sr4...Auxiliary or not?

gridge · 27 June 2013, 19:58

Hi guys,

have just bought an SR4 with a Suzuki 55 2 stroke, low hours and lovely (should go like a stabbed rat... my question is... though i am sure the Suzuki is very reliable, what if it stos when i am a couple of miles out to sea..... i don't really want to burden anyone, is an auxiliary a standard bit of kit and something i should get? if so.. is there room to transom mount or do i need a bracket.. and do i have it mounted as a matter of course or do i strap it to the floor? or pt it under seat etc? also how big, 2hp, 4hp? i guess it is whatever will fit?

any advice gratefully received as always.

mister p · 27 June 2013, 20:10

Gridge, you wear a life jacket I assume. That's not because you expect to get dunked. You carry more fuel than you need, at least twice as much ( I hope), you have fresh water on board and a radio????, at least your mobile is topped up, spare plug and spanner to fit it, knife?, flare(s)? You're wearing kit to prevent hypothermia and of course, you have paddles. In my opinion, you still have space for a wing.
And I have an SR4

ShinyShoe · 27 June 2013, 20:41

Was a very simillar thread on here the other day very simillar.

You do know a 55HP is probably over powered for the SR4 transom and might invalidate insurance?

miccheck1516 · 27 June 2013, 20:42

http://www.rib.net/forum/f36/reliabi...not-55997.html

Max... · 27 June 2013, 21:01

A 55 on a SR4 sounds a bit like 'squeaky bum time'.

gridge · 27 June 2013, 21:31

hi, 55 i a smidge over the limit, i have spoken to the underwriters and after a little financial adjustment they have covered me..
yes squeaky bum time indeed... but i don't have to use all of them horses...

gridge · 27 June 2013, 21:34

miccheck1516, thanks for the link, in essence nothing to lose if carrying an aux...
my uncle always has said, when you go near the sea always assume the sea is trying to kill you...
an aux at £300 is a good insurance policy for your few thousand quid boat and maybe your life....

mister p · 27 June 2013, 21:53

I was told by a VERY wise sage that if you carry a wing then keep the wing fuel separate. Got short shrift from him for using colourful words, however his jibe has actually stuck with me. Fuel your spare tank and/or your wing from a different pump.
Just make sure you use all the fuel every now and then.

gridge · 27 June 2013, 22:16

ill be carrying 2x25l pre prepared 2 stroke plus 5 litres of other preprepared 2 stroke...
they are wise words from your sage.

mister p · 27 June 2013, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by gridge

ill be carrying 2x25l pre prepared 2 stroke plus 5 litres of other preprepared 2 stroke...
they are wise words from your sage.

Got three hits for my reaction. Glad it passed onto you.
Fuel your spare from another station.
:-)

willk · 27 June 2013, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by mister p

however his jibe has actually stuck with me.

Wasn't a jibe. Sticking wet/dirty fuel into "redundant" tanks is a risk most take - doesn't make it a good idea. In fairness, twin tanks are probably more to combat a burst weld or fuel line.

The point about two engines reducing your chances of going to sea was a serious one too. Two engines mean twice the chance of coming home under your own steam, but twice the chance of a no-go failure at the launch too...

Nos4r2 · 28 June 2013, 00:11

Haaaahahahaha willk's a sage

Is he venerated as well?

FWIW, my old SR4 used to move acceptably and steer in calm weather with a 2hp Evinrude aux (once it stopped giving me HT shocks, for any that remember me trying it out and cursing a lot in Southampton water)

willk · 28 June 2013, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Is he venerated as well?

Bugger off - I got that dose seen to.

9D280 · 28 June 2013, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by gridge

i guess it is whatever will fit?

In a word - Yes!

As an aside, there are a whole ranage of thin wee engines that have over the years carried just about every manufacturer's paint job & go form 1 to 3.5 HP. Go as big as you can - when you are in displacement mode the more HP the better.

Also for an SR4 you'll ned a long shaft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mister p

Fuel your spare from another station.

That is taking things to the extreme, especially as if the fuel is that bad it will konk out near the shore, and as you won't be welching through the spare engine's fuel it will have been bought at a different time or place anyway.

Also as you have multiple portable tanks like me, the trick is to use them in rotation, which solves that problem nicely.

captain · 28 June 2013, 12:17

Hi Gridge

I have the same set up, see picture in gallery entitles SR4's, and it does go very well !!.

Pete

mister p · 28 June 2013, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Bugger off - I got that dose seen to.

Venerated and Distinguished?

gridge · 28 June 2013, 20:23

pete, your RIB looks great.
do you have a fishfinder and if so how did you mount the transponder?
i havent been out in mine yet, tomorrow is the maiden voyage. hope the weather holds up.

captain · 28 June 2013, 20:46

Hi

No fish finder fitted just a small GPS. I am out tomorrow as well from Poole.

Have a great day tomorrow hope all goes well.

If you get a chance post a picture of your SR I would like to see it.

Pete

Nos4r2 · 28 June 2013, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

Also for an SR4 you'll ned a long shaft.

For an aux, you don't. The prop will be in clear water with a shortshaft. I used one on mine.

PeterM · 28 June 2013, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain

Hi

No fish finder fitted just a small GPS. I am out tomorrow as well from Poole.

Have a great day tomorrow hope all goes well.

If you get a chance post a picture of your SR I would like to see it.

Pete

I am to..and Sunday...see you out there!