Pro 12 vs Destroyer

Mr Flibble · 27 June 2009, 16:19

Popped into my local Yam dealer today for some oil and mentioned I was about to buy a 5.3m Destroyer with a 90 E-Tec from Humber. He then did the sales job on me and showed my a rather nice Zodiac Pro 12 with an 80 HP Yam 4 stroke on the back.

Although the Zodiac has much less deck space it has some nice touches. Underfloor 75 litre tank, closed bow locker, bow fairlead as standard and some nice cable routing through a hidden built in conduit on the side wall of the hull. He recommended (not suprisingly) the 80hp Yam 4 stroke over the 90 HP E-tec (despite the weight difference). Build quality of the Zodiac looks excellent. I was not taken by the need for the console to be mid hull mounted due to a hatch in the floor for the cabling to routed thru.
All 'n all he said he can do me boat, trailer,engine, a frame, nav lights, console,and marine vhf and gps/sounder for a similar price that Humber can do me the basic hull, trailer, engine, console with no A frame, lights or electronic wizardry.
As I said the deck space is less and this is a big sticking point for me. Is the Zodiac Pro 12 a good sea boat? Is the Destroyer (as I suspect) better in the rough stuff? Would you choose the Yam 80 over the E-Tec 90?

Why do they do this? I'd already made my mind up. Now her indoors is talking of the Zodiac as being her prefered choice as the dealer is 1 mile down the road. I need the boat for diving with the lads and cruising with her indoors.

Ah well another sleepless night.

mick · 27 June 2009, 17:59

Hi i went on a Zodiac demo day a while back tried a few Ribs ocean pro etc thought they were ok until i went out in a 6.5m redbay with twin suzuki 90s put me right off the zodiac so when i get a rib will be going for a Humber.

wavelength · 27 June 2009, 20:43

no contest. Destroyer/e-tec. Not as pretty but a really good sea boat.

chewy · 27 June 2009, 22:18

Humber and the e-tec

willk · 27 June 2009, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Flibble

He then did the sales job on me..... Although the Zodiac has much less deck space....... He recommended (not suprisingly) the 80hp Yam 4 stroke over the 90 HP E-tec (despite the weight difference)...... I was not taken by the need for the console to be mid hull mounted...... As I said the deck space is less and this is a big sticking point for me...... Is the Destroyer (as I suspect) better in the rough stuff? ...... I'd already made my mind up. Now her indoors is talking of the Zodiac as being her prefered choice ...... I need the boat for diving with the lads.

Hear your Inner Voice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by discomick

thought they were ok until i went out in a 6.5m redbay with twin suzuki 90s

Now, don't be coy - tell us why!

Mr Flibble · 28 June 2009, 00:24

Ah just as I though. You have allowed me a good nights sleep. The Humber it is.

Ta muchly.

The Beard · 28 June 2009, 02:00

After ages looking on the internet and reading magazines I decided to go to North Wales and have a look at some boats "in the flesh" so to speak. As I walked round the yacht basin at Caernarfon, I saw a grey Humber (a6.3?) with half a dozen guys guys in it after speaking to the driver for a couple of minutes he said that if I wanted to be at the Pwhelli Harbourmaster's Office at 8 that evening he'd take me out in his 5 metre.

At 5 past 8 we motored slowly out to the bay in an orange 5M Humber with a 50hp Mercury 4 stroke. We were out for about half an hour during which time he put the boat (quiet gently) through its paces and even let me have a go. The sea was calm but, nonetheless, it was a really nice gesture and it gave me more of an idea as to what these boats are about than magazines or websites ever could.

So thanks Jonno, enjoy your break in Portugal.

chewy · 28 June 2009, 07:08

I take it thats Jono Garton off here?

The Beard · 30 June 2009, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

I take it thats Jono Garton off here?

He did tell me his surname and that he did come on this Forum, but to be honest, at the time, just after we'd come back, I think my mind was making its way single handed from Pwhelli to the South of France across Biscay with a teenage nymphomaniac looking at me in
that adoring way that teenage nymphomaniacs do.

In fact, come to think about it, he gave me his mobile number. Might be an idea to get it out and look at it.

chewy · 30 June 2009, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Beard

I think my mind was making its way single handed from Pwhelli to the South of France across Biscay with a teenage nymphomaniac looking at me in
that adoring way that teenage nymphomaniacs do.

I think you'll get on well with JSP!

Jono Garton · 30 June 2009, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Beard

He did tell me his surname and that he did come on this Forum, but to be honest, at the time, just after we'd come back, I think my mind was making its way single handed from Pwhelli to the South of France across Biscay with a teenage nymphomaniac looking at me in
that adoring way that teenage nymphomaniacs do.

In fact, come to think about it, he gave me his mobile number. Might be an idea to get it out and look at it.

Hi Matt

Welcome to the forum

Jono

The Beard · 03 July 2009, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono Garton

Hi Matt

Welcome to the forum

Jono

Thanks Jono. When I got back to the Hotel after our little trip round the bay, I couldn't help thinking about meeting you. In fact I could see a Courtroom appearance:

"Would you tell the Court about that evening please?"

"I realise Your Honour, that in retrospect, arranging to meet a man in a high speed rubber boat, who I'd never met before behind a closed Harbourmaster's Office at 8 in the evening may seem a little unusual, but I'd like to reassure the Court....."