New Rib Owner

tac123 · 24 July 2012, 21:43

Hi all, I have just bought a second hand Ribcraft 4.8 and have a few questions if anyone can help me? I have added photos to try and explain my issues.

What model of fuel tanks would strap here? I have a Plastimo and it moves about a little.

Is the moulding to the deck acceptable here, or does it need to be redone somehow?

I presume this is for fitting a anchor light, does anyone know which brand and model would fit here?

Im not too sure what these instruments are for, I think the one in the foreground is for the speedo? Not sure how it would measure speed though?

There seems to be a little bit of play in the steering rack on the back of the engine. Also the boot has perished, where would the best place be to get a replacement?

Any ideas on what instruments were fitted on top? Maybe a fish finder/gps?

The trim gauge doesn't seem to be working properly either.

Photo of the boat.

Sorry for the amount of questions, I would appreciate any help/advise. Thanks.

Erin · 24 July 2012, 21:51

I'll start the ball rolling.

Looks like someone has added that seat pod as an afterthought and failed to get a good colour match. If the grp is bonded down well, then I wouldn't be too worried.

The near sensor is a speed sensor which works by water pressure being forced up a pitot tube. The starboard sensor is a fish finder transducer.

GJ0KYZ · 24 July 2012, 21:52

Can't help with any of your questions but don't worry - it's a Ribcraft; it will last forever.

willk · 24 July 2012, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

it's a Ribcraft; it will last forever.

Oh ya, it'll go on and on...

jambo · 24 July 2012, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Oh ya, it'll go on and on...

Your just jealous

Boats&Outboards · 24 July 2012, 22:03

These look like the tanks you need. Not cheap though - note the grove in the centre of its base to help secure in place on your deck

GENUINE Quicksilver Fuel Tank Mariner Mercury Outboard Motor

http://bit.ly/NUobrR

Also the speedo works on a vacuum feed via the pipe connecting it and the gauge.

The round bracket that's been removed looks like the older Garmin 120 fish finder brackets. The square perhaps a navman gps combo as the transducer (in the background of the speedo pic) is a navman one.

The trim fault could b the trim sender unit located within the tilt system on the motor.

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

Pikey Dave · 24 July 2012, 22:09

The light socket looks like an Aqua Signal

thomas · 24 July 2012, 22:11

The trip gauge doesn't work because the trim sender is probably broken, It's a round thingy above the ram at the back, will cost about £70 and should last about a year - Mercury done seem to be able to make trim senders that last any longer.

9D280 · 24 July 2012, 23:25

Where does the hose from the pitot go? I can't see a speedo on the console.

If it stops inside your console and is open ended it will send water in!

Poly · 24 July 2012, 23:30

Welcome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tac123

Is the moulding to the deck acceptable here, or does it need to be redone somehow?

(i) its ugly which suggests it wasn't done by someone who knew what they were doing or who was in a rush. However if you can't get any flex or movement it is probably OK. (ii) is that just dirt / mould at the back or a split/crack?

Quote:

Im not too sure what these instruments are for, I think the one in the foreground is for the speedo? Not sure how it would measure speed though?

its actually the opposite from what Erin described. As water flows past the opening in the tube (known as a pitot) it creates a vacuum (think Venturi principle) - the faster it flows the harder it sucks. The spedo then measures the pressure to report a speed. They are notoriously unreliable and get block with crap. The GPS has largely made them redundant.

Quote:

There seems to be a little bit of play in the steering rack on the back of the engine. Also the boot has perished, where would the best place be to get a replacement?

What is a 'bit of play'. There is always some slack so it needs someone who knows to feel it its worse than you'd expect. I've never had a boot on mine so its not critical but presumably any outboard dealer could supply.

Quote:

The trim gauge doesn't seem to be working properly either.

possibly the only thing less reliable than a pitot tube! Usually the sensor is just a variable resistor that moves with a small spring loaded lever as the engine goes up / down. If you are lucky it will just be bent out of place, or a loose/corroded connection, but its quite possible that the critical part inside is goosed as they aren't very well sealed.

9D280 · 24 July 2012, 23:37

Vacuum??? pitot speedos measure dynamic pressure, with the pressure gauge calibrated in mph.

My Merc & old Yam had a pitot hole on the front of the leg for the same reason.

Poly · 24 July 2012, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

Vacuum??? pitot speedos measure dynamic pressure, with the pressure gauge calibrated in mph.

My Merc & old Yam had a pitot hole on the front of the leg for the same reason.

I stand corrected - no wonder they bung up if you force sea water up them...

tac123 · 25 July 2012, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poly

Welcome!

