T32

[gtflash]

Looking for a second hand honwave t32 preferably with something around 10-15hp.

Is Honwave my best choice for quality and ride? Looking for a beach launch boat when we go caravaning for two adults and a child.

I've read loads of info but still new to Sib brands

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by gtflash

Looking for a second hand honwave t32 preferably with something around 10-15hp.

Is Honwave my best choice for quality and ride? Looking for a beach launch boat when we go caravaning for two adults and a child.

I've read loads of info but still new to Sib brands

Really depends upon what you are using it for/expecting from it. 20 mile beach hoping or just a play boat from the beach for a couple of hours. IMO it's a bit small for 2 +1 plus day kit, I'd be looking for 3.5+
Also the big draw back (again IMO) is the unusable upswept bow, a lot of space is wasted at the front.

[gtflash]

Beach hoping. Exploring Cornish coast by sea. Maybe tow the inflatable.

Pretty experienced with big ribs but clueless on small ones and their capabilities. Used to use a flatacraft f3 so hoping for that level of fun. . It would have to fit in the boot of x5 or q5 with engine. And be drag able down a long beach on my own.

[Steve509926]

I still think a 3.2 will be too small, and although a Honwave is good quality, I think "usability" (is that a word?) the upswept bow has to be taken into consideration.
I'd be looking towards an Excel or Boatworld 3.6 airdeck with a minimum of 15hp 2s or 20hp EFI.
I had a Excel SD360 with a 15hp Efi, 2 adults and a dog. It was definitely slightly underpowered but moving up to a 20hp efi made a huge difference.
Remember 2 adults and small child will soon be 2 adults a teenager, space will be tight on a 3.2.

[Fenlander]

>>>be drag able down a long beach on my own...

This is the bit that worries me. You mean on transom wheels? Tough job even with fat tyres. Every bit of extra weight makes this really difficult and if the sand is soft then pulling back out solo up a beach is a pig.

I think compromise will be the situation here. Either go slightly larger as Steve says for safer and more enjoyable coastal jaunts but choose easier launch locations such as a concrete slip or good hard. Or stick to small and light for an easier life but somewhat restricted outings.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I think compromise will be the situation here. Either go slightly larger as Steve says for safer and more enjoyable coastal jaunts but choose easier launch locations such as a concrete slip or good hard. Or stick to small and light for an easier life but somewhat restricted outings.

That word again "compromise". I'm still looking for the perfect compromise, don't think I'll ever find it though,!
However, take a look at a Sib, which although I've no practical experience of, I've looked at very seriously.
The Boatworld Explorer 320 Air V Floor Inflatable. Big enough to be useable (wide beam, full length), light enough to handle and looks very good quality. If it was rated at 20hp I would have bought it last year at SBS I was that impressed with it. IMO it was far superior to the T32.

[gtflash]

This is one of our regular summer camps, I see lots of people with sibs, they pull them on transom wheels from campsite and onto beach. Beach has a a dedicated launch area with some Matt for vehicles to drive on (mostly the launch tractor).

Anyway compromise and sweet spot info is very useful, I might have to go and physically see some boats to gauge size. Narrow beam and upswept bow sound like a winning formula for sea keeping in big boat world. Is it not so much of an issue with Sibs? Do they all ride roughly the same due to size?

I looked at boat world and thought I'd avoid a wide beam craft. I definitely don't want a trailer (might as well bring the big boat if I end up with a trailer) and it needs to be manually moveable. I'll pretend the wife might help with moving it to the sea and consider a bit bigger. ����

[paulbrown22]

Take the scenic route and drive down by Scorpion - problem solved!

[Fenlander]

>>>lots of people with sibs, they pull them on transom wheels from campsite and onto beach. Beach has a a dedicated launch area with some Matt for vehicles to drive on...

That will make a big difference with a semi hard surface if needed and loads of SIB minded folks about to help if it's a struggle.

>>Narrow beam and upswept bow sound like a winning formula for sea keeping in big boat world. Is it not so much of an issue with Sibs?

It's a significant issue with SIBs but one that isn't much catered for these days with the demise of the Aerotec which meets your description and parts the waves rather than slapping onto them. Seemingly ours should last until our sibbing days are over which is lucky as there is still nothing out there that would suit us so well.

In many ways Chipko's the guy for advice here as he frequently beach launches from a holiday site and has owned most of the SIB variants of the past 15yrs including being lent several current models to test. He is very familiar with the Aerotec benchmark too.

Re travelling we have used various Mondeo/BMW 5-series sized estate cars for sibbing and have always managed to easily pack the 3.8m Aerotec, 15/20hp outboard, transom wheels, tanks and all the kit in the loadspace with holiday luggage for us plus a teen going to Scotland for two weeks.

[Pikey Dave]

We visited Pentewan a couple of years ago. Launching the Volaire was easy enough with 2 of us, recovering & dragging it back up the beach over the soft sand was a bitch. We had to ask for assistance (willing given, they are a nice bunch) dragging up the beach.
Please don’t underestimate the effort required to recover a boat up a beach.

[Fenlander]

>>don’t underestimate the effort required to recover a boat up a beach.

