avon 560 adventure as 1st rib?

[Xk59D]

first one is bench seating and was told to avoid this on this forum or i'd have went and looked at this as only 70 miles away.

second one is butt ugly and too big

third one is the same make as the one with rotten decks which i never got and seems to be a general problem with those. also has a 2 stroke outboard.

fit the bill for me is-

1. looks good
2. 2005 ish package
3. 4 single jockey style seats with helm to whatever side. so long as not central single jockey at back and whatever in front. i.e the avon adventure was perfect in that respect.
4. 4 stroke engine

i'm coming from a flat bottom 18ft cabin cruiser so ANYTHING will be better than what i'm used to. which i why i'm happy to listen to you guys who have had them all as i know nothing about them. i don't think many have grasped that i do not need nor want to go out in X ft waves with this or go jumping them. it's only being used to potter around in fair weather when the notion takes me.

cheers

[Nos4r2]

If you're only going to be using it for pottering about, I'd go and sea trial the XS and make your own mind up on the seating. Personally I'll always go for jockeys over benches, but it's a personal choice. Jockeys are far better in the rough stuff.
Besides, at that price with a bit of haggling you could change from a bench to jockeys if you don't like the bench and still be under budget.

A rear bench isn't that uncomfortable-remember the boat will pivot round the engine so the further back you are, the less shocks you'll experience.

Given the spec you've just given, the only real negative of bench seats is that it's easier to fall off them.

[Xk59D]

i have already spoken to the owner of this boat and there is very little room for haggling on this one and that is ofcourse their choice. i didn't like the "look" of the tube length at the back as i concluded (maybe wrongly) that it is not a very long hull (i.e not a lot of room) and it looks to be a hull more suited to a circa 5.4m tube length.

i defo want jockey style seating now so anything non jockey is automatically of my list now.

cheers

[barnacle bill]

Hi Xk59D,
My son and i had a 560 for 5 years based in the Solent and been out in all sorts of Solent weather and the rib never gave us one minute of concern.Our rib had a Mercury Optimax 115 which was a brilliant combination.
As i am about to retire we have just bought a new avon 580 with a Yamaha 150 4 stroke on the back.
Being Scottish i know your cruising grounds well and i would say go for it if the rib is as good as you say.

regards

Barnacle Bill

[Roy Smith]

We had a 560 Avon with a 100 Yamaha F/Stroke
I loved it even went to france on it for a day trip

It is horses for courses and at 5.60mt long you cant exspect a lot in the rough
A Rib craft is a stronger boat BUt But But BUt you will always want bigger faster longer
We also had a Cobra 750 ours was crap but there are stacks of people on Rib net who love them ?
What ever you buy, happy ribing

[spartacus]

I should be on commission.

It's under budget, solid build, in Scotland (Orkney), room for two jockeys behind main console, and it's 4-stroke. http://www.findafishingboat.com/detail.php?aid=25931

Ok's over budget (everything boat-related always is) but it would be all the boat you'd ever need. Redbay have something of a cult following, second only to Avon Seariders. Yes it's 2-stroke, but if well-maintained, this shouldn't be an issue. At full-throttle a 2-stoke and 4-stroke (match hp engine) will use roughly the same fuel. It's in Scotland too! http://www.findafishingboat.com/detail.php?aid=25700

[Xk59D]

spartacus-

i don't want a single jockey in middle so the first one is out and it doesn't look very appealing to me.

the second one is ideal seating wise but the price is not :-(

thanks anyway.

bill and roy-thanks for the words of encouragement. regardless of what happens i'm going on a test drive next weekend with this 560 so i'll keep options open till then.

cheers

[RJH]

We too had an Avon 560 a few years ago with an 80hp Yamaha 4 stroke. We thought it a fantastic boat, very safe, in lots of solent conditions, nothing fell off or broke and we sold it for more than we paid for it new.

