it being lighter it should go faster with the 25hp (though was reading some threads last night that said the aerotec has extra drag).

I know I definitely want something newer, I saw a post yesterday where someone said they bought a brand new aerotec for £1250 (was back in 2011) and would love to find a deal like that. Not holding my breath though, sounds too good to be true but am in no rush and hope to find a decent/newish sib for reasonable money before next season.

[Fenlander]

Trust me as someone who has this year looked for and bought a used Aerotec and then a new one... having phoned every dealer... there was something very unique about that £1250 deal. They retail at £2500+, discount is often around £2250 and in exceptional circumstances discounted to £1900... but £1250 is an odd one in a million blip.

Don't worry about any speed reduction with possible drag due to the Aerotec hull... I have done a back to back test this year against a flatter floor Zodiac 340 using the same 15hp and the Aertotec was in the region of just 1kt slower... a 25hp would have so much reserve power this would not be a factor.

Two main advantages of the Aerotec over your old Zodiac... easy of setting up and taking down plus ability in a chop. Disadvantage really only if the V floor suits your use or not. For example if you have the max people, dog, fishing gear and loads of kit etc a flatter floor is better.

Of course another to consider is the Honwave 380 air floor which new is about the same price as a used Aerotec. Great build and great value. Some have said its floor is less stiff that the Aerotec but I have no personal experience to know.

As an aside I didn't think your old Zodiac model was Hypalon, also I've owned several Hypalon SIBs going back to 1972 models and the glue has never been an issue... it's PVC ones that pull apart at the seams.

[SeanKent]

I'm pretty sure it's hypalon from everything I've read, only glue issues is where the floor meets transom, not seems on tubes.

Baffles worry me though and it is a pain to set up.

[SeanKent]

How comes you bought a new and used one?

[Fenlander]

For years they'd not suited our use then circumstances changed and I thought I'd try one. Bought a 17yr old one at a very low price (which had past repairs and I did some more) purely to trial on our Scottish holiday this year against our existing Zodiac 340 air floor.

It was always in the back of our mind if the Aerotec was that good we'd buy a new one... it was so we did! Then sold the old one on to get our money back to someone else who can give one a spin and keep/pass on as he wishes.

More here...

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/old-use...ons-68875.html

Re the Hypalon thing... it was just something in the back of my mind re your model being PVC. Usually on PVC Zodiacs (as with Aerotecs) the tube seams are all welded which never give trouble it's just the floor will come unglued as will the transom overlaps.

[Max...]

An Aerotec will appear before long, I have not run any searches for a while but check the SIB's spotted on eBay topic for some places to look. They turn up quite frequently.

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/sibs-sp...ead-68925.html

[SeanKent]

Thanks max, will do. Have seen a couple of aerotec on ebay within the past month or so, one was advertised several times, think it was up for £1200ish and 10-15 years old, I didn't think this sounded like value as assumed there was a good chance of glue issues at that age.

I'd guess that sort of money would buy me a much newer boat?

[SeanKent]

Does the Honda airfloor take a 25hp? Anyone have one that can say how they compare to aerotec?

[Max...]

The Honwave and Zodiac Fastroller SIBs are probably the two best SIB choices bar the Aerotec but neither have a proper V to the floor compared to the BAT - see the 'Which SIB?' or 'Bombard Aerotec - bastard son...' for more on this.

The larger Honwaves' will take a 20 max.

[Biggy]

I have the honwave 3.8 ie , and it will take a 25hp.
The £1200 you mention would buy you a new honwave.
Don't be put off with all the bombard is best talk, there are other boats out there which are far more capable than people give them credit for.
If you want the roll up/fold up capability but small rib performance, look at the foldable rib from foldablerib.com.
Talk to the guys on f-ribs and sibs, as a few of them have upgraded their bombards and honwave to the f-rib.
There's also a review here on the honwave. http://bit.ly/1MrBcsJ

[SeanKent]

Thanks biggy, seen these before and like the look of them but new they're out of my budget. I like the sound of how easy the bombard is to set up and pack away, just need to find one. Do like my zodiac with metal floor, guess it's similar to honwave, but like the sound of something lighter and quicker to get into the water that handles about as well, possibly better

[Wozizname]

Originally Posted by SeanKent

Do like my zodiac with metal floor, guess it's similar to honwave, but like the sound of something lighter and quicker to get into the water that handles about as well, possibly better

The Honwave IE's are not metal floor they're an inflatable 'V' hull.

[Biggy]

No probs buddy.
Beware of glue failure, and the huge waterfall over the transom on the bombard. The floor is pretty much useless for kiddies or standing fishing. But if you want to fly about in a bit of chop then yeh, I suppose that's what it's built for... If you don't mind paddling your feet lol.
Don't dismiss the Honwave T38ie , the high pressure air floor is not in the f-rib category, but it's about as good all rounder boat as any air floor.
I nearly bought the bombard, thankfully I got steered in a different direction. I'd only swap my T38ie now for an f-rib.
Good luck in your search :-)


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[SeanKent]

Sorry thought you meant the Hondas with aluminium floors. Thought Honda airfloor only went up to 20HP and I have an old 25HP 2 stroke I'm keen to use. just seen some websites showing 20 HP and others showing 25 HP for your boat?

[jamiegolf]

I got a 3D tender 380 xpro defender amazing bit of kit, German hd pvc got all extras very good in chop. It's on eBay 291616851509.
Jamie


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[Biggy]

It's deffo 25hp on mine with a max weight of 55kg dry weight.
Have a look on the link I gave you, those stats were taken from the Honwave Manual.
Remember the AE is aluminium floor and the IE is the high pressure inflatable floor.


Member of F-RibsAndSibs.Com