Thoughts on Changing to an SR4

[9D280]

Width wise from memory they are all around the 2m-ish mark , so if an SR4 goes through your door, so shoud a 4.7 and a 5.4.

Whether the garage is long enough to allow you to shut the door behind it is another matter! Have a search for garages and fit - there have been a couple of discussions on the matter.

Just remember that if your trailer is braked you may need to either take a good extra space into account or get creative wit hthe drawbar & wich like I had to do. Suffice to say my tailgate on the car will only open & clear the bow if the trailer brakes are not on.... But it fits & the door closes (just!)

[actions]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Width wise from memory they are all around the 2m-ish mark , so if an SR4 goes through your door, so shoud a 4.7 and a 5.4.

Whether the garage is long enough to allow you to shut the door behind it is another matter! Have a search for garages and fit - there have been a couple of discussions on the matter.

Just remember that if your trailer is braked you may need to either take a good extra space into account or get creative wit hthe drawbar & wich like I had to do. Suffice to say my tailgate on the car will only open & clear the bow if the trailer brakes are not on.... But it fits & the door closes (just!)

Thanks for that advice. I have found the width on the Avon website at 2.03m and i have the smallest gap at 2.10 by the door so it will go. Height wise no issue with the a frame removed. Length wise i have 5.2m but of course need to take into account the up and over door. I was thinking that maybe just maybe i could shorten the draw bar or remove a small section at the rear and pop it through. Main concern really is life on tubes etc and am i going to get a few more years yet. It will certainly be the biggest rib i can go for.

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by actions

maybe i could shorten the draw bar

That was done to my RC5.3's trailer to enable it to fit in the garage. So it can be done.

'Trailer Guy' on here may be able to advise

[Max...]

My 4.7SR on trailer was 5.10m total. One day I will buy a 4m SR with 40hp 2 stroke I'm sure - I love our SIB and the ease of carrying/launching off the boat but *any* sort of sea other than a mill pond and they slap you about like crazy + they all go sideways like a hovercraft with any sort of turn at speed. SIBs are great fun but compared to the sea handling of a decent RIB they are very poor.

I just need to wait for my (9 yr old) son to grow for a few years when we can manage a 4m RIB together and I'll be there.

[actions]

Am seriously looking at getting whispers rib and hoping to trial it next week. Any thought on how long tubes last. Its a 1991 rib and powered by a 40 2 stroke. Would this be a good move do you think, only my set up is all much newer??????? Oh decisions decisions...

[PeterM]

If its his 4m( I thought he sold it). Its in great condition. Tubes good for another 15 years with care...

[PeterM]

There are some pics inhere if it is the one I think it is....just need to find them.

[Boatnomad]

Tubes should last for years to come,they where wizards at llanelli back in the day
Big difference between the 4 and 4.7 in many ways

[actions]

Originally Posted by Boatnomad

Tubes should last for years to come,they where wizards at llanelli back in the day
Big difference between the 4 and 4.7 in many ways

Excellent news on the tubes, thanks for that. 4.7 is the way forward.

Originally Posted by PeterM

There are some pics inhere if it is the one I think it is....just need to find them.

I think if i remember our telephone conversation correctly he sold his orange sr4.7 a while ago and now has his ribcraft and the one i'm looking at. He has just rigged it with a 40hp two stroke yam to sell as a package.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by actions

Excellent news on the tubes, thanks for that. 4.7 is the way forward.



I think if i remember our telephone conversation correctly he sold his orange sr4.7 a while ago and now has his ribcraft and the one i'm looking at. He has just rigged it with a 40hp two stroke yam to sell as a package.

Ah OK - sorry - I confused things . Where is he when you need him . I reckon he has had ;

SR4 with a 40 Yam
SR4.7 with a suzi that Trevor bought ( and took across to the CI recently )
SR4.7 with a 70 (?) yam that he still has ?
The grey SR4.7 that he must have put a 40 on .

I think that makes him a bit if SR4.7 fan ?

[TRevor Lawson]

Hi the way i get my boat (not a searider )to fit in garage is to move snubber post forwards on trailer as far as poss, then winch boat forward up to post again , i have a roller trailer, this shortens overhaul lenght of trailer /boat set up , have to put back befor use but only takes about 10mins.

[actions]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Ah OK - sorry - I confused things . Where is he when you need him . I reckon he has had ;

SR4 with a 40 Yam
SR4.7 with a suzi that Trevor bought ( and took across to the CI recently )
SR4.7 with a 70 (?) yam that he still has ?
The grey SR4.7 that he must have put a 40 on .

I think that makes him a bit if SR4.7 fan ?

I think so, but proves they must be a good rib or that he has a fetish.....

When i spoke to him earlier he stated it should reach 27 knts, which is what i get out of my Zodiac 2 up.

Providing its got enough power to be good fun and not be sluggish it should be perfect for me.

[Searider]

Avon tubes I believe have/had a 10 year guarantee.

I had a 1978 SR5.4 and the tubes were fine when I sold it in 2005.
I think it spent most of its early life inside out of the sun which helped but 2000 to 2005 was outside without a cover.

Current SR4 is a 1997 I think and lived in a container until 2006 and then on a mooring with no cover - all ok still.

So, if the tubes look ok now and you'll be keeping it in a garage they'll be fine for a long while.

But - my 1998 scorpion tubes are near the end of their life having been outside most of their life.

You can't beat the older avon fabric :-)

[Slaphead]

I have a 1977 one and the the tubes are fine...as long as you don't mind the boat not looking sexy. I have a pre 1972 Redcrest that also lives outside and the hypalon on it is fine too. Keeping it under cover in a garage is a good idea. Do that and it will last a very long time.

[actions]

Well following all of Whispers help and advice and the members on here i have decided to go for it. Provisionaly sold pending confirmation i can actually get it in the garage, but i think that should be ok with a little tinkering.

Now for an engine.

Then to sell mine.

Hopefully i'm doing the right thing

[Downhilldai]

Welcome to the SR4.7 club

Originally Posted by actions

Now for an engine.

What do you have in mind?

[actions]

Ideally a four stroke, (i know that could be frowned upon with a searider by some posts ive researched) but i have to consider fuel consumption.

Something around the 60 mark, PTT, Electric start.

Even a 50 if it will push it enough.

Tried local marine stores but they dont have anything at moment.

[Max...]

I had a 60 hp Mercury 4 stroke on mine and it was OK but more would have been better - spoke to our local rescue boat guys at the weekend who run a 70 2 stroke Yam on their 4.7 four up and it flies big time.

[actions]

Originally Posted by Max...

I had a 60 4 Mercury stroke on mine and it was OK but more would have been better - spoke to our local rescue boat guys at the weekend who run a 70 2 stroke Yam on theirs and it flies big time.

Hmmm when you say ok, how ok?

I know the 70 would be better but i really have to think of running costs.

[Max...]

I guess it's all relative and other SR owners will be much better qualified to answer that but I really think a 2 stroke 60 would be the desirable minimum.