Yet another 4m Searider refurb

Tim M · 01 September 2009, 21:07

I bought this SR4 some weeks ago. Saw it on ebay a short time after it went up. Was described as being in really good shape with nearly new tubes, so I had to have it! Clicked buy it now and a short time later it was back in Portsmouth. I had plans to change the console and pimp it out, but took it for a few test runs before I set loose with the angle grinder. It has the flooding hull blocked up. I'd never driven one with a blocked hull before, the acceleration is incredible (with a 45hp Honda on the back). I bought it as an economical run-about so am planning to leave the hull blocked up.

Anyway, one sunny afternoon I set about removing the old console. Took about 10 minutes to cut it free, which is when I discovered someone had bizarrely cut a large hole in the deck, hidden under the console. They'd blocked it up with lengths of pine which of course were rather soggy! I decided therefore to replace the whole deck and do a proper job.

Ebay pics:

JSP · 01 September 2009, 21:09

This sounds good!

Tim M · 01 September 2009, 21:17

Don't get too excited yet

Maiden voyage: pics taken from another SR4 with flooding hull and 40 Mariner 4-stroke. My one is considerably quicker off the mark

I took it to Cowes one evening a few days later, went there and back on about £10 of petrol

Tim M · 01 September 2009, 21:35

As I said, decided to make a start one Sunday afternoon. This is when this went from being a minor project to a major project! The hole in the middle was blocked up with lengths of pine, screwed to the underside of the deck, then covered (badly) with fibreglass. The deck around the hole felt soggy, so I cut a chunk out to the side to see what sort of state it was in. I wasn't happy about leaving a potentially rotting deck in there so it all came out! Lots of angle grinding and lots of dust.

I was amazed at how thin the deck was when I took it out. Looked like 4mm ply, fiberglassed on both sides. The last pic is of buoyancy tanks from the rear of the deck which are presumably there to keep the stern buoyant enough to keep the transom above the water when the hull floods at rest.

Tim M · 01 September 2009, 21:51

After some ringing around, found this ex-display Avon console for £250

Have been thinking about where to put fuel tank and battery. Was offered a brand new pair of Avon fuel bladders (like the ones the RNLI use) recently which would have been perfect but they were far too expensive. I've seen lots of different configurations with this particular console, the most popular seems to be battery and fuel under the seat (keeps the deck clear and helps to keep the boat nice and balanced). Only trouble is I have found getting the tank in and out an absolute pain! If anyone has a pair of fuel bladders they want to sell let me know!

Second pic is one I found on google of a nicely fitted out console

doggypaddle · 02 September 2009, 08:38

I asked Avon about these on my 5.4. Theyre not so much to provide buoyancy at rest, but theyre there to reduce the volume of ballast at the stern, or to put it differently to keep the weight midships. without them the weight off all the water in the flooding hull running back as the bow lifts would shove the stern down and the bow skyward....even more than they do with it

with the flooding hull blocked on a 5.4 you could potentially make the 5.4 ones into a bilge pump well, but dry feet in a 5.4 would be as sick and wrong as a watertight landrover!

JSP · 02 September 2009, 11:03

Nice Job Tim. And that deck is thin! Have top remind myself of that if I ever decide to screw anything down.

I'm still undecided on the flooding hull bit on my 5.4......

mdt · 02 September 2009, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

And that deck is thin! Have top remind myself of that if I ever decide to screw anything down.

in the process of replacing the deck just now have gone for 9mm ply but I am going to glass in some stringers under the deck to help and some ribs too. but i am also going to glass in the seats etc so not going to worry about the screws. have used 18mm ply where i am planing to put a cleat on the deck mind you.

JSP · 02 September 2009, 12:09

Nice one MDT, how about bolting in a Sampson post as well.

Jizm · 02 September 2009, 16:54

Good job Tim, looks good

Tim M · 02 September 2009, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

in the process of replacing the deck just now have gone for 9mm ply but I am going to glass in some stringers under the deck to help and some ribs too. but i am also going to glass in the seats etc so not going to worry about the screws. have used 18mm ply where i am planing to put a cleat on the deck mind you.

I've gone for 9mm here too, although I'm still worried that will be too thin. I've cut the sections (managed to get the whole deck out of one sheet) and glassed one in. Just waiting for the rain to stop to get the rest in!

chewy · 02 September 2009, 17:48

Have you fitted tanks back into the stern?

Tim M · 02 September 2009, 17:49

No. As I said I'm going to leave the hull non-flooding. I've glassed over the drain holes (which just had filler in before).

chewy · 02 September 2009, 17:52

Ah must have missed that. It should shift then, you bringing it to the gathering?

lucky ribster · 02 November 2009, 10:59

how's the refurb going ? any more pic's ?

andy

Rogue Wave · 02 November 2009, 11:37

I know what you mean about getting the fuel tank out from under the seat, I had the same type of seat on my 4.7 and it was irritating . Do you have enough room at the stern for a couple of Barrus Tanks?

Tim M · 02 November 2009, 13:06

Haven't touched it for a few weeks now - been too busy with other stuff. I'm hoping to finish the deck this weekend.

There should be space for tanks at the back but I would quite like to keep them out of the way. I can get a 30l tank under the seat, but am still on the look out for a couple of bladders.

HUMBER P4VWL · 02 November 2009, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

Haven't touched it for a few weeks now - been too busy with other stuff. I'm hoping to finish the deck this weekend.

There should be space for tanks at the back but I would quite like to keep them out of the way. I can get a 30l tank under the seat, but am still on the look out for a couple of bladders.

while your at it with the deck, if you are certain to leave the hull blocked, why not utilize space under the deck for fuel??? Must be some scope for it?

Tim M · 02 November 2009, 16:27

Bit late now as the majority of the deck is down. I did consider "pimping" this one by putting under-deck trunking etc in but decided in the end to keep it simple. Theres very little room under there, I think running a pipe through for cables and things would have been pretty tight.

CJL · 03 November 2009, 21:54

Avon fuel bladders?? You mean like these; http://www.avon-workboats.com/page/flexfueltank

I just bought 3 of them for £45ea

and I know where there are more!

Finders fee???

Chris