Finally my rib is up and running

[boatster]

Well its been a long wait. I've spent quite some time getting this motor up to spec. I'm still fine tuning it. I took my little rib out to the Los Angeles harbor and did some inner break water sea trials. These things are a blast. Firstly my rib clocks in 28 mph on the gps. Is this fast? Its running a 30 hp. The boat skips across the water nicely and can get airborn easily.

Its crazy on my first day out in the harbor. My brother and I decided to cruise around and check out the huge tankers and such that were docked. We took our camera and were just snapping photos of whatever. Within 2 minutes we were descended upon by 2 25' USCG boats and one 25' LA Police boat a total of 12 people. They checked our camera and did a full on background search and boat search before letting us go. Kinda scary but exciting at the same time. Post 911 world we live in now.

I'm getting comfortable with the boat and am planning my first channel crossing to Catalina Island within this month hopefully. I will take photos and post my journey upon safe completion.

Adam

[Louise]

Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing some piccies!

[boatster]

The boat with the person, thats my brother checking the engine pre-flight

The extremely cooling looking USCG boat dry docked, is not a rib. I got to see it up close and personal. Its aluminum with foam filled pontoons (?), very sweet nonetheless. It has 2 Honda 225s. It was soooo quite while idling, I wasn't even sure it was on.

The huge prop from hell is quite obviously a dredger of some sort. It came all the way from Florida.

And the picture of the tank " NO SMOKING "!!!! was the last photo my brother snapped off before we were promptly attacked by big brother.

[Louise]

Great piccies. That 'prop' one is scarey!

[ollyit]

Nice one mate, well done! - 28knots on a 30 isnt bad going at all!

[peteb]

I think it may have been 28MPH if you re read

[boatster]

28 knots vs 28 mph, how is that different? All I know is this came off of my gps. Would it be, 28 knots is speed based on water while 28 mph is speed based on actual distance covered? If so wouldn't 28 mph in most cases translate to higher speed in knots depending on following or heading seas? Seriously I don't know I'm (not sick but green).

BTW Ollyit, how fast can your 4m Searider go? Aren't they rated for 50 hp?

[peteb]

1 knot = 1.151 mph

1 mph = 0.8684 knots

So 28 mph = 24.3 knots
+
28 knots = 32.2 mph

Hope that helps, a bit pinnickity but hey it goes well anyway

If taken from the GPS would be speed over land, if taken from your speedo (not trunks ) would be speed over water. GPS would reflect the best, but if you were running with a good tide it may even go faster

[boatster]

Only 24 knots? Thanks for clearing that one up.

[peteb]

Ah, BUT! is your GPS set to Knots or MPH, you may have been doing 28knots, 32 MPH! I only went by what you said in the first post Best check your settings on the GPS

[boatster]

.................................................. ....mph

[Phil Davies]

Boatster,

The most I've ever had out of my 4m Searider/Honda 30hp is 26knts and that's just with me on board, so 28mph with you and your brother sounds about right. As you say, they are rated for 50hp and Nemo on the forum has had 39knts out of his 4m SR with a 2 stroke Yamaha 50 Petrov in Sweden also has one but reckons they get a bit unstable above 34knts.

[peteb]

Boatster, shame really, always a chance while it lasted BUT never mind, there is always the 'Atkins' programme

[ADS]

Originally Posted by Phil Davies

Boatster,

The most I've ever had out of my 4m Searider/Honda 30hp is 26knts and that's just with me on board, so 28mph with you and your brother sounds about right. As you say, they are rated for 50hp and Nemo on the forum has had 39knts out of his 4m SR with a 2 stroke Yamaha 50 Petrov in Sweden also has one but reckons they get a bit unstable above 34knts.

Boaster, my boat is the same as yours but with a 40HP the best yet is 29.6 knots on the gps if I rev the bollocks off it! On my speedo I get about 33MPH. This is only when it is flat -when rough I get about 25MPH or it gets a bit of a handful! The searider has a lot deeper V than the Supersport so it can take more power.

[boatster]

Ah well, I'm still happy and its still a blast. I might be a danger to myself with more speed/power at this point. I need to get more familiar with boat handling so I doubt I'll be WOT in my current setup. A 5.4 searider sure does sound nice though . I'm going to keep my eyes out for another aquisition. Government surplus where are you?

[Rogue Wave]

while the boat and GPS are still new to you set the speed reading to kilometres and be deliourisly happy for a few weeks!

I love Avons

[boatster]

Kilometers uh sure.... " I love Avons" So I've heard. But why? I do too but thats because we can get em so cheap as government surplus over here. Otherwise I could never afford the cost of a new one, at least not in my current income.

[dctucker]

I'm jealous, I want to finish fitting out my US military surplus Searider and get on the water, but it's slow going with work getting in the way!

I found another surplus one for sale, just like mine, except it's fully fitted out already and the outboard is a bit newer... and I expect that I'll be all rigged for a bit less cash So just to egg you on, here's the link

Searider 5.4, Mystic, CT USA

I have no affiliation, or interest in the sale, just happened to come across this recently, I trust it's acceptable to post the link?

Dan

[boatster]

Wow!! I'd seriously consider that one if I weren't so far away. I imagine just shipping alone would be $1500. That pretty much puts it over the top for me. I'll have to wait for something to pop up closer in the neighborhood. BTW your boat looks really clean even for a surplus boat. I'm jealous. It seems all the boats are on the east coast. For now my little 13 footer will do fine.

[Petrov]

Petrov in Sweden also has one but reckons they get a bit unstable above 34knts.

Que?