Prospective purchase - hurricane 6.5 with 75hp Mariner ?

[Rake]

Hi all

First post in the blow up types for me so be gentle

I have found a 6.5 m hurricane rib with an older 75 hour mariner engine, cost is less than £2k

One of the tunes has a slow puncture and the outdrive is t sucking or pumping water but runs well for the 30 secs I allow it on muffs.

Lower leg won't come off readily

I know this boat is cheap as chips and am going to buy it but are these motors reliable ?

What should I be looking for with regards to the lack of pumping and difficult in dropping the lower unit ?

[Pikey Dave]

Unless you're going to use it on flat calm sheltered inland water, leave it where it is & find something else. The boat is very underpowered.

[Rake]

Thanks Dave.

I am more concerned with why the lower won't come off and have read that his could be due to corrosion of the drive shaft and could require destruction of the lower unit to remove.

That's enough for me to walk away despite the underpowered aspect.

I will go view and see it.

I hear that 90 ho carbs and a timing adjustment and prop change would give 90hp so bearing that in mind would that see a useable power ?

I am not racing but 30kt would be nice to have

[Pikey Dave]

If you want 30kn out of a 6.5m RIB you'd be looking at 115hp as an absolute minimum imo, I'd be putting a 150 on that assuming it will take it.

[Andy_Rs600]

I'd agree with Dave above - 75hp on a 6.5 is going to be slow, very under powered in any kind of sea state and probably wont get on the plane at all with a load of passengers in. If you need a 6.5 for space/capacity then you need a bigger engine. Alternatively, if you only need the boat for a few people go for a better set-up smaller boat.

Re: lower unit - if all the bolts are out and you still can't shift it then something is clearly wrong on the inside. I'd be leaving the party at that point...

[Rake]

Thanks all,

I advised the seller that I am out.

the Rib has a slow puncture too.

I found a 150 bhp for 2K but then we are in to a lot of work and money.

I already have a 5.8M Draco so will focus on getting that working first.

I had initially thought I'd found a bargain but not with the lower unit being stuck.

Its cheap for a reason.

[BigE]

I agree, with my limited experience our 5.6m Bombard with a 50HP Honda is under-powered, getting about 23knts at best. Okay the Mariner is 1/3rd more powerful but the boat is a good bit heavier also. When we look for a bigger boat next year (always the plan) we'll aim for a 7-7.5m with a 150-200HP engine on the back. Or maybe twin 115's

[Rake]

Thanks all.

I did find a 150 mariner with all controls etc for £1500 but it all seems a little much work for an old rib.

If the seller dropped to £600 for the hull I would do it but not at £1500 for the hull and a scrap 75