New Boat Advice

Willwors · 15 September 2005, 20:59

I'm after a small RIB or inflatable, mainly to use as a tender for my dad's boat but also for a bit of fun as well. Would like something quick, probably tiller steer due to cost, with about 15hp and around the 3.5 metre mark give or take on either side. What boat and engine is good?

bogib · 15 September 2005, 21:02

You could look at Valiant

www.ibs-boats.com

Bogi

Willwors · 15 September 2005, 21:04

they look a bit pricey. what are views on the zodiac cadet 340.

bogib · 15 September 2005, 21:06

Pretty sure there will be possible to do good deals at Soton show

Bogi

Hugh Jardon · 15 September 2005, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willwors

I'm after a small RIB or inflatable, mainly to use as a tender for my dad's boat but also for a bit of fun as well. Would like something quick, probably tiller steer due to cost, with about 15hp and around the 3.5 metre mark give or take on either side. What boat and engine is good?

i have a quicksilver aerodeck with inflatable floor and low hours yamaha 15 hp, boat is two years old and looks much like new, yam also in superb condition with proper wheels etc that are great to pull it along with, is a superb combination of ride, quality, speed, have three props for it, all as new, but for acceleration, combination of two and high speed cruising, would highly recommend, maybe open to offers

chris

Willwors · 15 September 2005, 21:21

if you have any pictures that would be great. whats the floor like, is it hard? i have a flat floor on my present rover 260 which i hate. main reason for selling, want something that feels more sturdy and gives more speed. send pics to wills888@hotmail.co.uk

thanks

Hugh Jardon · 15 September 2005, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willwors

if you have any pictures that would be great. whats the floor like, is it hard? i have a flat floor on my present rover 260 which i hate. main reason for selling, want something that feels more sturdy and gives more speed. send pics to wills888@hotmail.co.uk

thanks

i would say the rigid floor version are probably firmer than a pumped up version but they weigh more and more fuss putting together nad transporting

floor is pretty good i would say to be honest and i would certainly recommend a quicksilver over other small ribs i have had

will pump up tomorrow and put engine on for some pics for you if weather permits

chris

Willwors · 15 September 2005, 21:25

thats great, thanks.

Richard B · 15 September 2005, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willwors

small RIB or inflatable, mainly to use as a tender... also for a bit of fun as well. Would like something quick... about 15hp and around the 3.5 metre mark

This is quite a common question, so have a search (it'll keep you busy!

) but here goes anyway...

You need to decide if you want a solid hull or a fully inflatable. Solid hulls start at about the 3.5m mark, if I remember correctly, but they aren't very deep V. This means that they will have limited sea-keeping ability (ie they will slam into waves). Fully inflatable boats (we commonly refer to them as SIBs) have an even flatter profile, and even with an inflatable keel they don't go into waves particularly well. However, they are still much better than the type with slatted wooden floors, which have a completely flat hull.

The biggest difference between solid hulls and fully inflatables is storage. If you need to store in a car boot, or in limited space on board (or back at home) then a fully inflatable boat is the one to go for.

I reckon that the best compromise at this size is a fully inflatable, with inflatable keel and floor. Zodiac make a good boat, they are the standard by which others are judged. Quicksilver make a good boat too. My personal favorite, after looking at many different brands is Lodestar http://www.lodestardirect.co.uk

As far as engines are concerned 15hp will make a 3.5m inflatable go like stink. 4-stroke if you only ever use it as a tender, 2-stroke if you intend to transport it in a car boot, and a two-stroke will be faster too - in fact it will probably scare you!

Look carefully at weights - the best package is the lightest.

HTH!

Willwors · 15 September 2005, 21:41

I will probably keep the boat in the garage but to be honest a 260 roll up fits in my car just about with my tohatsu outboard so i dont think it matters if its fully inflatable or rib cos ill have to trail it anyway. How much speed would i get from a 15hp motor. incidently i have been offered a cadet 340 with a yamaha 20 brand new for 2395. is this ridiculoulsy fast? any idea of speeds? i have also seen the Avon Rover Riblite 310 which will take a 10hp motor. any idea of speed there?