[matt h]

people keep saying the avon is paper thin, is the hull likely to have problems then being so thin?

it is thin and mine started cracking after a couple of hours thrashing!! crap boats how ever you look at them!! could not wait to get rid of it!!

sold it to bhg who said the fitout and set was superb and would copy a few of my ideas etc, proves what they know!!

[Poly]

Xk59D,

I've never been on an Avon 560 so I can't give you a specific answer on that (although you've obviously had a few opinions here from people with first hand experience). It strikes me as though Avon spotted that the UK rib market prefers a British style rib with jockey seats etc, but they probably had a package price in mind which meant lower HP engine but with high performance, and so drove them towards a shallower V and lighter hull construction. The dissapointed customers on here are possibly (IMVHO) people who hoped it would live up to an avon sea rider and discovered it was more like their med boats under the water. Those most vocal about their dislike are also those who give their boats serious abuse - enjoying rough water and "air time". That is not to say they don't have a valid point to make, not least that you should be paying close attention to the gel coat for cracks or crazing which might suggest a previous owner has thrashed it. They are also right to flag up that their "questionable" reputation will affect values both for you as a buyer but also as a potential reseller in the future.

I'm not sure what experience you have, but it might be worth (if you decide not to go with the Avon) shopping round for a training centre with a wide range of different boats. A PB2 course, or a more advanced course if you've already done that, jumping between a few boats could be a relatively cheap way to understand how different lengths and shapes might handle, and also to look at boats that live up to the wear and tear of training use.

I understand that you are planning to use it in the Firth of Clyde and L. Lomond, and that these can be quite sheltered - so you don't think you have a need for a serious RIB. You might well be right, however I've certainly experienced 2ft waves on Loch Lomond on what started as a really nice day, and in "Sheltered waters" in a Scottish sea loch on Friday there were 4ft+ waves, which I didn't go looking for - but I had to deal with. That said my boat is small, and probably not got the "best" hull design for those conditions, and I survived the short trip that I needed to make unscathed. I'd have much prefered to be in a 6m Redbay/Osprey/Ribcraft/XS etc - which probably would barely have had to slow down - but sensible use of the throttle kept the boat going in the right direction, without jarring me too much on my bench seat. One thing to bear in mind is that whilst the "bounce comfort" factor of a RIB will be better than your cabin boat the "spray" comfort may not be with no cabin to hide behind/in.

Many people on here upgrade their boat after the first year or so (although others keep them for much longer) so buying a sound boat which doesn't quite meet your 2010 needs is not necessarily a mistake if it helps you work out what it is you do need. The only real issues is making sure you buy it at a price where you can definitely sell it again next year without making an unnacceptable loss.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with Matt's "one's to avoid" list - in particular the Valiant range have certainly got some capable boats in there - and Bigmuz will attest to their suitability for the waters you suggest. I'm also not convinced "Zodiac" should be there as the entire brand, that would be like saying "Avon" because he doesn't like the 560. There are also probably a lot missing from the "good" list.

[Xk59D]

i have a lot of sailing experience with powerboats (15 years give or take). this isn't a whim for a chav purchase :-)

the point i was making about the conditions is i do not need nor want a "wave jumper". i'm more than sure the avon will handle a 2-4ft chop, or more if caught out, quite happily but maybe not with as much speed/comfort as a different brand. we have all been caught out in weather and i'm no exception with that. however i do not need to navigate through it at 15 knots as i'm more than happy to slow down to get home.

i have spent a long long time looking at ribs but it's hard to decipher the good from bad until you come onto forums such as here.

i have looked into the price and if need be i'll should be able to sell it on next year and not lose money. worst case scenario is i take it to BHG as they sell these pretty quickly normally they said, and for more money than i'll be shelling out for lesser spec/older 560's. ofcourse that is a gamble but again, what isn't!.

i shall be going over it with a fine tooth comb next weekend and gel coat issues will be numero uno on my list. i have seen the boat in question but was in a tight driveway so looking forward to seeing it in the open.

cheers

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Xk59D

i have a lot of sailing experience with powerboats (15 years give or take). this isn't a whim for a chav purchase :-)

that wasn't really my point - any "learning" was a bonus - the suggestion of finding a school with a varied fleet was about getting on lots of different boats so you could learn/judge for yourself what features were desirable for the type of use you had in mind.

the point i was making about the conditions is i do not need nor want a "wave jumper". i'm more than sure the avon will handle a 2-4ft chop, or more if caught out, quite happily but maybe not with as much speed/comfort as a different brand. we have all been caught out in weather and i'm no exception with that. however i do not need to navigate through it at 15 knots as i'm more than happy to slow down to get home.

