stress cracks

[quinquarimarine]

I read with interest the comments passed on reported crazing to a Humber and my comments are based upon experience.

We have used their hulls for 12 years with each vessel carrying many thousand of pax per year and operating the famous "bitches" tides off W Wales. .
The vessels have no problems in doing 10 years hard service and then it is only a case of the tubes starting to wear. Our boarding means powering the vessel against an old concrete slipway often in a very heavy swell.

We also supply these vessels including to wind farms. Below is a pic of one fitted out by us to the N Hoyle Windfarm where she undertakes day and night transfers up to the pylons in a 3m swell.

Most critically though are some drop tests that we recently undertook. The norm is a 3m test so we lifted a 10m boat to 6m in the sky and dropped it. Absolutely perfect. This we have on video for doubters.

Thus in our opinion they are very strong and not withstanding the above note :

1. We all think the brand we hold/use is the best.
2. Every product will have its problems from time to time (RHIBs are made by humans)
3. Producing the most boats Humber should just by odds get more probs in terms of numbers but I would hazard a guess that in % they have the least.
4. It is heartening to see that they, and without prejudice, offered immediate assistance.
5. Why do they sell more than anyone else - it can’t just be price and ask any dealer - selling a secondhand Humber is easy.

Yes we are biased but our decision to use their product is based on very strong foundations.

And then of course in some people’s eyes you will be damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

Cheers

John

[seafariskye]

I to use my 3 Humbers for passenger carrying 'abuse' and in the 4 years since i have had my original 8.5 have had no problems at all, with the strength of any of the hulls, Johns thread above is much much more of a testimony to Humber -- if i had any doubts i would not buy them.

The fact that in this position is that Humber will take the boat back, if you thnk you have a problem and repair it, no questions asked, which is pretty good. The idea that you do not fancy taking it back to hull to do so is a pretty weak point, i am sure if you had bought a new car and the paint started to crack -- you would have it back at the garage you bought it from within days??

I have found that with new buy boats, people love to blame the maker? stress cracks, writing a boat off? could have hit something? i would not admit it either -- if the boat was pretty new.

My 8.5 i am well and still immpressed with, to the fact that rather than replace the boat this year, which is what i was going to do, i am putting a new engine in it instead. still A1 hull after 4 years of hard hard work ... i have not even put any more air in the tubes since i collected it from Hull.

Pete

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally posted by seafariskye
i have not even put any more air in the tubes since i collected it from Hull.

Pete

Thats coz Scottish air is denser, and so it holds the weedy English air in!

[gingercoastie]

I have always been happy with my choice of boat, but quinquarimarine's and seafariskye's posts are giving a realy warm smug glow inside.

[jwalker]

am sure if you had bought a new car and the paint started to crack -- you would have it back at the garage you bought it from within days??

Nope, I'd take it back to the nearest dealer. That's partly what a dealership is for.


I have always been happy with my choice of boat, but quinquarimarine's and seafariskye's posts are giving a realy warm smug glow inside.

Don't get too glowing, read between the lines.

[Dirk Diggler]

I'm somewhat suprised to read that one of the reasons you think Humbers are so good is that having paid several £k for one, and having found stress fractures despite them checking each boat at least 3 times prior to collection, that you only have to take it back to Hull for them to repair it free of charge.

Just how bad do things have to get before you demand some action, like maybe them coming down to you to inspect it/repair it.

Out of interest, I had a look at a Humber Extreme for someone the other day, I can only assume that the quality differs between work/pleasure boats as it was quite possibly the worst finished rib I have ever seen.

What with flush fitting access plates held in with a couple of self tappers, and false finishing panels on both inner & outer transoms that looked like it was made to fit a completely different rib. As for the console, what is all that about.

The boat looked like it was 10 years old, instead of 18 months.

[gingercoastie]

Originally posted by jwalker
Don't get too glowing, read between the lines.

Sorry, not seeing anything, can you tell me instead?

[seafariskye]

Don't get too glowing, read between the lines.

Aye .. eh ... what does that mean ?

Pete

[quinquarimarine]

I agree with Pete - if you have some thing to "say between the lines" then say it rather than confuse others with a lack of transparency.

Cheers

John

ps . Pete - we are hoping to have a demo 12m/4m wide twin diesel in about 4 months if you fancy a go. Full internal seating for twelve plus external seating for 12 - boat specifically designed for CAT2 for the whale job. Tony has a copy of our GA plans (and adding his oar/thoughts !!) .If on schedule will be at RIBEX & workboat. J

[seafariskye]

John

thanks for that -- have pm'ed you ref the above ........

Pete f

[jwalker]

Originally posted by quinquarimarine
- if you have some thing to "say between the lines" then say it....

Nope. I've got nothing to say.

[gingercoastie]

Originally posted by jwalker

I have always been happy with my choice of boat, but quinquarimarine's and seafariskye's posts are giving a realy warm smug glow inside.

Don't get too glowing, read between the lines. [/B]

Then what is this all about then if you "got nothing to say"?

[Rogue Wave]

At least it's getting sorted


Timboli I have a trailer in Hull that needs to be brought back down to Southampton.......And you have a boat in Southampton that needs to be taken to Hull. Are you at all interested in either me taking your boat up or you bringing my trailer back and us sharing the expenses

cheers
Stuart

[john kendrick]

Hi I know what you mean I have just got a new 5.8 destroyer 22.12.2003 and found the transom fitted the wrong way around and the console made wrong I rang Andrew at Humber for advice he told me it could not happen so I got a marine surveyer to survey the hull and with his report I have now got to take Humber to court as they refused last night to do anything (11.02.2004)
this is my second Destryer and I had the same problme as you have when my boat was only six weeks old it took me a few days to get Humber to pay for the repair they wanted me to take the boat back to them at no cost to them but I am down in Cornwall and some 930mile round trip
I will never buy anouther boat from them again hope you get yours repaired my repair bill was only £70 but that was 8 yrs ago
all the best and good luck you will need it
John Kendrick

[kitten]

Originally posted by john kendrick
and found the transom fitted the wrong way around and the console made wrong

Having trouble getting my head around the transom fitting thing. Got any pics?