searider 7.4 project

dnv · 26 February 2010, 04:53

Dear all

am still looking for a RIB. The winter has kept me away from driving 2x 1,000km to the UK sofar.

the German police is auctioning a 1989 7.4m Searider. It has a 1997 Volvo Penta with 200HP , steering is defect, no engine starter:
http://www.vebeg.de/web/de/verkauf/s...239&SHOW_LOS=2

What is such a RIB - w/o trailer - worth, and what are typical costs for repairing steering and an engine overhaul, and what are general opinions on a '89 Avon Searider 7.4m? Is it sufficiently powered with a 200HP Volvo Penta? Are there any specific points to look at or to be prepared for in terms of costs?

thanks again for your help,
regards
Jan

LURCHER · 26 February 2010, 11:52

Hi Jan
Welcome to RIBNET
Do you know which volvo engine is in the boat ? A starter for a kad44 is about £200 here in UK .

LURCHER · 26 February 2010, 12:00

http://www.marinepartseurope.com/en/...0-AQAD41A.aspx

Poly · 26 February 2010, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnv

Dear all

am still looking for a RIB. The winter has kept me away from driving 2x 1,000km to the UK sofar.

the German police is auctioning a 1989 7.4m Searider. It has a 1997 Volvo Penta with 200HP , steering is defect, no engine starter:
http://www.vebeg.de/web/de/verkauf/s...239&SHOW_LOS=2

What is such a RIB - w/o trailer - worth, and what are typical costs for repairing steering and an engine overhaul, and what are general opinions on a '89 Avon Searider 7.4m? Is it sufficiently powered with a 200HP Volvo Penta? Are there any specific points to look at or to be prepared for in terms of costs?

thanks again for your help,
regards
Jan

Assuming it is just needing a starter and new steering then 1000 EUR would see you back in the water if you fitted the parts yourself. But I am always a bit wary of anyone selling anything that "just needs an easy fix". If it just needs a new steeing system why haven't they fitted it? likewise with the starter. So you need to assume that its going to be more complicated than you think unless you can visually inspect it and have the knowledge to convince yourself there is nothing serious wrong with it. If you can't start it and test the steering then its difficult to assess for major problems like needing a new drive leg or even engine!

How much its worth depends how much you really want it and how much someone else really wants it. If boats like this are quite rare locally and there is stong local demand then it will be worth more in germany than it might be somewhere where there are lots of boats to chose from and potentially fewer people interested in old commercial style boats.

Does it come with the launch trolley its on? Even if that is no use to you it should have value to someone.

What is the unusual metal loop sticking out the bow?

Babcock's used to sell off the old MoD PAC22's fairly regularly. It seemed to be that if they were in used but running order then they would be asking about £12k for a slightly more modern one, £10k for one with an older engine; ones with some bits missing would be £6-8k; and £4k if the engine was missing, a bare hull with no tubes or engine would be less than £2k. I've no idea what the actual selling price was compared to the asking price. This is pre-recession!

You are looking at a slightly bigger boat with a bit bigger engine but its still the same, used industrial spec diesel rib market so probably similar prices?

Ian M · 26 February 2010, 13:46

All that Polwart said, and also who photographs a boat, particularly when they are trying to sell it, with partially deflated tubes - why not just pump them up

Definitely a case of buyer beware

Downhilldai · 26 February 2010, 13:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

What is the unusual metal loop sticking out the bow?

I thought it may have been the flush pipe for a sea toilet.

mike-stgt · 02 March 2010, 19:19

Hi Jan,

the starter and steering will not be the problem .
Look at the tubes, they are painted with some kind of plastic paint. So have a reserve of minimum 5000 € for new tubes.
As i also follow the adverts and auctions from vebec and customs , the price will be over 7500€.
There was a sr74 in south France for 11000€ in excellent state , with a 454 engine, that was overhouled and maybe a valve gasket or something was wrong , because it smoked .

Have an eye on that.
Mike

mike-stgt · 02 March 2010, 19:22

That is the engine.

http://www.marinepartseurope.com/de/...0-AQAD41A.aspx
Mike

Rogue Wave · 04 March 2010, 11:34

That engine is a bit weak, and they do like to rust, check out the engine mountings and intercooler connections etc for signs of corrosion. Also pull out the pencil anodes in the raw water heat exchanger inlet and see what condition they are in, if they are non existent that gives you an idea of the care taken over this engine during it's working life.

My Son (and me) overhauled one of these engines and the parts where real dear you'll have to allow a 100o e to do it propoerly, Starter Motor is an AC delco product and can be got on ebay for 250.

I found a place called Keyparts had the best prices and really good advice and they'll send everywhere

Be patriotic replace the engine with a VW 250 brmm brmm

The toobs and hull are very well made so you can nearly always bring them back to greatness with a bit of effort and maybe some glue. I don't like painted tubes at all but it generally indicates the tubes are shabby and not porous, but don't take my word for it go to the boat blow it up and paint the tubes and valves with a weak mixture of washing up liquid and water or if you are a diver some Snoop. if the bubble are blatant and localised you have a small leak not a big deal. If they are all over the place then that might be more serious?

We restored and re-engined Avon sr8.4 and it is impossible not to be impressed with the strength of the materials used in these craft

Steering may just need a bit of heat and purging or a new cylinder 300euro ar a complete new system 500 euro (Admiral Hydrive or Seastar)

Lose the Bow protector

any boat this age will benefit from a rewire so allow 500 e for that

I must admit that boat looks like a great project but I wouldn't be paying more than 4keu at auction unless I was happy with tubes and hull. I have some photos of the Avon and engine overhaul somewhere if I can find them I'll send you them on CD

dnv · 04 March 2010, 18:47

Thanks for the feedback.
This is an auction of a German governmental agency, trying to make money for the government. This is why the RIB is not put into nice looking condition - they are not really marketing, rather have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude ;-)

regards
Jan