Flatacraft Force 4, Good first boat?!?!

Jamie Wilson · 12 November 2009, 09:16

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone could help or give me bit of advice. Im looking at buying my first boat, ideally a 4m Avon. Im a complete novice and its quite scary spend £2000 plus when you have no idea what your really buying, I basically want something small, fun and solid. I dont mind spending that bit extra if the boats going to be that bit more seaworthy. `With all that in mind and doing a bit of research I decided to go for a 4m Avon with a 40 hp or something similar if I could find a good one at the right price, is this a good idea? a good first family boat? I live in Devon and Ive been searching for a while now, looked at a couple of things but have been a bit to well used (in my opinion) Now Iv found this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=220507471937

Its a Flatacraft Force 4, Im really interested in this as it ticks all my boxes (I think ?!?!) After reading up about them, mainly here, by the ways guys brilliant forum and it been really helpful so thanks! I know that this was on of the first RIBs invented, the boats only rated to take a 50 hp where as this has a 60 hp? Ive read something about screws and the deck being a problem? The price to me seems high as Im sure I could get a good Avon at this price and I think that Avons are a bit more desirable hence probably a bigger price?. The pictures and what the guy has had to say make it seem like its in good condition and Im considering a viewing but any help would be much appreciated. Is this boat a good substitute for an Avon?
Thanks Jamie

9D280 · 12 November 2009, 13:52

Jamie,

Welcome to Ribnet!

I'm afraid I'm going to be about as much use as a chocolate teapot with Flatacraft info, there's a few of the guys on here had one and could probably be more specific, but if you habven't found this thread http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8127 it;s probably worth a read before you go & see it. Not sure how novice you are, but if there's anything there that doesn't make sense, post back.

I can tell you about SR4's tho'. They are stonking little boats for their size, however they have a couple of common big problems to look out for - namely "floppy floors" & rotten transoms. The floppy floor is basically down to water having got in & delaminating the ply. (plenty of threads about that on here!) same goes for the transom, usually through people screwing a protective strip along the top & not sealing the holes adequately. Having said that, don't let that put you off looking at them - they are remarkably seaworthy & can be launched / recovered single handed.

For any rib a small leak can be patched, but also used as a bargaining tool for the buyer!

I now hand you over to the Flatacraft / Searider posses for better discussion.......

Nasher · 12 November 2009, 16:49

Hi, and welcome to Ribnet.

The Force 4 is a great boat that would fly with a 60 on, but isn’t as good in rough conditions as a SR4

I can’t view the ebay link until later as ebay is blocked here, but the 60Hp would worry me as a novice.
My Force 4 was overpowered with a 55HP, and needed fins on the cav plate to stabilise it. It was also very stern heavy as the Suzuki I had on it was a triple cylinder, and in realty I sacrificed stability and handling for straight line speed and acceleration.

I loved it at the time, but would not go with anything more than a twin cylinder on one again.
I believe the car style seating and dashboard layout works better with the force 4 than converting to a jockey seat as it was designed to have the weight down lower.
I would definitely have one again.

Nasher

Jamie Wilson · 12 November 2009, 19:02

Thanks for the help guys, Think Im going to try and arrange a viewing over the weekend , the guy who is selling the boat is a power boat instructor and does it for a living, he said he would show me all the ins and outs of the boat and if I bought it give me a complete run through of how everything worked, Im also going to book my self onto a RYA power boat level 2 course to try and get as much base knowledge as I can. Nasher do you think that 60 hp is too big a jump for a beginer? When were talking about rough conditions what do we mean? would it have to be mirror flat, Im not planning on taking it out when there is a storm or anything like that, just on weekends, in the sun with the family but I know English seas arent the calmest so I dont want to limit my self to only going out once every blue moon!!! My other major concern, like every one else when ever they buy something is the price, Im perfectly happy to spend money on something if its worth it, Im not looking at getting a bargain boat but I also dont wont to be ripped off. Im finding it really hard to value this because there is very little to compare it to so any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers guys Jamie

LURCHER · 12 November 2009, 19:09

This look worth a a look http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=300366015581
My first RIB was a 4m searider I now have 8.5 m so watch out its addictive !