I think we agree on that point; but you might also ask yourself if you really need a rib? Generally speaking ribs are relatively expensive for their size, and offer poor shelter, poor storage and poor facilities (no where to take a pee, make a cup of tea on most ribs). Given you are in Scotland rain and poor weather are a fact of life, so your number of available days maybe could be extended by picking a more capable/comfortable rib or a hardboat with a cabin - but still having a v-hull.

i have spent a long long time looking at ribs but it's hard to decipher the good from bad until you come onto forums such as here.

as you've discovered it can be hard even then!

i have looked into the price and if need be i'll easily sell it on next year and not lose money. worst case scenario is i take it to BHG as they sell these within days normally and for more money than i'll be shelling out for lesser spec/older 560's. ofcourse that is a gamble but again, what isn't!.

in that case you aren't really taking too big a gamble. Bear in mind that if you do buy it and find it "doesn't live up to all you hoped for" that there may be other ribs you could "upgrade" to which aren't necessarily more expensive or too big for the driveway.

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by Polwart

that wasn't really my point - any "learning" was a bonus - the suggestion of finding a school with a varied fleet was about getting on lots of different boats so you could learn/judge for yourself what features were desirable for the type of use you had in mind.

i have looked into it already for experience with a rib more than anything and the local place i tried only have 3 styles of rib pretty much. SIB, 6.1 northcraft and a 5m searider. i don't feel these would offer me anything in terms of experience on ultimately what i'll be going for so i decided against it for now.

Originally Posted by Polwart

you might also ask yourself if you really need a rib?

there is a vast difference between need and want. i want something that will go in my drive and that automatically rules out a decent cabin cruisers unfortunately. 12k buys a lot of boat if it's not a RIB but i'm happy with the rib decision. the times i do get caught out in rain etc i'm still outside at the helm as the helm is exposed and no option to helm inside. so in that respect the rib isn't a huge departure from what i've been used to for 15 years.

cheers

[Searider]

I have experience of 4 D560s.

Two I was asked to look at because of very fine cracking in the bottom. Both were nearly new boats and both were taken back / fixed under warranty. (about 5 years ago)

The third I surveyed for a purchaser. It had twin 40hps on and looked like the sort of boat that was meant to be used hard. About 10 years old when I surveyed it. Hull all OK.

The forth was a nearly new boat that my Colleagues sister bought. Kept it for 5 years with no problems. Enjoyed it in the Solent. Paid about £12k for it and sold it for much the same.

I suspect that the design is a bit on the light side and couple this with a bit of "variation" in build and there will be some that are more likely to crack than others. If a "light" one goes to a "heavy" user this may be a recipe for cracks.

However, if you're looking at a boat that's already done 5 seasons, if its a weak one then there should be cracks to see. If no cracks then perhaps it never will.

If the boat suits your needs and you don't want / need the ultimate rough weather capability of a searider / osprey / ribtec / ribcraft then why not buy it and try it for the rest of the season. A 560 with a good 4 stroke engine should sell quickly if it turns out not to be what you want.

[BogMonster]

Very good point about need vs want. I've gone for an Osprey because I decided after four years I knew what I wanted and planned to keep it. I won't use the full ability all that often, though it's nice to know it's there if you need it.

