hello from Teesside

[beerbelly]

hi everyone I found this place by accident trying to get an idea about what to look for buying a small rib or sib.at the moment we have a fletcher arrowflash 15 with a 75 hp mercury outboard that my mrs likes to ski off but a wrist injury means that is no longer possible .so she said I could sell the speedboat and buy something for me to go out fishing off. we go to loch ken a lot and also like to go camping up the west coast so I thought a 3.5-4.0 metre rib or sib would be ideal light enough to man handle down a beach or into the loch with say a 25 hp or so outboard .I quite like the idea of the sib being able to be deflated and put away for the winter. I have a budget of up to £2k do you think this is a reasonable amount for what im looking for and any pointers as to what I should be looking out for on the hull side (im fairly confident checking the outboard over)

[Tim in Yorkshire]

Hello from just down the coast, you may be able to get an Avon Sr4 in budget.

[stray]

Hello from misty Redcar, the best performing SIB in the 3.5 - 4m range is reckoned to be the Bombard 380 Aerotec. For 2K you should be able to pick up a decent 2nd hand one with a 15 to 25hp motor.
If you want to have a look at mine before you decide what to buy, let me know.

[beerbelly]

cheers stray im going to look at a zodiac future with a yam 25 at the weekend a little over budget but the seller says its in mint cond 2004 year so fingers crossed its a goodun from what iv read the zodiac is a good sib and I know Yamaha outboards rarely lose money

[stray]

The sellers always say they are in mint condition.
Look at the Hull ID Number on the back of the Transom, last 2 numbers denote the year, so should be 04.
Anyway good luck and I might see you out back.

[kerny]

Originally Posted by stray

Hello from misty Redcar, the best performing SIB in the 3.5 - 4m range is reckoned to be the Bombard 380 Aerotec. For 2K you should be able to pick up a decent 2nd hand one with a 15 to 25hp motor.
If you want to have a look at mine before you decide what to buy, let me know.

Thats a nice looking sib you have there stray

[beerbelly]

I know there is one similar in the for sale but its in dorset would mean a premier inn and 2 days trip looks a cracking thing but just a bit too far and I have a mate who has had a zodiac fastroller and he cant say enough good things about it (mind he had a Yamaha 40 on it says it was a beast ) thanks for the tip on the number tho stray

[Landlockedpirate]

Originally Posted by beerbelly

cheers stray im going to look at a zodiac future with a yam 25 at the weekend a little over budget but the seller says its in mint cond 2004 year so fingers crossed its a goodun from what iv read the zodiac is a good sib and I know Yamaha outboards rarely lose money

Zodiac Futura are fantastic sibs, especially the fastroller model.Check the glued joints very carefully (floor and transom), they can still look great even if they are basket cases.

Here's an old picture of mine, 10 mins before the transom fell off
(It was a well used 2001 on the hottest day of the year)

[beerbelly]

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

Zodiac Futura are fantastic sibs, especially the fastroller model.Check the glued joints very carefully (floor and transom), they can still look great even if they are basket cases.

Here's an old picture of mine, 10 mins before the transom fell off
(It was a well used 2001 on the hottest day of the year)

noted im getting worried now lol will it be obvious
if its coming astray

[Landlockedpirate]

Originally Posted by beerbelly

noted im getting worried now lol will it be obvious
if its coming astray

Yep, should be. Zodiac glue seems to be all or nothing. If everything is stuck down well its good to go. But if things are starting to peel back then their is a good chance the whole lot is about to go. Most people think 10 years on Zodiac glue, the Fastroller above lasted 12, but it was abused quite hard and yet I have a 1999 Bombard 380 with absolutely no sign of the glue giving up.

[beerbelly]

food for thought thanks