(i) its ugly which suggests it wasn't done by someone who knew what they were doing or who was in a rush. However if you can't get any flex or movement it is probably OK. (ii) is that just dirt / mould at the back or a split/crack?

its actually the opposite from what Erin described. As water flows past the opening in the tube (known as a pitot) it creates a vacuum (think Venturi principle) - the faster it flows the harder it sucks. The spedo then measures the pressure to report a speed. They are notoriously unreliable and get block with crap. The GPS has largely made them redundant.

What is a 'bit of play'. There is always some slack so it needs someone who knows to feel it its worse than you'd expect. I've never had a boot on mine so its not critical but presumably any outboard dealer could supply.

possibly the only thing less reliable than a pitot tube! Usually the sensor is just a variable resistor that moves with a small spring loaded lever as the engine goes up / down. If you are lucky it will just be bent out of place, or a loose/corroded connection, but its quite possible that the critical part inside is goosed as they aren't very well sealed.

Its all solid and has been glassed from the inside, it Just looks a bit rough cosmetically. Thanks for explaining the speedo principle.

tac123 · 25 July 2012, 07:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boats&Outboards

These look like the tanks you need. Not cheap though - note the grove in the centre of its base to help secure in place on your deck

GENUINE Quicksilver Fuel Tank Mariner Mercury Outboard Motor

GENUINE Quicksilver Fuel Tank Mariner Mercury Outboard Motor | eBay

Also the speedo works on a vacuum feed via the pipe connecting it and the gauge.

The round bracket that's been removed looks like the older Garmin 120 fish finder brackets. The square perhaps a navman gps combo as the transducer (in the background of the speedo pic) is a navman one.

The trim fault could b the trim sender unit located within the tilt system on the motor.

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

Brilliant those tanks look just the ticket, will measure them up to be 100%. Not too bothered about the holes, but do the new fish finders have the same size footprint? Thanks.

tac123 · 25 July 2012, 07:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

The light socket looks like an Aqua Signal

I had another look and it has printed on the cap "aqua signal"

tac123 · 25 July 2012, 07:39

Thanks for the help so far guys. I forgot to add one other photo of where the cables exit the console for the control box. Does there need to be some sort of grommet or boot to stop water?

[/IMG]

BumbleAbout · 25 July 2012, 09:14

Yes - there should be a rubber grommet covering the hole - if you email the photo to sales@ribcraft.co.uk then they should be able to supply the correct fitting fairly quickly - even in rough weather this stops the worst of the water from entering the console.

The "anchor" light (I couldn't see any front white lights) doesn't look very good to me (unless it is just used to illuminate the floor) - it needs to be at least 1m higher than the port/ starboard lights, visible from 360 degrees round (also looks like it will be blocked by the outboard behind) - one solution would be to add an all round white light fixed to a pole on the transom.

You might also want to consider changing the position of the throttle mounting on the console before the hand holding the steering wheel hits the throttle lever whilst steering at slower speeds (forward or reverse) - been there & done that !

tac123 · 25 July 2012, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by BumbleAbout

Yes - there should be a rubber grommet covering the hole - if you email the photo to sales@ribcraft.co.uk then they should be able to supply the correct fitting fairly quickly - even in rough weather this stops the worst of the water from entering the console.

The "anchor" light (I couldn't see any front white lights) doesn't look very good to me (unless it is just used to illuminate the floor) - it needs to be at least 1m higher than the port/ starboard lights, visible from 360 degrees round (also looks like it will be blocked by the outboard behind) - one solution would be to add an all round white light fixed to a pole on the transom.

You might also want to consider changing the position of the throttle mounting on the console before the hand holding the steering wheel hits the throttle lever whilst steering at slower speeds (forward or reverse) - been there & done that !

Thanks for the info, how would I got about moving the control box, there doesn't seem to be too much free space. I see you have a Ribcraft, I don't suppose you could send me a photo how you have mounted it? I probably could get a pole made up for the white light and mount it high in the socket fitted already.

tac123 · 25 July 2012, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

I'll start the ball rolling.

Looks like someone has added that seat pod as an afterthought and failed to get a good colour match. If the grp is bonded down well, then I wouldn't be too worried.

The near sensor is a speed sensor which works by water pressure being forced up a pitot tube. The starboard sensor is a fish finder transducer.

Cheers for the info, the pod is solid but the paint is flaking a little. If I sanded back to decent paint could I paint over it and mask it off better with a color which matched. I presume its flowcoat thats needed?

Pikey Dave · 25 July 2012, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by tac123

Thanks for the info, how would I got about moving the control box, there doesn't seem to be too much free space.

You can make a spacer to go between the control box & the console to move the box out towards the port side. You'll probably need longer screws, but if you use your imagination & a bit of lateral thinking, it's not difficult