New boat and trailer - Unsafe

[Doug Stormforce]

Yesterday afternoon a customer (complete beginner) arrived with his new RIB (just under 8m) for a couple of days own boat tuition.

He had driven about 50 miles from purchase point to us. The trailer is a bench sort with 1 set of rollers at the back and it was the first time he had towed

When he got here I spotted quite a few things I was not happy about.

1/. The boat was not tied to the trailer.

2/. The only fixing between boat and trailer was the winch at the front which was not in the lock position.

3/. No reg plate, prop cover etc.

4/. The trailer was not set up for this boat, the boat sat far to far forward with the bow hitting the landy when you take a corner, the stern was about 9" to far forward on the back rollers.

5/. The lighting board was for a different trailer, does not fit this one and actully came of when he was on the way to us. It was hanging on with a couple of bits of string.

Now the reason the guy has come to us is he wants some training. He is a 100% beginner. What I am upset about is that a big name RIB sales/build company sent him of without helping him out with the basics.

If it had been more windy yesterday we could have all been waking up to the headlines " x number dead in tragic motorway RIB/car collision".

This guy has paid good money for his boat and EXPECTS not to be sold something unsafe, I am shocked at what a so called professional has done for a complete novice. I have obvioulsy not named the particular company here, just in case there is another side to this story, although I find it hard to imagine what that may be.

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

.... I have obvioulsy not named the particular company here, just in case there is another side to this story, although I find it hard to imagine what that may be.

If it turns out to be just as you described, it may well be worth mentioning a name.

[GuyP]

Was the trailer definitely supplied by the boat manufacturer?

If so, and especially considering the cost of an 8m RIB, I'd say correct trailer set-up was as important a part of the deal as engine set-up.

[Nasher]

By coincidence I was talking to a neighbour a few days ago who took delivery recently of a brand new hard boat, built up North.

As he does not have a vehicle big enough to tow the boat, part of the deal was to deliver it to a local yard on the South coast where he has access to a tractor to launch and recover.

Apart from a surprisingly long list of issues with the boat itself, the trailer was also supplied in an unfit state, and has now had modifications made by a local company that admittedly have been covered cost wise by the boat manufacturer.

But it was dangerous. Specifically, the boat was over weight for the trailer, which was discovered when on the second recovery one of the supports for the bunks collapsed. He was lucky the company delivered it for him without incident. I’m sure the company would have quite happily let him tow it away from their factory knowing he had a couple of hundred miles to go.

I am going to strip the brakes out of it for him and machine up some plain bronze bearings to reduce his maintenance schedule. The brakes are already binding and having been in and out of the water @10 times I’m sure the bearings will be suffering. In my opinion, knowing his situation, the manufacturer should have suggested a yard trailer rather than a full road trailer, and delivered the boat on their own road trailer.

It does appear that the trailers, although being marked up by the boat suppliers, are not core business, and are not given the same considerations as the rest of the boat. We must remember also that used boats are often put on unrelated used trailers by brokers, which is potentially an even more dangerous situation with unknown maintenance.

I do understand of course that not all boat builders and broketrs are the same, and I’d imagine most take great care to supply a safe, well specified package, and advise their customers in basic safety.

I’d be interested to hear the comments of the various builders that use the forum.


Nasher.

[Doug Stormforce]

Originally Posted by GuyP

Was the trailer definitely supplied by the boat manufacturer?

If so, and especially considering the cost of an 8m RIB, I'd say correct trailer set-up was as important a part of the deal as engine set-up.

The trailer was part of the deal and I agree. Now the boat is in the water we will show the owner how to set up the trailer properly.

I have just taken him round to the local chandlry to buy anchor, chain, lines etc.

[DJL]

Surely in both cases above the packages would be classed as unroadworthy and therefore illegal to sell. It would seem fit to report them to local trading standards and/or police.

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by Nasher

I’d be interested to hear the comments of the various builders that use the forum.


Nasher.

As a manufacturer we supply appropriate trailers for each boat, offer flushing kits for the brakes (which we recommend of course), and deliver the boat with the appropriate tie downs.

We are currently modifying the trailer for the new 6 metre model so that you can fit a restraint from the bow eye towards the back of the trailer to prevent the boat going forwards under heavy or emergency breaking.

We supply Admiral trailers as standard, but will supply any make the customer wants.

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Cookee

As a manufacturer we supply appropriate trailers for each boat, offer flushing kits for the brakes (which we recommend of course), and deliver the boat with the appropriate tie downs.

We are currently modifying the trailer for the new 6 metre model so that you can fit a restraint from the bow eye towards the back of the trailer to prevent the boat going forwards under heavy or emergency breaking.

We supply Admiral trailers as standard, but will supply any make the customer wants.

Cheers Cookee. Wouldn't expect any less from yourselves.

I wonder if all 'Our' manufacturers can claim the same.

Nasher

[jonmitch]

Interestingly, when I picked up my second hand boat from a very well known and large brokerage advertised on here, the seller assured me, as a first time "trailer", that everything was aok (100 point check etc.) and that the drive back from the Solent to Plymouth would be a doddle.

How I laughed as the trailer wheel fell off at 50mph on a Good Friday Evening!! Later inspection of the trailer by a local guy had him laughing at its completely shot bearings.

With difficulty, I managed to get most of the recovery costs (300 pounds) back from the dealer but nothing towards the cost of the trailer repairs or as acknowledgment of the near disaster that befell me!! Funnily enough, all the pre-sale guarantees seemed to evaporate once the money had changed hand.

I won't mention any names or the make of RIB for which this dealer is the UK distributor. And no, Codprawn and others, its not Ribeye!!

Jon

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by jonmitch

I won't mention any names or the make of RIB for which this dealer is the UK distributor. And no, Codprawn and others, its not Ribeye!!

Jon

I have NEVER criticised Ribeye. My only experience of them is when I did my PB2 course. The instructor has had the boat for 5 years and it gets loads of use no problems at all. Bit of a hard ride but then again it was a much smaller RIB than mine.

[The Garfish]

Originally Posted by jonmitch

I won't mention any names or the make of RIB for which this dealer is the UK distributor.

fuk mee ifn mi trayler weel ad forlen orf iyd av gon fkin ballistik

gaRf

[Chris]

Garf, you have a way of cutting throught the crap that can only be described as inspired...

Chris

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by jonmitch

...I won't mention any names or the make of RIB for which this dealer is the UK distributor.

Why not?

[The Garfish]

Originally Posted by Chris

you have a way of cutting throught the crap that can only be described as inspired...

butt nott dat inspyred.

thers wan aw too ov dem scoch nobburs mite nead a elpin and

gaRf

[Chris]

[jonmitch]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Why not?

Because I'll never be able to go to Emsworth again!!

[jonmitch]

Originally Posted by The Garfish

fuk mee ifn mi trayler weel ad forlen orf iyd av gon fkin ballistik

gaRf

Exactly!

[jwalker]

Oh, I see...

[Tims Osprey]

I can understand not wanting to name and shame a company if you are a trader but if you are not then whats the problem! if there's rib builders and suppliers out there that are supplying people with dangerous rigs then pull yur thumb out yer ass and tell everybody else

[The Garfish]

Originally Posted by The Garfish

thers wan aw too ov dem scoch nobburs mite nead a elpin and

an a nobbur fromm brystol az wel

gaRf