Searider 4m Refurb

[henryfreston]

Building my boat up for the summer so thought I would do a thread.

I refurbished the console today and also painted the naff area of the hull where is had been repainted badly. Luckily it was not the actual hull but the protecting plastic on the outside.

Job list is as follows:

- Refurbish console (done)
- Repaint area of wrong shade on hull protector (done)
- Fit all the electrics (half done)
- fiberglass console to painted marine ply and screw that to the boat
- Buy and fit Engine + steering

[henryfreston]

Here are the pics of the hull. I had to sand the paint flat so it matched the hull guard.

[henryfreston]

Engine bought, 2003 tohatsu tldi, ready to be fit this week! Thanks to all who helped me try and find an outboard, really appreciate it.

[henryfreston]

Took out for first sea trial today after the console and engine had been fitted properly. Flat calm day- water was like glass. Was really impressed and had a great few hours and even managed to winkle out a couple of bass

[popeyethesailor]

Excellent looks good 👍

[Chris Caton]

looking good Henry, well done

[henryfreston]

one problem I had was when launching off waves, the boat seemed heavier on the port side. The console is offset to the starboard a couple of inches and I didn't have any more weight on the port side.

However, in the engine manual it said that I should not off set the engine to starboard but instead keep it perfectly central. I think this may be the problem?

Thing is I have drilled the 4 big holes in the transom and put the bolts through so not sure how much of an issue/problem it would be removing these bolt and drilling new ones a few centimeters starboard.

What do you think?

[matt h]

the consol should counteract the central engine, i would not drill more holes. No way dude

[henryfreston]

Originally Posted by matt h

the consol should counteract the central engine, i would not drill more holes. No way dude

ok guess i will just have to bung the fuel tanks and anchor on the port side.

[henryfreston]

or i could just offset the console a bit more i suppose

[matt h]

you could but 2 inches off centreline is about right. it depends how bad it is. on my last 4.7 i placed consol half inch starboard. i used the original holes in the transom which were dead central. .No issues at all on that one

On the SR4 pics enclosed, the consol was 2 inches to starboard and engine central.it went superbly after i put a 10 degree twist on the alloy trim above the prop.
Henry, you did try and jump some waves at a different angle?
Was the wind pushing you over onto Portside?

[henryfreston]

Originally Posted by matt h

you could but 2 inches off centreline is about right. it depends how bad it is. on my last 4.7 i placed consol half inch starboard. i used the original holes in the transom which were dead central. .No issues at all on that one

On the SR4 pics enclosed, the consol was 2 inches to starboard and engine central.it went superbly after i put a 10 degree twist on the alloy trim above the prop.
Henry, you did try and jump some waves at a different angle?
Was the wind pushing you over onto Portside?

there was no wind at all- like a mirror

I wasn't consciously jumping over waves (it was swell not chop) so i was just cruising, but we always landed on the starboard side and it felt a bit unsafe, this was at WOT though

After launching I wasn't sure when to trim the engine down (the previous boat was shallower and short shaft) and i put it in toom early and bloody bent the ally prop

It has a tow bent fins- do you think this could have caused it to launch off the wave at an angle?

thinking off going SS prop for the summer (need the holeshot for skiing) am i right in saying I need to go down a pitch for SS ''cupped'' prop? I was reaching 5650 with one person on board and 5550 with two people with the ally prop.


Cheers

[henryfreston]

I'm already offset about 2 inches (console that is)

[SimonStDavids]

Hi Henry, my searider also usually has a tendency to land portside first at wot. My last engine was mounted dead center, but over the winter I filled the holes and went 38mm to starboard for my new one.

I think it has balanced the boat slightly better but she will still land slightly to port in certain conditions. I guess flat out over nice groundswell occasionally there isn't much in the water except the prop, so the prop is going to heel you over to port.

I have never managed to rid the boat of it, but by raising the engine up has high as it would go seemed to minimise it and when reaching the top of the wave making a very slight kick to starboard means I land square 99% of the time!

Plus for me it only happens at or near wot, I take it in to surf regularly and jumping at lower speeds is fine

[henryfreston]

Originally Posted by SimonStDavids

Hi Henry, my searider also usually has a tendency to land portside first at wot. My last engine was mounted dead center, but over the winter I filled the holes and went 38mm to starboard for my new one.

I think it has balanced the boat slightly better but she will still land slightly to port in certain conditions. I guess flat out over nice groundswell occasionally there isn't much in the water except the prop, so the prop is going to heel you over to port.

I have never managed to rid the boat of it, but by raising the engine up has high as it would go seemed to minimise it and when reaching the top of the wave making a very slight kick to starboard means I land square 99% of the time!

Plus for me it only happens at or near wot, I take it in to surf regularly and jumping at lower speeds is fine

Thanks

Yeh a few times the prop came out the water so definitely not much prop in the water at WOT

[whisper]

Looking good Henry

[henryfreston]

Just like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me with this. Being pretty inexperienced its hard sourcing the right parts, picking the right engine and boat etc etc

Hopefully be able to do a few cruises this year, looking at swansea-woolacombe and swansea-Lundy if anyone fancies it. Mctaggart and my mate are interested. Definitely want to do one around the end of july (my birthday )

Maybe even IOW if I can actually get down there, but might have to leave it till next summer when I can drive (should be driving by September this year so will be a bit late for IOW)

[whisper]

Just get yourself an older girlfriend with a tow bar

[henryfreston]

Originally Posted by whisper

Just get yourself an older girlfriend with a tow bar

reversing down the slipway is worse enough when you know what your doing!

[matt h]

Originally Posted by whisper

Just get yourself an older girlfriend with a tow bar

Yeh its like, hey bitch. you look hot. by the way you got a tow bar?