Identify this RIB manufacture and model

[Spinnaker0_1]

Hi all,

Newbie here. Wonder if anyone can help me identify this 5M+ RIB. No boiler plater on transom. Some speculators say it's an AVON with Lencraft tubes retrofit. Thanks for any comments.

[InlandAlex]

Hull is definitely an Avon Searider 5.4 which has been retubed.

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[Nasher]

Originally Posted by InlandAlex

Hull is definitely an Avon Searider 5.4 which has been retubed.

Yep, big round hole in the transom is a bit of a giveaway.

[Spinnaker0_1]

Thank you both Alex and Nasher.

[Spinnaker0_1]

The boat was identified as an Avon 5.4 Searider. Any thoughts on what possible years of manufacture ?

When researching myself I observe a lot with straight top transoms (but SR4s?) Mine has a recession in the transom for the engine.

Thanks for any comments

[Nasher]

I wouldn't put any relevance on the cut down transom.

The transom can be cut at any stage to fit a shorter leg engine than the boat was designed for.
It can be done by whoever rigs the boat from new to fit a specific engine, or whoever puts a different engine on during it's life.
It's a very normal practice, as is building it back up again to fit a longer leg engine.

[Spinnaker0_1]

Got it. Makes sense. Besides boilerplate (gone) are there any other vintage indicators on an Avon hull such as mine. As you can see tubes and console refitted at some stage.

[Nasher]

Sorry, I don't think there are any differences throughout the long production run.
I wouldn't even like to say how long the run was, but somebody more knowledgeable than me will no doubt comment.

I think there may have been some differences to the internal structure between Military and civilian variants, but again on an older boat it could have so easily been changed.

[InlandAlex]

Avon seariders were the first commercially available RIB, introduced in 1969 and made continuously until Avon was absorbed into Zodiac Milpro in 2012-ish.

The seariders had a fairly consistent build, obviously in the early years they were refined and there were variations on tube furniture etc throughout the years and dependent on build spec. Always grey, orange or (very rarely!) black hypalon, just with different handles, straps, ropes, armouring etc...

A limited number of 5.4s were made for the Royal navy uprated to 115hp from 90hp. Whether they were actually reinforced or just signed off by Avon with the bigger number (since the SR5.4 is already very robust) is debatable.

Seariders had a build info plate on the inside of the transom, and usually a small stamped serial tag on the outside of the transom, starboard side if I remember correctly, with the last two digits being the build year.

Regarding transom shapes, it depended on engines:

SR4: only single engine, straight top.

SR4.7 and 5.4: straight top for 2x long shaft engines, recessed for single long shaft engine.

Hope that helps.
Alex

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