Hugh Jardon · 15 September 2005, 21:44

and get the biggest pitch possible because you will have excellent cruise then and get a smaller pitch for towing toys and acceleration

uses next to no fuel, and so so so so much fun, personally i would steer clear of a bombard 340 airdeck,

consider the following
the seat or thwart, wood is better if a fuel tank sits under it

on my bombard it had the following

nice lovely yellow bag thing at the front that looked better than it was but it took up too much room, i use a small backpack that ties onto rope at front and hangs inside, perfect for phone and wallet etc and as a bag when going off from boat

if you get an inflatable thward like i had on the bombard it is like an inflatable sausage and a complete waste of room

in the bombard then you have yellow bag at front, inflatable seat, then your fuel tank, now where do you put your feet?

important considerations in a rib or sib

i have had two bombards now, ax3 and 340 airdeck, wont look back now i have a quicksilver
chris

Hugh Jardon · 15 September 2005, 21:47

no idea of speed on mine as dont have speedo or a gps on it but it is faster than every other sib i have come across with 15 and similar length, i know cos i alway race em. my 5 year old son insists on it.......but as mentioned below it is very fast for what it is, especially with coarse pitch prop as these little things can take that easy as they are lighter than a cheese puff.

Hugh Jardon · 15 September 2005, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willwors

I will probably keep the boat in the garage but to be honest a 260 roll up fits in my car just about with my tohatsu outboard so i dont think it matters if its fully inflatable or rib cos ill have to trail it anyway. How much speed would i get from a 15hp motor. incidently i have been offered a cadet 340 with a yamaha 20 brand new for 2395. is this ridiculoulsy fast? any idea of speeds? i have also seen the Avon Rover Riblite 310 which will take a 10hp motor. any idea of speed there?

cadet 340 will probably do around 28 mph
http://www.outboards-direct.co.uk/aw...sp?vid=6&rip=7
the engine is probably around 15-1700 new so the package seems cheap enough, zodiac are good boats, try to get the following
ensure the tank is included, get wheels that fold up and down if putting in the car
try manhandling the engine and boat as if you were putting them in the car if that is what you will do, mine are around 37kilo each which is quite heavy when lifting it and moving it, into the back of a disco
also check the weight and rolled up size of the boat, it may fit in your car

what car do you have?

Richard B · 15 September 2005, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willwors

i have been offered a cadet 340 with a yamaha 20 brand new for 2395. is this ridiculoulsy fast?

Yes it is. The speed will feel incredible fast in such a small boat. I used to have a 3.6 with 18hp and although the SIB was rated for 20hp, the 18hp felt dangerously fast at full throttle. About 18 knots BTW (20mph). Don't get hung up about the numbers, they are irrelevant. It feels like 100mph!

Mollers · 15 September 2005, 22:03

How about getting another paper-round and getting a proper boat? These things are tenders.

Hugh Jardon · 15 September 2005, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

How about getting another paper-round and getting a proper boat? These things are tenders.

who pulled your chain? ;-)

Richard B · 15 September 2005, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willwors

I'm after a small RIB or inflatable, mainly to use as a tender...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

These things are tenders.

Welcome aboard, Mollulnan!

Mollers · 15 September 2005, 22:33

Cheers Dickie B

. Hey Chris, What happened to Rubnuts and his 9m "See me girls" projectile from last night? Do we think that he was fibbing?

Hugh Jardon · 15 September 2005, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

Cheers Dickie B

. Hey Chris, What happened to Rubnuts and his 9m "See me girls" projectile from last night? Do we think that he was fibbing?

all seems quiet on that front, not sure where he was coming from on that thread, i was thinking he was taking the piss out of people fortunate to have large craft with sexy engines but not entirely sure.

me i would love a 9 or 10 m scorpion but not with "see me Girls" on the back

here is what i snapped at scorpions yard on sat when i was nosing around

i think it would make a great family boat for what i need.......

should tow a ring with my 5 year old in it reasonably well

as long as i would get 1l to a nautical mile i would be happy

Mollers · 15 September 2005, 22:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hartley

all seems quiet on that front, not sure where he was coming from on that thread, i was thinking he was taking the piss out of people fortunate to have large craft with sexy engines but not entirely sure.

me i would love a 9 or 10 m scorpion but not with "see me Girls" on the back

here is what i snapped at scorpions yard on sat when i was nosing around

i think it would make a great family boat for what i need.......

should tow a ring with my 5 year old in it reasonably well

That's pretty serious, twin Merc Alpha legs with five bladed cleavers. What engines did it have? Was this their race rig?