Ed at olmec is just tubing up my New Sea Rider, I have had the Hull totally refurbished (now white) and it retubed in blue.
I was going to use it for our main training boat for next season, but now plans have changed and i'm having a Diesel Rib for training (fuel costs and so on).
I'm looking to run the sea rider for the winter and sell it on early next year as a package. I havn't owned a sea rider before so don't know what it will perform like with different engines
So If you were looking to buy a Avon Sea Rider 5.4m what engine would you be putting on the back? 75hp 2 stroke? will 4 stroke be to heavy? Hull is rated from 50hp to 90hp
If it helps,I had a 5.4 with a evinrude 90 v4 whiich did 32 knots,and a friend has a 5.4 with a Yamaha 80 4 stroke which does about 30 knots,both with standard props.
My Searider has a 90hp 2 stroke on and positively flies (39ish knots) and will still get up and go with 8 people on board.
Probably too much power for training though as the accelleration is so instant.
When I was looking for my boat I would have gone for anything with 75hp or more. I reckon 60hp or less is too little - remember the ballast chamber needs to empty.
Regarding the weight of a four stroke - with my 90hp 2 stroke there is little freeboard at the stern and it is easy to ship water when going astern. An automatic bilge pump looks after this though!
Ive got a Mariner 75hp 2 stroke on my 5.4 Searider, it will do 38knts light and 32knts with 7 people in it.
The engine has been perfect for the last three years, i will definately get another Mariner when the time comes.