Steering Wheel set up for Bombard Aerotec

[3collinso]

So i've just got back from the London boat show where i've just bought a Bombard. I'd like a steering wheel set up and i'm just wondering if anyone has one and what it cost them.
Thanks,
Owen.

[Fenlander]

As an aside it will be very interesting to hear your Honwave vs Bombard views when you've been out in it. There is often chat on here about which is best of the two for this or that circumstance but few folks have owned both.

Did you manage to get a post autumn 2015 Aerotec? Be interesting to see if they've made any further changes over the 2014 models.

[piotr]

I have the Ultraflex steering on my Aerotec. Bought it secondhand for 50euros. Read these threads±
http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/need-he...ble-69956.html
http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/steerin...ble-69881.html

[3collinso]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

As an aside it will be very interesting to hear your Honwave vs Bombard views when you've been out in it. There is often chat on here about which is best of the two for this or that circumstance but few folks have owned both.

Did you manage to get a post autumn 2015 Aerotec? Be interesting to see if they've made any further changes over the 2014 models.

Im having to wait 5 weeks for delivery for the boat as its being made to order by Zodiac, so i assume it will be the revised one, i wasn't even aware it had been revised
I'll hopefully have the boat up and running by may time as i've got some lakes near where i live so i'll maybe do a little comparison thread

[3collinso]

Originally Posted by piotr

I have the Ultraflex steering on my Aerotec. Bought it secondhand for 50euros. Read these threads±
http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/need-he...ble-69956.html
http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/steerin...ble-69881.html

Where did you source your steering bar?

[Fenlander]

>>>wasn't even aware it had been revised

My comparison was between one of the very earliest from about 17yrs ago to a new in 2015 but 2014 made one... info here if you're interested...

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/a-tale-...ist-69786.html

Mine was bought during the period Zodiac were in administration so there were questions if they would start up again with exactly the same range. I was just wondering aloud really if they'd changed anything on the Aerotec.

[3collinso]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

>>>wasn't even aware it had been revised

My comparison was between one of the very earliest from about 17yrs ago to a new in 2015 but 2014 made one... info here if you're interested...

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/a-tale-...ist-69786.html

Mine was bought during the period Zodiac were in administration so there were questions if they would start up again with exactly the same range. I was just wondering aloud really if they'd changed anything on the Aerotec.

Yeah i heard Zodiac went into administration, i'll keep a look out when it comes if anything has changed. Almost ended up getting an F-Rib instead but it was a fair bit heavier than the Aerotec
Another question i was going to ask was what launching wheels do you use on your Aerotec?

[jamiegolf]

Originally Posted by 3collinso

So i've just got back from the London boat show where i've just bought a Bombard. I'd like a steering wheel set up and i'm just wondering if anyone has one and what it cost them.

Thanks,

Owen.

Got this for sale if any good to you £160?


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

[3collinso]

Originally Posted by jamiegolf

Got this for sale if any good to you £160? Attachment 110314


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

Whats actually for sale out of this photo, the steering bar, steering wheel, throttle etc?
Thanks.

[jamiegolf]

Steering bar helm unit cable wheel and control box mounting plate.


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

[Fenlander]

Re wheels...

Probably the strongest with the largest tyres are the OE Zodiac/Bombard ones. They lift the outboard well clear of the ground and clip straight onto the existing buttons/holes as on a new boat. But they don't flip/swing up so raising and dropping can be a faff and in the stored posn they sit somewhat akwardly on the boat.

They are some daft price like £250 from Zodiac and often fetch £75-£125 used.

I owned a set of those for many years and due to their weight/size always removed them completely after launch and took them back to the car.

I have now moved onto the flip up type and prefer the Trem brand as they are very well made and robust... I'm on my third set of the HD trems now and can't fault them. You ideally need the HD version which engages with the OE buttons on an Aerotec but you do have to drill 8 holes for the upper brackets.

Have a look at this thread where I was given advice then fitted my Trems.