Downhilldai · 12 November 2009, 20:51

Nice looking SR4/Yam 40 here for £1500

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Avon-Searider-...item45ef35ac5d

PeterM · 12 November 2009, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Nice looking SR4/Yam 40 here for £1500

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Avon-Searider-...item45ef35ac5d

I'd buy this over the flatacraft anyday........ looks like a decent boat from the pics, well worth a drive to see.

Would get you home safely in pretty much any weather the UK can throw at you.

PeterR · 12 November 2009, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Nice looking SR4/Yam 40 here for £1500

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Avon-Searider-...item45ef35ac5d

If the engines good its worth every penny and more to someone looking for that set up

Downhilldai · 12 November 2009, 21:31

Yes, i can't see that one hanging around for long.
It's a nice 3-cyl Yam too - same basic motor as the 50hp.

Knot Yet · 13 November 2009, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Nice looking SR4/Yam 40 here for £1500

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Avon-Searider-...item45ef35ac5d

Looks like a nice find DHD

J

Jamie Wilson · 13 November 2009, 12:48

Shame, the boat seems perfect but a 400 mile round trip seems a bit extreme!!

Colin575 · 23 August 2013, 00:25

Hi I've just got one of these with a 30HP does the hole at the back of this boat need to have a bung put in it? Thank you

Nos4r2 · 23 August 2013, 01:29

Is it a hole or a trunk? If it's a hole, yes!

Colin575 · 23 August 2013, 07:43

Hi thanks for the reply, it's a hole that's has a plate on the outside, but looking from the inside out I can see the floor out side? I did read something abut a flooded hull? I am very new to the world of boating

9D280 · 23 August 2013, 11:33

How big is the hole?

Trunks are big and the bottom of the hole is level with the deck. Usually they have a "top hat" fitting screwed to the transom or a bit of plastic pipe that sticks out the back gooped in through the bore of the hole. All trunks usually have a rope with a cleat on the transom (usually a jam cleat) to raise it (althoug hsome like mine are led back to the helm position, so you might not find a cleat, but it's highly likely if it is a trunk hole). If you can see a cleat or the old mounting holes - it's probably for a trunk. Lots of places will sell you replacement trunks to fit to it. (Hypalon goo & a tie wrap will work nicely)

If the boat has a hollow floor, I think I'm safe in saying Seariders are the only ones with the flooding hull. Most ribs have a small drain bung which is uslually almost at the bottom of the transom's V. If this is your hole - bung it!

Better still - post a pic & remove all doubt form the answers!

Maximus · 23 August 2013, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie Wilson

Shame, the boat seems perfect but a 400 mile round trip seems a bit extreme!!

So???....Your obviously new to this Game

...Buy a couple of 'Wrong-uns' and see if you feel the same way

Whats a few hours Motorway work.....
If its the right Boat and Money for YOU I'd go for it

..'Perfect' (as you say) Boats aren't two a Penny,and soon get snapped up.....and a 'Wrong-un' will likely be an on-going financial drain...And A pain in the Arse!...even if it IS just down the Road!

PeterM · 23 August 2013, 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximus

So???....Your obviously new to this Game

...Buy a couple of 'Wrong-uns' and see if you feel the same way

Whats a few hours Motorway work.....
If its the right Boat and Money for YOU I'd go for it

..'Perfect' (as you say) Boats aren't two a Penny,and soon get snapped up.....and a 'Wrong-un' will likely be an on-going financial drain...And A pain in the Arse!...even if its just down the Road!

He's probably managed to make the trip in the last three and a half years?

But the how far will you go for a boat question is always a good one :-)

I did hear of a chap who drove silly miles in the rain to pick up some off road motorbike from Hampshire....must be mad!!!!

Colin575 · 23 August 2013, 12:44

Hi a few pics to SE if you guys can let me no what it's for, thanks

Colin575 · 25 August 2013, 08:31

Hi some pics 😄

Sent from my iPad using Rib.net

Nick Hearne · 25 August 2013, 09:04

That looks to be a one way valve, water pressure closes it when stationery and is opened when you go along to clear any deck water!