Quicksilver 420 Alu Hull inflatable

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by matt h

Just to chip in here, 30 four strokes of varying tyres weigh alot more that the 20f/s if you want to wheel it around , light is the key, my 20 merc weighs 45kg, if it needs dragging up a beach thats a challenge. Along a beach is fine.

Yeah ..,,,but you're only 3'6"!

[matt h]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Yeah ..,,,but you're only 3'6"!

)) you need to stay off the egg flied lice and salty porky balls. #justsayin! ))

[jeffstevens763@g]

Donny what size prop are you running mate

[Wildrake]

Nice mod!
Good idea add a auxiliary outboard!
I bought my alurib 420 on december and i m really happy of this mini rib
I use my quicksilver with a 20cv 4t but for the next season want to add steering system and a new 30cv 4 t

This is my Quicksilver we called it "Nergigante"
Here a video
https://youtu.be/HRxPzFT899Y

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Yeah ..,,,but you're only 3'6"!

Oi!! Leave the lad alone[emoji1]

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Oi!! Leave the lad alone[emoji1]

He loves it!

[The Gurnard]

Hi Wildrake..nice to see other folks setups so thanks for posting yours

Well the moment of truth finally arrived..its all very well having a pretty boat but if it cant handle a bit of chop..its not much use to me. How did the Grey Gurnard fair ?

You will have to watch this video to find out. .. no bits fell off her... so I managed to secure things well....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NpFkPPpKRw

Yup..Im delighted with the new boat

[Maximus]

She looks well Mate...and things will only improve as you get to know each other!
Happy to hear you are pleased with the New Gurnard!
Westward Ho!

[Bern Hanreck]

Gawd Bless all who " Rib " in her

Look forward to your next spate of adventures sir......

[smallribber]

Excellent video and very pleased she passed your test and you are also very pleased with your new boat. I am sure also that several people will watch your videos and by motivated to buy the same craft

[Fenlander]

That new boat is looking great Donny... and performing very well too from the look of it.

I never have to worry about catching too much air whatever the trim position... Mrs F on the middle seat keeps the bow down so we have more of a biblical parting of the waves!

Anyway it's nice to see a hard hull SIB doing so well (insert emoji of choice).

[Limecc]

Really happy for you Donny and what excellent shake-free video.
What is your minimum planing speed incidentally? This could give you a nice fuel saving advantage over the soft hull.

[Windsurfer]

Originally Posted by matt h

Just to chip in here, 30 four strokes of varying tyres weigh alot more that the new version 20f/s if you want to wheel it around , light is the key, my 20 merc weighs 45kg, if it needs dragging up a beach thats a challenge. Along a beach is fine as is wheeling it down a sandy beach.
Yamaha 30 weighs 94kgs Suzuki 30 71kgs, for me there was a trade off ref power and ease of launching and recovery, i don’t need to dip the trailer for recovery

Hi Matt , thanks for the info.
Ive been looking at the outboard/small rib weights etc and compared to my 15 2stroke at 35kgish and honwave 3.2 at 35kgs anything extra is going to be hard work at my launch spot that is a long shingly beach with steep sections.
So a larger boat 4.2 + 30hp would mean a beach buggy launching trolly and electric winch but not sure i won't the added hassle etc!
Other option would be a 3.8 and new 20hp 4 stroke, probably still need electric winch to get that back up the beach though...

[The Gurnard]

Thanks for the kind comments guys .. and yup..I am delighted with the new boat although we are still getting to know each others characteristics. At least now there is some feedback on these types of lightweight RIBS complete with videos to back up my own thoughts on them.

To end this build thread ..here is the full video of my chop test where I had a very enjoyable day going round the island of Lismore then the length of loch Etive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08R8u3DtGms

I will add for additional info ..that in the conditions, it would have taken me longer in the old “Gurnard” to cover the 66miles ..and also I would have lost my teeth being rattled around that course in the F Rib. I’m getting 60-65 miles per 25litre tank in the new boat compared to the old SIB which was 50-55 miles per 25 litre tank. The 25HP two stroke is not reving its guts out trying to keep a good speed going therefore not so noisy ... and as such..Im now in no hurry to upgrade the Outboard for a four stroke..which may restrict the use of an Aux mounted on the transom as they generally have wider cowls.

Probably my biggest surprise was how easy it was to launch on my own using rollers instead of bunks. Not that I used much effort with bunks as the whole trailer ..including tow hitch had to be submerged to float the big SIB off. Now, on a reasonable beach, I don’t even need the water above the wheel bearings..and it was the same on recovery.

Hope this thread was of interest and my thanks for reading it.

Best regards
Grey Gurnard

[Steve509926]

Hi Mr GG, stumbled across your thread whilst searching for SIBing on Loch Etive. Fantastic, so descriptive, and great video's. Provides food for thought when my back finally gives up. When the caravan is no more and I can tow a trailer a lightweight RIB is something I will definitely be looking at.

[The Gurnard]

Hi Steve ..thanks for your kind words on the videos and also reminding me about this write up. I was laying the boat up for the winter and servicing the 25HP outboard today. Its now under covers ready for the cold winter weather.

For me .. It was a short season from mid June to end of September but I managed to run up a few hours in the boat , including some great multi day adventures. My opinion on the boat has not changed in the slightest. Its one of the best boats I have owned and certainly the easiest to launch and recover with rollers on the trailer. Far easier than the big SIB with its bunked trailer.

Although it out performs the SIB in both manoeuvrability and speed.. I will say that the SIB went the same places as the RIB and also handle heavy seas as well... although a bit slower.

Therefore it is all a compromise.. if you want more space and better value for money..a heavy SIB on a trailer is still a worthy boat. If you want to spend twice as much on a boat and have a little less space ..but more speed with ability to turn on a sixpence then the RIB is undoubtedly the boat for that.

I will add that after a couple of days pulling donuts in the RIB, I lost interest in doing tight turns etc .. as it is not required for exploring remote coasts ... so manoeuvrability is not a selling point for me. However fuel efficiency is ..it is almost 15% more efficient in using fuel at the same cruising speed as the SIB.

The only thing that I have done in the RIB that I wouldn’t do in the SIB when I had it ... was go through the Falls Of Lora on full spring tide flow. I always suspected the drag of the slower SIB would not manage it with the 25HP outboard. Knowing the RIB is more efficient I was keen to try it. It JUST made it .. as you can see in this video .. I think if I was in the SIB..I would have been swimming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aln089ZOJAg

(Although it was my first time in full spring tide flow ..I often go through the falls when there is a bit less flow)

I will still be boating on good days throughout the winter ..but using the lightweight 2.75m F Rib and 6HP as its even easier than the RIB to launch and can be used anywhere .. as long as the weather is good.

Yup..all boats are compromises ..not one does everything I want of them.

Best Regards
The Gurnard

[Steve509926]

I would definitely agree that all boats are a compromise. Years ago (longer than I care to remember) I took a kayak through the Falls of Lora on a spring tide, with a few friends of course, but I don't think I'd ever be confident enough to take a SIB through.
Only started SIBing in July/August but I'm hooked already, hence me looking at Loch Etive for next years Scottish adventure!
Enjoy your good days throughout the winter and the great days next summer.

[jeffstevens763@g]

https://youtu.be/qipICFHRpxM

Some good fun to be had

[Steve509926]

Good fun indeed Jeff, can't bend enough now to even sit in a kayak!
Another place we really enjoyed was under the bridge at Ballachulish on a springtide, now that's a place I think I would try a SIB.

[Steve509926]

Something I ment to ask Mr GG, what's a "transducer"?