Valiant 490 with two 30hp engines

BigKev · 06 September 2005, 02:25

Hello everyone,

I have seen a Valiant 490 with two 30hp Mariner engines and would like to know if this is a good thing? The owner claims that this is a great thing as there is reliability if one engine fails. Am I likely to have any problems with normal running of both engines.

I should say this is my first boat. I have booked a 2 day powerboating course to get some knowledge.

Many thanks Kevin.

timboli · 06 September 2005, 05:54

I had a 4.8 ribcraft with twin ex rnli mariner 30 engines,one of them gave a lot of problems but was resolved in the end.Max speed was around 24 knots but the engines were manual trim so that was limiting in terms of getting the best out of the boat.The boat was very slow(aroung 10 knots i think) under one engine.The engines did sound nice together at full chat.
I did find that the fact that the engines I had were manual start and tilt was a big negative when I tried to sell.
Personally I will always prefer one engine with a small auxilary but I know some people do prefer twins.
Another factor to consider is increased servicing cost.
I did think the boat was quite economical to run fuel wise but I have no idea how it would compare to a single 60.

Tim M · 06 September 2005, 18:01

You could easily service a part of 30's your self for not much money. Twin engines make manovering a doddle although this isnt such a big issue in a 4.9m boat.

Surly a single 60 is going to use less fuel......

BigKev · 07 September 2005, 07:03

Thanks for the replies.

So am I right in thinking I should avoid this RIB and look elsewhere?

Will there continue to be RIBs for sale during the Winter season or will it go all quiet?

Thanks

Kevin

Jackwabbit · 07 September 2005, 08:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigKev

Thanks for the replies.

So am I right in thinking I should avoid this RIB and look elsewhere?

Will there continue to be RIBs for sale during the Winter season or will it go all quiet?

Thanks

Kevin

I would have thought you would get a better deal during the winter, not many people are too keen to go out when it’s freezing cold. Not to mention all those dealers who are trying to keep some money coming in during the slack months.

I would have thought it’s a bit like buying a motorcycle during the winter, dealers are prepared to almost loose money just to keep the stock turning over.

If it’s a private sale & they haven’t sold it by now, there’s a good chance they may not get rid of it until next summer & if they have ordered a new boat they may be getting desperate.

Yup if I was in the market to get a second hand RIB I would wait until its cold & dark (ok maybe not dark after all you want to have a good look round it don’t you?) then brace the elements & take it for a spin (that should show up any problems with starting & running etc)
Well that’s my opinion anyway.

BigKev · 07 September 2005, 09:59

Ok thanks.

So do you think if I look out for something in the 5 metre area with a 60hp engine with a much smaller aux engine then I should be ok? Anything else I should be looking out for?

I am taking the RYA level 2 course so I have some basic knowledge of using a RIB.

I should also point out that I have never towed anything either before so I have something else to learn also.

Once again thanks for your help.

Kevin

Tim M · 07 September 2005, 12:07

There are one day towing courses out there, although with a 4/5mish RIB you shouldn't have too much hassle. The worst part is reversing down a slipway. You might want to practise this in an empty carpark for a little while first.

PeterR · 08 September 2005, 22:17

Depending what year you took your car test, will depend on wetheryou need a towing test taken

Tim M · 08 September 2005, 22:51

With a boat this size a towing test shouldn't be needed.

Nos4r2 · 08 September 2005, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

With a boat this size a towing test shouldn't be needed.

yep-you only need to take a category c1 test if the trailer has a MAM of over 750kg.

You'll know if this is the case if
1) It says so on the trailer
2)If the trailer has brakes-no-one to my knowledge makes trailers under 750kg with brakes.

Tim M · 08 September 2005, 23:51

That's note quite accurate: trailer test is needed if the weight of the trailer (with the boat on it) is more than the unladen weight of the vehicle and you passed your test after 1997.

Nate · 09 September 2005, 00:20

As a fully qualifies C&E entitlement large goods vehicle licence holder who has reversed fully loaded trailers into houses and over Fiats it's good to know my ability to reverse a boat is not subject to question!

