help buying osprey viper max 135 optimax

jim99bob · 15 July 2014, 07:31

hi,
am selling my cruiser and have been offered a 5.85 osprey vipermax with 135 optimax engine in part ex., think its a 2007, seats 6 properly plus bench seat in front.
It has less than 100 hours on the clock, is kept indoors, comes with a single axle trailer which I think breaks in half, has a hose connector to wash bearings out? rib has 2 batteries, smart gauges, no plotter although wired for it so just needs the display (apparently took the display to use on his yacht), engine flushed out after use. its located in Poole.
I haven't seen the boat yet, plan to go on Thursday.
Would be interested in anyones opinion on this proposal, what to check for, and what its approximate value might be. This would be my 1st rib. I have yachtmaster theory, CC, VHF, day skipper, based in Cowes.
Regards
Jim

whisper · 15 July 2014, 09:03

That's a nice rib

Hightower · 15 July 2014, 18:01

If the Vipermax was built in 2007 then check the tubes carefully. Eurocraft was going changing owners during that time and produced some inferior tube sets. Look for delaminated seams. Hulls are strong, look for owner neglect and damage. look for any cracking around transom.

value will depend on condition and paperwork so can't really comment.

jim99bob · 16 July 2014, 05:17

Hi Andy, thanks for the info, I assume you mean the seams in the tubes might be coming apart? I can take some pictures on Thursday and post them here.
Regards
Jim

Downhilldai · 16 July 2014, 14:06

How much is it?

jim99bob · 16 July 2014, 15:56

He thinks its worth 17k

willk · 16 July 2014, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim99bob

I assume you mean the seams in the tubes might be coming apart?

...and/or the transom, apparently?

Mollers · 16 July 2014, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

If the Vipermax was built in 2007 then check the tubes carefully. Eurocraft was going changing owners during that time and produced some inferior tube sets. Look for delaminated seams. .

Load of tosh.

Mine was tubed by EC in '08, it's immaculate.

Hightower · 17 July 2014, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Load of tosh.

Mine was tubed by EC in '08, it's immaculate.

It's not a load of "tosh" Mollers, otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned it

I know of at least two other RIB tube sets built by Eurocraft that year other than mine that had problems. In one of the instances the entire Collar was replaced. In my instance and in their defense a guy from Eurocraft traveled down to the south coast to effect repairs.

I believe that Eurocraft were under new management from late 2007/08 which obviously raised some warranty concerns for me.

I'm guessing that any tube problems from a 2007 Osprey would be well sorted by now, but it does no harm in looking.

Hightower · 17 July 2014, 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim99bob

He thinks its worth 17k

Price seems a little optimistic to me, I'd be looking sub £15k if I were looking. Love to see some pictures of it.

have a look here: http://www.osprey-owners.co.uk/ for a little more information on Ospreys

Ian M · 17 July 2014, 06:20

Yep, I think Andy refers to my tubes. They were misshapen at the bow, and with glue showing where tube fittings had been moved during assembly. They should never have been sent out in that state. Eurocraft finally replaced the whole tube set foc, and still had to fix a seam afterwards

I suppose the only thing I can say in their defence is that the tubes have been OK since.
I think that the boat will need to be something very special for that price.
Cracks around the transom can be misleading. An internal trim panel is fitted to the inside of the transom, and over time cracks can appear around the edges and over any knees that are fitted. As it is simply a trim panel the structural integrity of the transom should not be affected. Apart from cosmetics these generally are not a problem. External cracks are something else

jim99bob · 17 July 2014, 15:19

Got some pics now, been out on it today, does 40knts easily, has total hours of 105.

nugent · 17 July 2014, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim99bob

Got some pics now, been out on it today, does 40knts easily, has total hours of 105.

Had a feeling it was that boat,,,, last one made with that console and the screen pattern gives it away,,,,

Tadge expensive at that figure

jim99bob · 17 July 2014, 15:39

It's also got another outboard that fits on the transom, 8hp I think