Valiant Rib worth doing up or bin

bobbyjoeufb · 03 July 2011, 20:22

Been offered a 5.4m Valiant Rib approx 1998 with a Yamaha 50 1995. RIB has sat in a field for last 4 years.

Pumped up the tanks and 3 of them hold air and the 4th one has a 1inch slash in the tank.

The control box has wires hanging out of it where the ignition key should be, control cables and steering slighty stiff but they all move. The engine looks to be complete although not in best nick and not been serviced regulary.

Trailer is non existing and pretty much scrap. Been offered the boat and engine for round about the £400 mark wondering if its worth having a go or give it a miss?

soley1 · 03 July 2011, 20:26

got to be worth a go,i had a similar rib in the same condition(valiant d300)spent a few pounds and i have a useble craft

Andy B · 03 July 2011, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by soley1

got to be worth a go,i had a similar rib in the same condition(valiant d300)spent a few pounds and i have a useble craft

yah but £400

best fire up that motor before you hand over any money

havener · 03 July 2011, 20:40

Have a punt.

My Humber had been out in the open for about 3 years before I found it (on a friend's farm) and the engine had been on it during that time as well. It was virtually green!

A good clean up, quick engine service and new impeller, it started second turn (60hp Johnson). Trailer was fit for one trip home only then replaced.

One small patch needed, and it's now been my workhorse for a number of years. Cost me a grand to buy then spent about another £300 plus the trailer.

Don't try and fire up the engine without checking it over first though.

Bigmuz7 · 03 July 2011, 20:51

I wouldnt .. not where the sea is up your way fella.. depends on your attitude though .. some folks are gung ho enough and best of luck to them with much respect, but I'd sooner stick my mulah in something fresher than that, that I know I could depend on with a capitol D

soley1 · 03 July 2011, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy B

yah but £400

best fire up that motor before you hand over any money

he said around £400,ive seen consoles go for £100 and control boxes too,the tube can be repaired if its only a small rip in a easy to get to place.a knackered engine sold as bits and he wouls soon recoup his money
just my opinion

bobbyjoeufb · 03 July 2011, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

I wouldnt .. not where the sea is up your way fella.. depends on your attitude though .. some folks are gung ho enough and best of luck to them with much respect, but I'd sooner stick my mulah in something fresher than that, that I know I could depend on with a capitol D

Yeah I know what you mean. Would not be venturing far just a play thing. Although I have just been told that the engine may be seized. Had a look at the engine earier today and flywheel did move slighty, could really do with getting it set up outside and have a good look over.

Andy B · 04 July 2011, 07:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by soley1

he said around £400,ive seen consoles go for £100 and control boxes too,the tube can be repaired if its only a small rip in a easy to get to place.a knackered engine sold as bits and he wouls soon recoup his money
just my opinion

This is all very true,
But the OP did ask if it was worth doing up or bining!
Not can i buy this and get my money back!

biffer · 04 July 2011, 08:55

if you've got the money give it a go, if you bugger it up you've had £400 of experience

Max... · 04 July 2011, 08:57

That looks like a whole heap of hassle for very little return IMHO - maybe £200 to take if off his hands but not £400...

renegade · 04 July 2011, 10:20

with a good scrub down and some treatment on the tubes maybe a lick of paint to the hull that would look great ... get some soapy liquied or water on those tubes see how damaged they realy are ...watch for the bubbles lol

paul tilley · 04 July 2011, 18:06

if it doesnt need new tubes now it soon will

renegade · 04 July 2011, 19:50

maybe so but its going to be no real loss the console and outboard would make most of the money back . I seen boats like that left out for a year green as a field and a day later with a bit of tlc are like new and worth double the money . that with a good scrub and a bit of shine back on the tubes and you would be saying wow what a bargain...

just look at this restoration alone Inflatable Boat Paint and Tuff-coat paint for Inflatable Boats by SRC Tuff-coat and Tuffcoat

Nasher · 04 July 2011, 21:09

If you can get him down to @£300 I'd say it's worth having a go.
It would be an enjoyable project with a reasonable starting point.

If the engine is shot, then part it out on ebay and recover some of the outlay ready to invest in a newer engine.

There is nothing like having built/rebuilt the boat yourself to know exactly where to look and what to do if something does go wrong.

Oh, put a budget together for rebuilding it, then double it.

Nasher.

yoyo · 04 July 2011, 22:05

bin it

yoyo · 04 July 2011, 22:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by renegade

I seen boats like that left out for a year green as a field and a day later with a bit of tlc are like new and worth double the money . that with a good scrub and a bit of shine back on the tubes and you would be saying wow what a bargain...

just look at this restoration alone Inflatable Boat Paint and Tuff-coat paint for Inflatable Boats by SRC Tuff-coat and Tuffcoat

erm are you aware of Mr Paul Tilley's expertise on all things to do with toobs

renegade · 04 July 2011, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoyo

erm are you aware of Mr Paul Tilley's expertise on all things to do with toobs

regardless of how much some one knows he can not say how bad it is from those pic,s
also there is a outboard that may be ok and woth £250 or even more and the consoles are not cheap and with a spary would look new ..

some ppl love to give a old boat a bit of life back as I do and dont wish to spend 10k on a new one .

I see life in that old boat and for little money could be a few years fun to have

also did you look at the link ?

bobbyjoeufb · 04 July 2011, 23:37

Thanks for your comments.

Narrowly missed out on a nice Zapcat Hull and trailer tonight

Going to try and lower the price on the Valiant, see what I can get it for.

Bigmuz7 · 04 July 2011, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbyjoeufb

Thanks for your comments.

Narrowly missed out on a nice Zapcat Hull and trailer tonight

Going to try and lower the price on the Valiant, see what I can get it for.

£0 and it will still cost you £lots .. burst my bubble in a year and tell me you flogged it for a profit

go on then .. I await the report

boomer · 06 July 2011, 13:24

If it was nearer I would have taken it for a project for the scouts (granted i probably would have been the one doing 99% of the work!)