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Originally Posted by Nellyb15
I was interested in an Avon SR4 as I also have a garage I can keep it in over winter but am a bit worried it may be too small. Can anyone tell me if 4 people would fit on one of these ribs?
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yes you can move 4 ppl around on a 4m rib. Whether you will find weather conditions in the Hebrides that synchronise with 4 ppl being willing to go is another question as 4 bodies on a SR4 means people sitting on tubes. That is not ideal (although 20 yrs ago was considered quite normal) but it works find in moderate conditions over small distances.
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As for speed maybe a 50HP engine? Not a speed freak by any means but if sea gets up a bit need to be able to get back safely.
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I often here people say they want more HP just in case the conditions are bad. In reality when conditions are bad you tend to back off a bit and even with 4 ppl on board a SR4 with a 40HP would get you home. [The SR experts do believe that a 50 is the perfect combo though]
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I am going to do the RYA motor cruise course and will equip boat with all safety devices.
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probably better to do the Powerboat 2 course than motor cruiser course. Can I suggest that you and your wife do the course and spend some time on smallish RIB in the sort of weather you expect - not everyone likes it.
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Originally Posted by Nellyb15
I was looking at Avon but will take any advice I can on this.
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Beware not all Avon's are the same. The make some excellent "commercially" styled good sea keeping boats. Whilst the sea keeping is good they aren't necessarily a dry ride or in anyway luxurious. And they make some more leisure styled stuff that will IMHO
not be ideal for the Hebrides. Other brands do a better job of mixing leisure use and good boat design.
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I also wanted to ask if its possible to keep a small back up engine (4-5hp) on these craft and how would you attach this in emergency? Most I have looked at the transom is taken up with the large engines? Is there a way of doing this?
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yes there is on most boats but how big and how attached depends on the boat. keep it in mind, but i wouldn't focus on that until you've narrowed your selection.