Very true, it's funny but even with a gentle slope the launch can seem doable but the recovery up even that gentle slope can bring you to your knees.

Did they have that sand mat when you were there PD?

[Steve509926]

Should you be free this coming week, both Boatworld and Excel will be at the Caravan & Motorhome show at the NEC. Excel will have the new Explorer Pro on display, the 330 may fit your needs.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Did they have that sand mat when you were there PD?

Didn’t notice it if they did.

[gtflash]

�� I reckon she would pull the caravan but the fuel bill might hurt

[Steve509926]

This is the new Excel 330 Explorer Pro that was at SBS. Really similar to the Honwave, but more usable internal space and without the upswept tubes at the bow. From what I saw the quality was very good. I'm waiting for the them to get the 390 in the country, and if the specs are as claimed I will probably be getting a new sib.

[chipko]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

>>>l
In many ways Chipko's the guy for advice here as he frequently beach launches from a holiday site and has owned most of the SIB variants of the past 15yrs including being lent several current models to test. He is very familiar with the Aerotec benchmark too.

Aye, been there/done that. In fact still doing it! Not sure I’ll be much help though, I know what works for us but we’re all different and there certainly isn’t a best sib. We’d all have the same one if it existed.

In my humble opinion you won’t go far wrong with a Honwave T32 although if you can cope with the extra 9kg in weight then it’s bigger sister the T38 is a far more capable boat all round with bigger tubes, more deck space and improved sea keeping. Both models benefit from the high sheer rise, fairly narrow beam and about as deep a V hull as you can get nowadays since the demise of the Aerotec. It ain’t no Aerotec but it’s about the closest you’ll get in the sib world today, If you can cope with the moderately V shaped deck under foot then you’ll be rewarded with a sporty ride, reasonable comfort in chop and good sea keeping when it turns gnarly. Try and go for the latest IE3 version without the projecting floor tabs as easier to fit transom wheels.

I’d certainly not be recommending any of the V-air floor models from the likes of Boatworld/Excel over a Honwave apart from initial cost. I also noticed you’re after a used rig so likely to find more Honwaves than the others.

We are fortunate enough to keep our sib inflated on a diy ‘moon buggy’ style trolley with large inflatable wheels so hauling a fully loaded rig solo through dunes and over soft sand no longer an issue. Prior to this we managed successfully with large transom wheels and a bow dolly.
We also beach launch and often through surf so prefer large transom wheels. When deployed the wheels are lower than the outboards skeg so when coming in through surf we can power in on the back of a wave until the wheels hit terra firma with no risk of damaging prop.

As an aside we have found there is indeed life after an Aerotec and in recent years become quite taken with the new breed of catamaran/tunnel hull sibs. Don’t worry I’ll not be recommending going down this route as it seems to be proving bit of a niche market…great fun though and suit us well at the moment.

[gtflash]

I've come to the conclusion a t38 might be sensible. A YouTube video of a honwave, the hull shape and firmness has turned me off boatworld examples as most appear flat at the transom.

So how big a transom wheel for beach launching? Seems a small issue in comparison with boat and engine choice.

I'd love a small zapcat styleeeee. I'd hope the ride is superior to a V boat? Although I presume they are considerably wetter?

[chipko]

I think all sibs are flat, or virtually flat, with no dead rise at the transom with the exception of the Aerotec.

For soft sand we prefer 360mm/14” wheels minimum and fairly long legs. Pneumatic tyres this size are a pig to deploy on the water due to buoyancy so we swap out for puncture proof solid jobbies like the ‘yellow peril’ Walsall wheelbarrow wheels

https://www.screwfix.com/p/walsall-u...el-350mm/498hf

For a long leg super strong set of transom wheels it’s hard to beat a set of the Canadian Seamax Deluxe wheels. Really pricey to import but sometimes some good deals to be found on Amazon like the military black version here

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Launching-P...ps%2C91&sr=8-2

Boatworld now do a fairly decent Seamax copy for a slightly better price, still not cheap though. Strangely the bracket is in stainless and not extruded ally but looks to be robust enough…we have a set but too early to vouch on long term reliability.

https://boatworld.co.uk/products/boa...-launch-wheels

The small sib-cats can’t be compared to a Zapcat but they do give an exciting ride, perform well with smaller engines and have lots of deck space. They corner flat with impressive grip in turns and at higher speeds, when you get that air cushion working, will smooth out chop for a comfy ride particularly into wind. Contrary to popular opinion we have found they are not a wet ride at all unless deliberately punching through surf….also great fun! Good as well for just pottering around and chilling.

[69cmw]

Originally Posted by gtflash

I've come to the conclusion a t38 might be sensible. A YouTube video of a honwave, the hull shape and firmness has turned me off boatworld examples as most appear flat at the transom.

So how big a transom wheel for beach launching? Seems a small issue in comparison with boat and engine choice.

I'd love a small zapcat styleeeee. I'd hope the ride is superior to a V boat? Although I presume they are considerably wetter?

I have both a T38 and an Elling KB350, used with a 15hp 2 stroke.
The T38 is a big lump deflated to move about.
On the water the Elling is more fun being a zap cat style and faster.
Both good sibs though and would recommend any of them.