|
New User: from USA
Hello all. I have been enjoying the wisdom I find on this forum for a while. Sadly, there are very few RIB/SIB users in the US - especially compared to overseas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, etc. So... I come here for information I cannot find anywhere else locally.
I have been around boats for many years, but never wanted to own one myself because... you don't ever 'really' own a boat... IT owns you!
What I eventually was looking for was something simple and inexpensive to have some fun on the water, without getting myself in too deep.
So far I have owned an 8' Solstice inflatable dinghy, an 9.8' BRIS inflatable dinghy, an 11' BRIS inflatable catamaran, and today I should be getting an 11'1" Aqua Marina catamaran.
From past experience, inflatables are finicky critters, especially catamarans! The BRIS cat has a tiny 10" transom... a major headache to try and get dialed in for a short shaft motor. I've tried a jack plate in several positions, as well as trimming and various props. After a couple summers with it, I finally got things sorted where it's a decent ride now, and no more tsunami waves coming back into the boat from the transom.
Prior to fixing the transom splash issue, I had ordered an Aqua Marina 335 catamaran. The Aircat boasts a lighter weight overall, and higher pressure tubes and air floor which should make for a much more stable craft. It also has a ~14" transom. My current Suzuki 15 HP outboard measures about 16". That should be a close to perfect fit, and hopefully won't require the fiddling I had to do on the BRIS. We'll see...
I have the forum to thank for being able to get the BRIS working. If I have issues with the Aircat, I'm sure the cumulative brain power here will quickly solve any issues. Further, I'm hoping I can be of help to others, especially anyone going through similar issues like I had with the BRIS. The solution was far simpler than anyone might have imagined... After trying every suggestion I could find, without success... I ended up adding a 3x3 aluminum angle at the bottom of the transom between the drain holes. This helped to push the water past the motor leg, instead of allowing it to wash up the leg and into the boat.
Long intro... sorry. Happy to be here.
__________________
|