Nos4r2 · 16 September 2005, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

That's note quite accurate: trailer test is needed if the weight of the trailer (with the boat on it) is more than the unladen weight of the vehicle and you passed your test after 1997.

Unless your vehicle has a load rating on it's VIN plate that says it CAN tow above its own weight then you are restricted by DVLA's rule of thumb to 85% of the kerbside weight of the vehicle. (you measure this with 1/4 tank of fuel+the driver-no more). For example-my Isuzu Trooper had a max towing weight of 2500 kg and it said it on the vin plate-along with max VEHICLE veight of 2200kg whereas a 1994 Mondeo can only tow 940kg-even though the vehicle weighs significantly more than that.

If you want to tow a trailer of over 750kg MAXIMUM AUTHORISED MASS you WILL need a cat b+e licence(not c1 like I said earlier-my cockup)-whether the boat is on there or not. If you took your car test after 1997 then you will need to take a cat b+e test.

MAM is defined as the maximum TOTAL weight of the trailer including the load that it's carrying-ie just because it says a trailer is rated to 1200kg it DOESNT mean you can put a 1200kg boat on it-you can't unless it actually says PAYLOAD rather than MAM.

BTW I've got an HGV c+e too (obviously) and I've never hit a fiat or a house.

I have however reversed over a cripple carriage....

Nate · 16 September 2005, 17:18

Nos - some further clarification of this convoluted subject...

The reference to towing no more than 85% of the weight of your towing vehicle is a recommendation only and is not a legal requirement. The law allows Category B vehicles to be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight (GVW) of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.

Thus you legally can, should you wish, tow a maximum allowable mass equal to the weight of your car.

More information is available from the creators of Income Tax and Bus Lanes:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/Dr...Vehicles/fs/en

Was the cripple carriage empty?

Hugh Jardon · 16 September 2005, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

Nos - some further clarification of this convoluted subject...

The reference to towing no more than 85% of the weight of your towing vehicle is a recommendation only and is not a legal requirement. The law allows Category B vehicles to be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight (GVW) of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.

Thus you legally can, should you wish, tow a maximum allowable mass equal to the weight of your car.

More information is available from the creators of Income Tax and Bus Lanes:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/Dr...Vehicles/fs/en

Was the cripple carriage empty?

as long as it is a braked trailer that itself is within its specified design weights etc

Nos4r2 · 16 September 2005, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

Nos - some further clarification of this convoluted subject...

The reference to towing no more than 85% of the weight of your towing vehicle is a recommendation only and is not a legal requirement. The law allows Category B vehicles to be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight (GVW) of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.

Thus you legally can, should you wish, tow a maximum allowable mass equal to the weight of your car.

More information is available from the creators of Income Tax and Bus Lanes:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/Dr...Vehicles/fs/en

Was the cripple carriage empty?

No-the driver drove up past the queue that had reversed to allow me out so she was right behind me through my blindspot (I'd got out and done a walk-round check 1st) while I was reversing round a gentle bend in a large car park/access road and apparently beeped...didn't occur to her to go backwards or move out of the way (there was plenty of room for her to) or perhaps not to drive into an artic's blindspot...I would have thought the 'if you can't see my mirrors' sticker, reversing beeper,reversing lights and hazard lights might have given her a clue. I DID stop when my tailgate went through her windscreen though. That's when someone told me she was there. I hadn't noticed-cars don't slow artics down much.
No-one hurt...

The problem with DVLA and Highway code recommendations is that insurance companies behave as though they are law-as 'obviously if the highway code or DVLA recommend it then it must be adhered to rigidly'....create your own nightmare here etc.

Nate · 16 September 2005, 20:24

When I see the elderly and infirm wobbling amongst traffic on those electric four wheelers I suspect that it's this government's attempt to introduce euthanasia via the back door.

Nos4r2 · 17 September 2005, 07:37

wasn't one of those-it was one of those berlingo vans with a tail-lift...

Nate · 17 September 2005, 08:36

Why Nos! That's virtually the same as a Fiat!!