Avon red start mariner 2hp

[nyx2k]

I've just been given this Avon and engine and i wondered whether it's suitable
to use on the sea on a nice calm sunny day or is it too small and underpowered. i live in Thorpe bay south end and i see lots of fast ribs going by and would like to get out on the water for a while until i can get a small rib for myself.
regards Nick .

[codprawn]

As long as your careful and don't go too far - beware of tides - doubt you will get very far against a strong tide.

I have been across from Swansea to Devon - distance of about 25 miles in my Quicksilver 3.1m but it does have a 15hp engine - still people thought I was mad....

[nyx2k]

would a 4 hp or thereabouts make it a safer prospect. i looked on the avon site and apperantly a 4hp is the max size.

[timboli]

You may find a 4hp too powerful,does it have the floorboards as they will help.I have used the avon redcrest extensively as a yacht tender and they are quite wet,very little freeboard but very well made,a lot will depend upon how many people you carry but any sort of small wash could prove a problem,wash from ships etc usually tends to be longer in wavelength so not so much of a problem.Make sure you know where the end of the painter is as it can go overboard easily and wind itself around the prop.It is definitely displacement,not designed to plane so very slow,always take oars and keep in sight of land as it is really for sheltered waters only IMHO

[Downhilldai]

I would just sell it and buy a 'proper' SIB around 10-11 feet long, with transom and inflatable keel. There's loads of them for sale and they're much more seaworthy than a Redcrest. Plenty of demand for Redcrests from yotties wanting them as tenders, so you should be able to move it on quite easily, as long as you're not too greedy.
Budget on anything from around £600 upwards, for a half decent second hand SIB and outboard. When you're ready to buy your RIB, you can always sell it on and get (most of) your money back

[nyx2k]

yes it does have the floorboards and a central spine that screws to the boards. i used it yesterday on the river witham when visiting friends and it did about 6 mph..i would only use it on fairly flat water but i would like something a little bigger maybe a 3 mtr with 10hp or so..

[ADS]

Am I right it saying the Redstart is the donut shaped one with a bracket that attaches to the back. If so then I had one in the shed, they don't plane and theres little point putting anything bigger than a 2HP on it, you open it up and the outboard dissappears over the back
Having said that, they are fine as a yacht tender and cool for exploring rivers and harbours. I would recommend something a bit bigger with a transom and inflatable keel / air deck, combined with a 10-15hp this will provide alot of fun. A number of members including Phil Davies, Codprawn, and MeMe all have boats along these lines, may be worth a PM to see how they find them.

Alex

[columbiachop]

i have a 10ft avon red seal (donut shape). the tubes are fairly small in diameter and yes, very wet ride.

i use it to flyfish high mountain lakes with an electric motor on back.

that little motor mount doesn't like much hp.


andy

[nyx2k]

i'll keep the redstart for rivers and local canals etc. i think i'll start looking for something around 3 mtrs and 10hp so i can feel safer and have a bit more speed.
thanks for all the replies.
nick

[ADS]

Originally Posted by nyx2k

i'll keep the redstart for rivers and local canals etc. i think i'll start looking for something around 3 mtrs and 10hp so i can feel safer and have a bit more speed.
thanks for all the replies.
nick

Best of luck, if you haven't already found it Boats and Outboards, is full of adverts:
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/p...nflatables.php

The freeads etc are also good places to loook, and there are some bargains to be had.

Alex

This one isn't a too bad a deal: http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F88937/