In process of buying valiant 520

[matiboy]

with Merc 75, any body got any comments / thoughts good or bad about this rib ?

[baixamar]

It seems that quality of Valiant ribs are good.

See threads
Valiant ovners, users and other experts
Purchase my 1st boat (I want a rib)


See also (tests made by rib international magazine)

http://www.ribmagazine.com/valiant.htm
http://www.ribmagazine.com/valiant750.htm
http://www.ribmagazine.com/valiant450600.htm


bye
pedro

[baixamar]

Regarding the motor power, I have found in a french site

http://perso.club-internet.fr/pneuboat/

the table in "Dossier Pratique / Choisir son pneu" (in french also). I think it is a nice approach to start to choose the acessories and motor.

bye
Pedro

(I took out the table because I have realized thet it is copy protected )

[Didier]

Seems like a nice craft, however you should first determine what you will be putting your vesel through.,ie. diving, fishing, how much weight you will be carrying etc, fuel, gear, crew... and how fast do you wish to go....consider maybe a larger power source if your funds allow. Yamaha, Suzuki or Honda all put out great 4-strokes. Some a a little heavier than others. A real good match would be a Suzuki 90 hp, good speed and power to bring quite a few friends and gear with you, or step up to a 115 Yamaha 4-stroke. Either way fuel effeciency will be great.
Ah yes...........thanks for the French site info. Fun to review.
Happy ribbing....Didier

[Pete7]

The engines are not the newest design having been around for many years. On the other hand there are lots of spares about etc. I had one of these engines on a 5.25 Osprey Viper, which achieved the following. Top speed with four divers and kit and full fuel (30 gal) was 24 mph, and it burnt about 7 gallons per hour at speed. The Osprey was very wide beamed and deep v. I think the Valiant is slightly narrower therefore should be faster. A Portland diving buisness had a Valiant for many years which is still there and going strong, surely this is one of the toughest tests for a rib.

[John Hughes]

I have a valiant DR600 with a 115EFI 4 stroke Mercury
Main reason for buying it (in Spain) was the price (sub 11k) and it is well equipped. The boat performs very well in all weather thus far, and the engine is particularly quiet and economical .
Apart from the nightmare of dealing direct with the factory through a pal of mine, I am pretty pleased with it. I have hired a selection of RIB's in the past, and I think that 6 metres is about as small as I would consider in rough sea. Probably wrong here, but they just feel safer.
Good luck.