What to buy - Aerotec/ Honwave/ F-Rib?

[mm289]

Originally Posted by Neil Harvey

I will probably scrap it. But, if you want to get a "basket case", a full transom and floor re-glue is about £360 from Ribshop in Swanwick. You'd be left with an old AT, with many other patches etc, for the cost of the re-glue (might get away with transom only for about £180; I'll give it away if it's of interest.

Hi Neil, thanks for the kind offer I think the difference with the cars is I know what I am doing so buying a basket case isn't that scary. As this is my first SIB I am going the other way and looking for something pretty solid to start with

It may well be I end up with a new Honwave and sourcing a decent engine separately but we will see, still a few weeks left to look for one

Cheers,

MM

[Fenlander]

Well MM here's your engine to go with either Aerotec or Honwave. Great to start with and they always hold their money. Looks a minter.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercury-1....c100009.m1982

[mm289]

Gosh, you must have been reading my mind!! It wasn't actually this engine but I was just about to ask what sort of money a 15hp 2 stroke Mariner in good condition would go for?

Is about a grand the right sort of money?


Cheers


MM

[beerbelly]

don't think you will find anything as clean for less

[Fenlander]

As BB says...

For one of these post 2000 last of the legal Mercury 15 2-strokes you will need to find a tatty one out of season to be as low as around £800. Once the season comes round (i.e. now) a tidy one should be no less than £1000 and that's a bargain... often £1200... and with competing must-have bidders I've seen one fetch £1500.

Excellent power to weight balance... in truth the heaviest OB most folks are comfortable with if it is to be on and off the SIB each trip or handled over difficult shores. Usually very reliable and easy to work on. Good new/used spares ability and loads of folks on here know them if you have queries.

[69cmw]

Just about as clean as this bad boy [emoji106]

[Fenlander]

You've done well to hang onto that nice motor even though currently sibless.

Two OBs I've owned I'd like to still have on a rack for the day when they were needed are my old Tohatsu 9.8 2-stroke and a Mercury 15 2-stroke like yours.

[69cmw]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

You've done well to hang onto that nice motor even though currently sibless.

I will be having another sib for sure, just not sure what yet.

I’ve thought about selling the engine a few times but never got round to it

[mm289]

Just incase you were wondering what had happened to me, I am still looking

Did my RYA PB2 at the weekend so that was cool and will be doing my VHF as soon as I get a chance so all that stuff will be out the way

Just need to find the right package now!

Cheers,

MM

[Fenlander]

Why not buy this outfit on here as a start as it's really only once you get on the water you know exactly what you want...

http://www.rib.net/forum/f21/yam-360...oke-78873.html

The OB is worth nearly all of the price and if after a while you felt you wanted a more capable SIB you could upgrade that keeping the engine... then if you decided more power was in order you'd get all your money back selling that and upgrading.

[mm289]

Good shout but 2 issues for me really - weight (solid floor I "think" this model works out at about 60kg?) and location - Cardiff is a dammned long way from Kent lol

There is also a clean looking Aerotec 420/25HP 2 Smoke just appeared on e-bay at a good price but think the weight of the SIB again will be an issue......

Also following your eralier advice I am keeping an eye out for a 15HP~ 2 smoke OB at a sensible price in vague striking distance for me then will just shell out on a new HW3.8 probably....

Cheers,

MM

[Max...]

The 420 BAT is not as well regarded as the 380 - too long for it's own good. Some have experienced that with the 380 Honwave although others think it fine. Not used one myself but there does seem to be a limit to the length of rigidity an HP airdeck can satisfactorily supply.

Same advice as always though - look for a cared for 3.4 ish airfloor outfit (boat/engine/accessories + sometimes trailer) from a big brand on eBay/Gumtree etc at the right price with a Merc/Mariner/Yam 15 just to try it all out. Sell on what you don't need. Much cheaper always than looking for a separate engine and generally a better buy as you'll likely know history of the engine more.

[Max...]

Great outfit here that's just the sort of thing I'm referring above (although a 4 stroke), none of the below are the ideal starter of 3.4m HP floor + 15 hp 2 stroke but they come up quite often but just to show what can be found generally:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-6m-vib-...cAAOSwQFNbFaVl

And this altogether a bigger outfit but show the huge value you can find, £1800 for this lot:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HonWave-T...kAAOSw9mFbE7AQ

Another bigger and older outfit that would need proper checking over but again, huge fun and value for £1k:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzumar-3...4AAOSwQolbEsNE

These are a couple of eBay searches that I've had running for donkey's years to cover the big brands and two categories SIB's generally get listed in:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Dinghies-...ver%29&_sop=10

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Boats-Wat...refLoc=1&rt=nc

[mm289]

Thanks for all the info Max

We will get one (even if this ends up being the most longwinded purchase process on the forum )

I hadn't really looked at solid floors just for the weight/launching issue but will have a browse around the smaller ones to see how practical they will be for beach launching around here. Appreciate there is some value to just taking the plunge and getting my feet wet.

Whats the story with the Suzumar's are they a cheaper version of a Honwave?

Cheers,

MM

[jeffstevens763@g]

Suzumar is a Suzuki spec boat

[Fenlander]

As Jeff says... just Suzuki rather than Honda.

They are equal to Honwave in build and you usually get a nice varnished transom rather than the Honwave gel sheathed ply... I like a varnished transom!

[Max...]

As they said - that's why I always include the Tohatsu, Suzumar and Yam boats in the search - all re-badged and made by the big companies and all good boats.

[hymerbeliever]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Why not buy this outfit on here as a start as it's really only once you get on the water you know exactly what you want...

http://www.rib.net/forum/f21/yam-360...oke-78873.html

The OB is worth nearly all of the price and if after a while you felt you wanted a more capable SIB you could upgrade that keeping the engine... then if you decided more power was in order you'd get all your money back selling that and upgrading.

Thanks for the plug Fenlander I’m just about to let it go at £1300 but the comments on here have made me think whether that’s enough.

[Max...]

I think v. cheap at that price but splitting always gives the best prices - depending on age/condition and quality of ad I'd aim for average £1100ish engine and £550ish boat give take £50 each way.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Just bought a twatsoo 8hp - it has a 4 blade thrust prop and the original. Which is going to be more able to get on the plane/over the hump when loaded with me and two kids? I assume the thrust. I’m not fussed re top speed.