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/trem-hd...tec-69303.html

[Max...]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I was just wondering aloud really if they'd changed anything on the Aerotec.

Change the inner HP floor colour to black, widen the beam by 4" and sort the splashy transom/incorrect height issue would be a result. The rest is spot on.

OP - what engine did you choose?

[Fenlander]

They're halfway there on the floor Max with the around 2010 change to a wipe clean surface rather than the stain magnet finish of all Zodiac air floors prior to that.

Width... I have wondered if they found they were at the maximum before the floor becomes flexy?

Ah yes the splash... it was just too late in the season last year to experiment much but I think I will make that transom bracket with rubber that "seals" to the outboard leg as shown in an image someone posted last summer.

[Neil Harvey]

David
Is that the sticky outy piece someone had low down on the transom? Presumably to deflect upwards force of water when/where it hits the leg?
Love the boat btw... but the splashing is unbearable with the shim you used and my Tohatsu. Going to try higher with a welded bracket next Saturday.

[Fenlander]

Glad you are having some fun with the boat Neil. Yes I was meaning a semi-permanent bracket chipko posted an image of last year... with a bit of a cut-out where the leg sits and a rubber flap at that point so the leg can nestle into it. Hope he's OK with me linking to it here.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...pscd0bf026.jpg

I wonder if you are running solo? I found the splashing less with a second adult (on the seat) so the boat trimmed level... yes it is sensitive to outboard type too.

In truth I'm trying to improve it as something of a challenge more than an essential fix... once we achieved the best shim height for our Mercury we never had enough water to come over the floor even on a long fast bumpy run because the way the HP floor panels are made allows a good few pints to sit unseen between them and the outer floor skin.

Also I think it's a bit of swings and roundabouts as we found the Aerotec to be a much drier ride than others from the perspective of water/spray shipped just behind the bow which we've experienced with some other SIBs. The Aertotec seems to knife through a larger swell/chop with minimal slamming which otherwise can cause sheets of water to rise just aft of the bow on a flat floor SIB... and then on the windward side it gets blown into the boat.... at exactly the point where the Mrs is on the seat... and then I get grief!

[Max...]

I plan to make one like that following the experiments last season with the engine mounted deflector:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/bombard...tml#post687789

(Which flew off and I lost somewhere in the English Channel on the last trip of the season - it's now keeping my GPS company somewhere out in the murky depths!)

But rather than drill yet more holes in the BAT transom I think I'll just make up an extended (ie lower) ply engine plate and fix the 'L' deflector to that as in the discussion in this part of the same topic:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/bombard...tml#post687061

All academic at present as unless I find another Landy I won't be boating much!

[Fenlander]

>>>unless I find another Landy I won't be boating much!

You could break the habit of a lifetime and roll the boat up!

Re the transom mounted spalsh plate I did wonder if you could trap the L-bracket behind the lower part of the wooden motor pad... at least to trial it before drilling for permanent and stronger fixings if it looks worthwhile.

[Max...]

Errrr, right! Somehow 4 people, 1 rolled up BAT, a 15hp Mercury, a 25 litre fuel bladder, a huge Peli case, oars, rubber matting, dry bag, pump, transom wheels, ropes, food, skis, kids beach stuff etc, etc, etc does not fit in our little One Series hatchback....

And pump up an inflatable boat?!? Pah!

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Re the transom mounted spalsh plate I did wonder if you could trap the L-bracket behind the lower part of the wooden motor pad... at least to trial it before drilling for permanent and stronger fixings if it looks worthwhile.

Yep, thought about that but it would not seal too well - just as easy to knock a new one up out of ply and screw straight into that I think.

[Fenlander]

>>> unless I find another Landy

Unless or until? I forget if it was that paticular one that was special or if you will always want a LR?

Re the plate thinking about it will be easy to make up a temp over-large transom pad to fix the bracket thingy to for a trial and then trim down as appropriate.

[Max...]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I forget if it was that paticular one that was special or if you will always want a LR?

Both.