Valiant upgrades

two stroke mick · 02 April 2013, 11:09

I have carried out the following upgrades to the Valiant Dr 490 since christmas
1) split the anchor locker and made it so there is a dry locker and and anchor lodker which can be losed from the top
2) installed a built in fuel tank of 53 lts with external breather
3) Glassed in a new console which I purcahsed from Ian Sharlott from powerboat sales. I had to reduce the height of the console by 70mm to make it look right.

two stroke mick · 02 April 2013, 11:11

Photos

I am also planning on installing a removable bench seat and removable single jockey seat when time and funds allow

two stroke mick · 10 April 2013, 17:06

photos of how the rib used to look

two stroke mick · 20 May 2013, 11:11

I had my first sea trail yesterday evening after pulling my Valiant asunder and putting it back together over the winter.

I Relocated the console further forward. This has improved the balance and ride of the rib conserderably. The boat no longer feels too light at the bow and has a much more positive and confident feel about it. I used to have 30 - 40 kg of lead in the bow locker not any more.

The raised seating poition is much more comfortable and The ride is much less harsh that it used to be. The rib runs a lot more level now and is not pushed off course by the waves as easly. I was playing in the rip currents last night to get short nasty waves..
I am now a happy camper.

I know that a lot of the users of this forum do not rate the valiant ribs, but I do believe that my one has been substantially improved by puting in a proper console and pushing the console further forward and as a result improved the balance.

It begs the question how many ribs are out there that could be substantially improved by the addition of proper seating and some consideration in the placing ofthe seating on the rib.

Attached are photos from last night.

TSM

A special thanks to power boat sales and Ian Sharlott who provided guidance in this project. Now to get around to the installation of a deck matrix to allow for removal seats/ bottle rack

macattack101 · 20 May 2013, 13:47

Great job you have done there. The boat looks great. My 6.2 valiant also has the console moved forward over a metre and to be honest I still feel the stern too heavy. Don't listen to the valiant knockers, it can handle the rough stuff with lots of airtime and as a bonus has lots of storage space to keep gear dry.
Cheers

Nos4r2 · 20 May 2013, 22:50

I have to say, the odd one I've seen has handled the chop quite well. Looks good!

two stroke mick · 21 May 2013, 09:19

When I get around to puting in the deck matrix I will flow coat the deck a non slip grey

boilermaker1 · 21 May 2013, 11:32

Well done, looking good
just the boost I need to get off my butt and
sort out my boat

two stroke mick · 21 May 2013, 11:53

Your boat needs very little sorting boilermaker

two stroke mick · 22 August 2013, 17:23

I had the re-enginered valiant dr 490 out twice this week force 5 6 with large steep waves (west coast of ireland). The handling of the rib is now beautifully balanced. The boat no longer gets knocked off the direction by the waves. I had to drive up the waves and when i got to the top kill the power and slide down the wave. Average speed circa 13kn. Any faster and you would fly off the wave. I assume that in these conditions the name of the game is to keep the boat in the water by varying the trottle inputs and not to fly of the wave.

I am a very very happy owner of a valiant dr 490. Now i just need to finish what i started.

Tsm

Bigmuz7 · 22 August 2013, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

I had the re-enginered valiant dr 490 out twice this week force 5 6 with large steep waves (west coast of ireland). The handling of the rib is now beautifully balanced. The boat no longer gets knocked off the direction by the waves. I had to drive up the waves and when i got to the top kill the power and slide down the wave. Average speed circa 13kn. Any faster and you would fly off the wave. I assume that in these conditions the name of the game is to keep the boat in the water by varying the trottle inputs and not to fly of the wave.

I am a very very happy owner of a valiant dr 490. Now i just need to finish what i started.

Tsm

You would get a little faster by tacking a bit over them, however if your diection of travel is head on... your ultimate running time may not be much different in the end. My V570 was a peach to handle in the sea, the flat bow made stuffing a little more difficult, and the bigger 50cm tubes kept the ride dry all the time .. I loved that boat and would have another tomorrow

kerny · 22 August 2013, 18:32

Nice one tsm, that's what its all about being happy with your own rib

Festinghouse · 22 August 2013, 18:42

nice job. i too have the same console as you, but also have a double as well. i put the 91litre tank inside mine though.
i agree that there are a great many ribs out there with less than ideal layouts. as kerny says, its all about being happy with your own boat - best way of doing that is sort it yourself!

two stroke mick · 22 August 2013, 18:59

the boat was a lot faster when tacked. but this was an excerise in re building my confidence on the after and field testing the modifications

macattack101 · 23 August 2013, 09:17

Careful guys as any positive things said about valiant ribs are quickly cancelled out by the scaremongers such as I knew a guy who knew a guy who's brother had a valiant and its tubes dissolved when wet and the hull snapped in a force 3.
Nice to hear I'm not the only happy owner.

two stroke mick · 23 August 2013, 20:39

I now love seeing big seas where I used to hate them. I can "drive" the rib in big seas instead of just pottering along. As I have said before. I wonder how many ribs have been ruin by poor layout and balance. I believe that it is all in the balance. The only down side is that the rib is now much wetter to drive. but that is a price I am very happy to pay

TSM

seawinds · 25 April 2014, 08:30

I've got a valiant dr49o looks a great job.
Why did you fit? Did you have problems with the original 2 man jockey consol.

two stroke mick · 25 April 2014, 14:26

The problem I had with the original jockey console was that it was too low for my frame (6 foot 1 " tall). I also felt that the boat was poolry balanced as the console was positioned too far to the stern.

The cons of relocating the jockey console
The boat is a lot wetter to drive in rough weather

Pros.
The height of the steering wheel and trotle are more suited to by size and the boat has better balance.

TSM

Adamn · 26 April 2014, 20:42

You have done what mine badly needs!
My Zodiac is very stern bias I need to move the console forward about a meter to the raised locker and ditch the bench seat for a good single or twin jockey seat.

seawinds · 27 April 2014, 22:17

Hi two stroke
I'm based on Dunmore east where did you get consol also was the job expensive?
I understand valiant are no longer making the dr range
Bill