Which roofrack for 3.5M RIB (Ford Ka)

[Firstrib]

The boat repaired on the Island before the return trip, note amazing weather.

[Fenlander]

Firstrib your determination is to be admired... think I'd have been hitching a lift on the ferry!

Re the failure sadly it is typical. There have been various posts on here in different threads about Aerotec glue failure... all I can say is that last year two different dealers I spoke to both estimated an average 18yr life for Aerotec glue and you are in that ball park.

Add in a load of four adults punching into waves powered by a 25hp and you probably suffered at the early end of the average.

Glad all got back safely.

[Firstrib]

Fenlander, thank you. I considered the ferry option!
Hoping the gluing will get me back on the water before winter, and be as safe as new, which seems to be my peak time for using the boat so far.

[rik_elliott]

Originally Posted by Firstrib

So, this was the most exciting, or dangerous event to date in the Aerotec 380.
There I was, 4 men up, 9 miles into a sea voyage from ChristChurch Dorset to The Needles, Isle of Wight. Perfect conditions. Riding the waves, taking off 20 knots when it eventually got up on the plane after riding the waves for extra momentum.

I noticed the seam opposite me looked a little strange and that 25HP motor head looked a bit low in the water, in fact, dipping into the water. Then I saw it, the near seam, it had come apart from the top to the bottom of the boat but remained fastened at the base.

Fortunately, one of my crew, an ex RNLI guy as it happened, lashed the transom, using the Trem wheels as a support, to the hand hold on the Starboard side.

Lostwithiel, Cornwall is the recommended gluing shop, Banyard, so this is where my boat is now, at peak season under repair, with lots of other Bombards, Zodiacs with the same problem.

Was disappointed that the boat, 2001, had come undone, not going beyond anything it was built for. The glue, it seems, had dried out! Dear dear dear.

Anyway, we landed on the Island, then limped home at 4.5 knots against the wind and with the motor spluttering each time it took off and landed from a big wave. I had to shout at it not to pack up to get us home and was constantly looking for landing sites near shore to be washed onto. 2 hours later back to ChristChurch harbour.

Motor has been checked over and serviced, chandlery says the motor in good condition, new plugs but working well, I think the plug got wet when it dipped in the sea.

It also made some awful grinding sounds when going slow in harbour, unsure why, unless it hit something which is unlikely, like gears grinding and stalled, but seems to be ok in the test tank. No one can explain this.

So thought I would share. You might just see the rope repair with the Needles in the background, anyway, all enjoyed it, it seems.

Waiting for the repair 3 weeks or so, about a week to go I think.
But there is nothing like the sea. I was very impressed with the lifejackets that got absolutely soaked with waves but didn't go off, as they shouldn't have.


FirstRib.

FirstRIB - the exact same thing happened to my in my aerotec yesterday! I was in the solent too, clearly cursed waters. How much did they quote you for the repair?

we were riding 4 up as well, only using a tohatsu 18hp so a somewhat lighter engine than you

[Yabadabadoo]

Glad you (both) made it back safely. I'd been thinking about an Aerotec over the last few months and viewed one lately with a peeling transom which prompted me to ring around for repair prices. These guys Rib - inflatable boat & outboard parts, repair & service centre quoted around £150.00 + vat for a transom glue, not sure what they do for that the guy on the phone said 'transom re-glue' but I don't think it included the section of transom that fits into the floor

Browsing YouTube a while back I found this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJIGm5tylvE

if you're a DIY'er!

[Firstrib]

Interesting, lots of work, glad I didn't do it myself. The repair worked well with 5 up on the Solent Yarmouth /Freshwater to Lymington. 5 up for some of the journey.

[Firstrib]

The next project, one year on, is the splashguard based on the one posted on here, by Max, I think. Also, studying CEVNI and then will upgrade to international powerboat with RYA.

[Firstrib]

So, the splash guard project is in full swing, inspired by Max. Mid job - see pictures.

Problem 1: The problem I seem to have (any ideas welcome), is that I don't have any space on the rear mounting plate as max does with his black floor creation.

The 25HP Mercury extends to the bottom of the wooden plate. So not keen to self tap the screws into the accrual wooden transom. Any ideas for fixing? OR can the foam hug the motor?

Problem 2: Whether to use two pieces of carpet tile I have bought and stuck together with Gorilla Glue = very rigid now, or the soft foam which is very flexible.

[Firstrib]

This is the rest of the kit to create the splash guard attached to the angle aluminium

[Firstrib]

Originally Posted by Firstrib

This is the rest of the kit to create the splash guard attached to the angle aluminium

Picture of the angle bar and plan attached

[Firstrib]

Can anyone help me with this piece of kit on my motor - unsure what it is, it has a spring, is it a type of splash protector too? See red circle.

[Firstrib]

Hi, I thought I would share my story with the Rooteq trolley.
I spent a long time choosing something that would fit, with the motor on it, in the Ford Ka. It is 9 months old and has broken.

Plus: It has been a huge success in terms of size, portability, lightweight
Negative:
- Only just rated for 51KG Mercury 25HP motor, not quite up to the job
- Top of trolley bent after a while
- Knobs rusted, as has some of the other parts of the trolley, why make of steel that can rust?
- Main problem: Handle snapped off as metal material an alloy of sorts with air holds in the mould, unsuitable. Snapped off, could have been catastrophic.

However, I can't find a replacement that fits, so I have bought a new one for now. See pics. In summary, I recommend for a lighter motor.

[Firstrib]

One more picture of the bent plate (looking down)

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Firstrib

Can anyone help me with this piece of kit on my motor - unsure what it is, it has a spring, is it a type of splash protector too? See red circle.

That looks like the shallow water drive latch it comes up and rests on the tilt pin for use in shallow water

[Firstrib]

Thanks Beamishken, I can see it moves with the shallow drive, does it have any other purpose?

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Firstrib

Thanks Beamishken, I can see it moves with the shallow drive, does it have any other purpose?

No once your finished with it it just flops out of the way,quite often it's just a flat bar that rests on the tilt pin. It looks like they used plastic or similar for the one on your engine

[Fenlander]

Good to see what you're up to Firstrib. Taken aback the Rooteq has suffered problems so soon. I talked abpout buying one but in the end I decided to stick with our old trolley we've had about 5yrs. I've beefed up the timber now we have a 4-stroke but otherwise it's been fine.

OUTBOARD ENGINE TROLLEY/STAND.WHEELED TRANSPORT.UP TO 100kg

Can you trim the middle out of the splash bracket to clear the outboard and pad?

[Firstrib]

Fenlander - thank you. Am trimming out a lovely flat U shape for this particularly amateur solution, who knows what it will be like when finished, however, I have to bring in the boat and motor now as it is below 0 degrees in London

[Firstrib]

[Firstrib]

Well, splash protector made. But will it work?