I didn't buy it to regularly leap in the air, though I am sure it could take it, so on that basis I could have got a cheaper/smaller boat (at one point I was looking at a 5.5m Humber which would have been at least £5k cheaper) and on 95% of the days I would normally go out I would probably only notice that I had used less fuel at the end of the day. That would have been what I needed but not what I wanted

Good luck with whatever you buy, I know nothing about the Adventure but it is a good looking boat (at least the 580 featured in RIB Intl a while back was very smart). I guess the main thing is that with the comments on here you're going to look at the boat with your eyes open on possible issues it might have. If you don't want to go wavejumping it may well be more appropriate in the same way that if you don't want to go wading through rivers halfway up the windscreen then a Freelander may be a better option than a Defender. For those that do the nautical equivalent of wading through a river halfway up the windscreen, the 'Freelander' would be crap and wouldn't last 5 minutes. Some people (I plead guilty as charged) also buy something because they like overkill, for the odd occasion that things don't quite go to plan. Horses for courses, most importantly remember to put some photos up on here of whatever you do get

[Xk59D]

thanks for that, where was the cracking on the boats you seen and i'll check out those areas specifically?

the package has 120 hours on it so i assume it would do it by now if it was going to as you said.

cheers

[Xk59D]

some pics as requested stephen- sorry not the best as in a tight driveway.

owner seems very nice guy and certainly knowledgeable about them.

cheers

[matt h]

I mean, it looks superb!! really good. why could they not make it into a fantastic boat! if you look at the leading edge of the seats you can clearly see the fibreglass is wider than the soft upholstery. ended up on mine having copious amounts of bruising on my delicate legs in less than a 2ft chop!!

i'm more than sure the avon will handle a 2-4ft chop, or more if caught out, quite happily

Sadly No!!

There are also probably a lot missing from the "good" list.

Mr Polwart, your right again but me thinks the ones i left out would possibly would be out of the price range but just for Mr Polwart the great Ribs list continues


Ribcraft. 5.3 /5.5
Humber destroyer (quality is much better so ive heard)
Solent ribs
Shakespeare
Ribtec
Coastline
Delta (bit commercial)
Tornado
XS ribs
BANANASHARK (racing /recreational ribs with industrial strength build quality)
PARKER
COUGAR
HUNTON
REDBAY
GOLDFISH
BALLISTIC
COBRA
ZAR (supposed to be awesome)

so sorry if ive left some out Polwart!!

[Xk59D]

matt, i thank you for your input but it hasn't put me off the boat. i cant believe it won't handle a chop if you slow it down and just ride it out as i've had to do for 15 years on even decent weather (thats what old design cabin/power boats get you)????. if i wanted to get home at 20 knots or whatever in 2-4ft seas rest assured this wouldn't be getting a second thought.

it's all relative, your used to excellent performing ribs i assume and i also assume is what you want/need, i'm not in that position. as i have said before anything i get will be substantially better than what i'm used to. i can't emphasise enough how carefully i need to helm my boat in anything but really good conditions and you can forget about it on the plane in just about anything but perfect conditions, won't happen or clyde coastguard would be getting a shout.

i'm not buying this for the conditions i may get caught out in once in a while and still make it home at 20 knots for example, i'm buying it for comfort on the days i'm likely to use it and if need be cut the throttle back to get home, i can quite happily live with that as that is what i've had to do for more than half my life.

rest assured i'll test the seating out and look for issues in the hull etc next weekend and report back.

in mean time i'm still actively looking but i'm getting put off getting a rib as they look to fall into a few categories pretty much in MY eyes-

1. out of budget.
2. hit every ugly branch on way out the tree.
3. looks good but maybe not the best handling thing.
4. wrong layout in seating or 2 stroke engine
5. too big/too small (5.5-6m max)

one or some of those things HAS to give, it defo won't be budget..............time will tell!

cheers

[chewy]

Originally Posted by Xk59D

matt, i thank you for your input but it hasn't put me off the boat. i cant believe it won't handle a chop if you slow it down and just ride it out as i've had to do for 15 years on even decent weather.

To a certain extent in RIB's your best off putting the power on when its choppy, if the Avon can't handle it and you go at displacement speeds it'll be a crap ride.
Best bet is to take it out and see what you think.
Can't you get away with something other than a RIB?