Bombard C3 - Opinions?

benc · 05 July 2011, 08:52

Hi Guys,

I've seen this on ebay.. bombard c3 rib inflatable boat dinghy 15hp outboard on eBay (end time 11-Jul-11 19:39:20 BST)

It looks quite tidy, engine is a bit old... but it runs fine apparently.

I don't need/want the trailer, so will sell/swap that with someone who does.

Im going to carry on looking around the net about them, but any opinions/advice/views/experience would be appreciated

Thanks

Ben

P.s I will find a SIB one day - !

Fenlander · 05 July 2011, 09:17

To me home made trailer with apparently an axle too far to the rear and no jockey wheel has almost zero value. Boat looks to have a few patches. They are a very heavy boat. Petrol tank home made!! Has been round ebay a couple of times already recently.

On the upside they are an expensive boat new and strongly made... look quite cool in SAS black too.

Worth a punt at low money I guess if it's what you want.

Max... · 05 July 2011, 10:00

There are so many suitable rib/engine packages coming up on eBay every day that I would wait for something nearby that you can inspect and see running - personally I would never buy anything like this without going over it first. Having said that if the price is right (like that Bombard 380) yesterday you need to move fast.

Other side though is just to get out there on the water while the summer's here - if you buy at the right price you will never loose on re-sale and every boat you use/own will teach you what is the ultimate ideal set-up for your needs.

benc · 05 July 2011, 10:07

Grr, my reply didnt send.

I know the trailers not worth much, I just don't need it. Didn't think about weight on this, I want something I can put in the boot of my car and take down the river and launch single handedly.

I saw the patches, and they look ok. Engine is old, but runs well apparently.

It's proving difficult to find something within my budget (around £1800 or swap for my zapcat!)

Max... · 05 July 2011, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by benc

It's proving difficult to find something within my budget (around £1800 or swap for my zapcat!)

What's the exact spec/criteria you need?

benc · 05 July 2011, 10:26

Something I can carry/use transom wheels.. something that gets on the plane with either me, my partner and two kids (6 and 2.5) .. something that will handle a little bit of chop, I would like to travel across southampton water but not the solent.

Thats about it really.. the bombard would have been perfect, I like the honwaves too, but they all seem to be a fair bit more.

renegade · 05 July 2011, 10:32

it,s got a lot of badly done patches/repairs I count over 6 and one on the rubbber bummper ?

this looks a better buy Zodiac Cadet 3.1 RIB with Honda 15 O/board and trailer | eBay UK

or even this nice starter for the river ect
3.8m semi ridgid inflatable with honda 8hp | eBay UK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AVON-INFLA...item3368f2365a

ohhhhh aero deck so light and easy for packing away ect and a £500 buy now would leave room to buy a nice outboard ect
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quicksilve...item19c6d6149c

totaly of topic with this one but lol wtf I want it
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INFLATABLE...item3a67c9141a

benc · 05 July 2011, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by benc

Something I can carry/use transom wheels.. something that gets on the plane with either me, my partner and two kids (6 and 2.5) .. something that will handle a little bit of chop, I would like to travel across southampton water but not the solent.

Thats about it really.. the bombard would have been perfect, I like the honwaves too, but they all seem to be a fair bit more.

I forgot to add, I want to fold it up and put in my partners car (grand scenic), we dont have a tow bar.. I still havent taken a driving test and... she wont tow anything

benc · 05 July 2011, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by renegade

it,s got a lot of badly done patches/repairs I count over 6 and one on the rubbber bummper ?

I didn't think they looked too bad - but I'm no expert - I am not going to go with this one, as said above - its too heavy for what I want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by renegade

this looks a better buy Zodiac Cadet 3.1 RIB with Honda 15 O/board and trailer | eBay UK

This does look good, still has 5 days left, I can imagine it going over my budget

Quote:

Originally Posted by renegade

or even this nice starter for the river ect
3.8m semi ridgid inflatable with honda 8hp | eBay UK

I've sent them a message about this one, its not too far for me to collect either

Kernow Buoy · 05 July 2011, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by benc

I forgot to add, I want to fold it up and put in my partners car (grand scenic), we dont have a tow bar.. I still havent taken a driving test and... she wont tow anything

I had a C5, that had a wooden keel that braced the floor into a V, never tried to deflate it and fold it up and not sure I would have wanted to try!

Max... · 05 July 2011, 12:00

None of the fully inflatable SIBs are any good (comfortable, bearable) in chop except for the Bombard Aerotech, especially with two very young children - you run the risk of catapulting them out at anything much more than displacement speeds. You need a minimum of 3.4m too and a 10 - 15 HP. Anything much bigger though is harder to carry, transport, handle etc - always a compromise!

A great buy would have been that QS I flagged up the other day - looks like he has sold the 15 HP though, I'm sure you would have got both for under £1800:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Fastroller 3.4 here too (a similar one made £600 or so last night http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT ):

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Nice package here in your budget:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EDIT: Downhilldai flashed up a lovely Searider - needs trailering but if you want to go out in the chop the Searider is the one. In my experience though the two man jockey is not exactly family friendly - someone has to sit on the tubes and run the risk...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/inflatable...item3a67d5460a

benc · 05 July 2011, 12:20

Thanks for these, I will take a look through, I wouldn't be taking the 2yr old out in any chop at all, he would only come out on the river. He loves the Tornado and wouldn't want to scare him.

I think hes too small for the zapcat too...

benc · 05 July 2011, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max...

inflatable rib boat | eBay UK

I saw this one too, and started toying with the idea of talking to the boat yard I keep the Rib in to see if I can get a deal to keep it there.... but it takes away the purpose of me looking for another boat.. I want something I can fold up and put in the boot to take to different places

MrLiam · 05 July 2011, 13:08

Its not an opinon on the bombard but this is very cheap and says that its usable.
AVON INFLATABLE 3.2 MTR, Isle of Wight | Wightbay.com

Dino89 · 05 July 2011, 17:18

seems to cheap to me no reserve ! ! if your considering buying it i would go have a good look all round it

renegade · 05 July 2011, 17:22

once bought one cheap like that and after the soapy water test was bubbles came from behind the rubber bumper was hard to find where from so after pulling the entire rubber of and it falling in to halves , it is now in a blck bag and used as patches ... live and learn..... go view and take a bottle of washing up liquid with you ask if they mind if you check it lol

captnjack · 06 July 2011, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernow

I had a C5, that had a wooden keel that braced the floor into a V, never tried to deflate it and fold it up and not sure I would have wanted to try!

Agree, I had a C3 and deflated/folded it up maybe 3times before I bought a trailer. It feels like it takes all day! And its heavy with the wooden keel, ali floor etc.

lockieboi · 06 July 2011, 15:26

This looks good, comes with all the accesories too.

SEAPRO INFLATABLE BOAT & TOHATSU 9.8HP FOUR STROKE | eBay

benc · 06 July 2011, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieboi

This looks good, comes with all the accesories too.

SEAPRO INFLATABLE BOAT & TOHATSU 9.8HP FOUR STROKE | eBay

Indeed it does, its in my watch list. Just not keen on the low (nearly none existant) rating

Popeye1 · 06 July 2011, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by benc

I saw this one too, and started toying with the idea of talking to the boat yard I keep the Rib in to see if I can get a deal to keep it there.... but it takes away the purpose of me looking for another boat.. I want something I can fold up and put in the boot to take to different places

Hi benc,

I've sent you a PM.

Regards

Popeye