removing bow console

il corvo · 11 August 2015, 11:34

i thinking of fitting a small centre console on my s3.45. i took it down to the solent and by all accounts she did very well. my problem is me, she's a small boat and bounces quite well. the seating as it is is not good when things bounce (as in my back is fucked now) so i was seriously thinking of fitting a small jockey seat instead. the only fly in the ointment is the existing steering/bow dodger.

has anyone removed one before?

i just think, it will make the rib more usable in various weathers.

jyasaki · 11 August 2015, 15:09

Looks to be glued on. Question would be whether the fiberglass (or GRP or whatever) is glued to the tubes or just the fabric strips. In either case, careful application of heat will help get it apart, but it may not look too good once you do.

Can you just replace the seat with some sort of jockey seat and leave the existing console in place? Not ideal being that far forward (at least in terms of ride comfort), but probably a lot easier to do.

jky

Sonar · 11 August 2015, 15:24

I think your saying you have a bad back then????

il corvo · 11 August 2015, 15:49

My back is bad from time to time.

I'm just toying with the idea. In the long run I may end up upgrading to a sr4 or similar.

spartacus · 11 August 2015, 17:59

Sell it rather than renovate. By the time you've hacked the GRP off you'll have removed any profit that's left in the boat. You'll also end up with tubes where there's a mismatch in colour.

In addition you already have a bench seat set up, which works to a point the further aft you put it, however if you're out in anything rough, then jockey seats combined with a deep V hull is the way to go.

Landlockedpirate · 11 August 2015, 18:05

Im with Sparticus on this. It looks like a clean Avon in decent condition. I understand your reasoning, but the best option is to sell it and buy something more suitable to your needs.

il corvo · 11 August 2015, 18:35

Yeah, I agree. She's a good Lil tub so I will leave her alone. Perhaps next season look at a searider. I was looking at perhaps a newer rib but even at 4m most only seem to be rated to 30hp so an older searider would be best. I thought about just getting a bare boat and fitting the mariner I have now as it's a cracking lump. To many ideas, not enough money. Lol

spartacus · 11 August 2015, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by il corvo

I thought about just getting a bare boat and fitting the mariner I have now as it's a cracking lump. To many ideas, not enough money. Lol

The SR4 takes a long-shaft engine. Not sure what's on your Avon just now. More details here: http://www.rib.net/forum/f36/standar...-4m-59303.html

il corvo · 12 August 2015, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacus

The SR4 takes a long-shaft engine. Not sure what's on your Avon just now. More details here: http://www.rib.net/forum/f36/standar...-4m-59303.html

on my S3.45 at the mo is an ex RNLI mariner, not a short shaft. i think its a "mid" length leg specific to the RNLI.