New Welshman with usual newbie question, sorry.

[squiddy]

Hello to you all,

Usual story - After a couple of years lurking and acquiring a seriously GREAT wealth of knowledge and understanding on SIBBING – and general sea info on here (thank you all VERY much). It finally looks like I will be buying a new set up pretty soon.

I’m thinking a sib below 4M and a 20HP tohatsu OB - both brand new. I live in Aberdeen and am over on the West Coast of Scotland a fair bit. So want to take the boat on trips around (for example) the Summer Isles and onto beaches here and there in the coastal areas betwixt Ullapool and Lochinver – never more than a couple of miles or so out. Will be carrying myself, 1 x woman and 2 x children – ages 9 and 4 (have full safety gear, getting VHF).

I originally wanted a full airdeck (ease of use, weight) but am now partially coming round to a ply deck as it may give a bit more of a solid feel on the waves/wind along with the extra 10kg. Don’t want to scare the woman and children too much so will only be going out with them when the forecast is favourable and will be taking it as a cruise rather than a drag race. Boat will be transported in bag in roof box (hopefully), engine in boot.

So, anyway, I finally decided on zodiac cadet 340 solid – still *fairly* light and takes the 20hp. Boat’ll be a hint small though (any bigger ply floor would probably be too heavy to manage, all in)

BUT I keep looking back at the good old aerotec 380 and thinking if I save up a bit more I can get that nice “V” hull (bit more solid feel on waves??) and 3.8M SIB airdeck that will take a 20hp. Probably do better with a 25 but thats off the scale weight and cashwise.

I did see that honda do a 3.8 “V” hull airdeck that takes 20hp but reckoned (perhaps wrongly) that the “V” keel was not as pronounced as with the aerotec.

So, usual SIBNET newbie question, what would you guys do?? If the “V” hull of the aerotec makes a BIG difference then I shall go for that – but it’s a fairly big £1000 of difference it would have to make over a solid ply floor – if you know what I mean. I am right on the brink of purchase here, so a touch anxious.

Having been brought up in Dafen (literally over the hedge from the Avon factory) and staring at their boats as I grew up I really wanted an avon but they are a wee bit too pricey for me just now – I know the hyperlon is worth it though. My future RIB will be an avon for sure.

Is it worth strapping the 2 childs together with duct tape for ease of recovery from sea? I think they float.

Where's fellow Welshy codprawn gone?

Cheers to all for any opinions/info/advice/sarcasm/offers of free boats.

Squiddy

[willk]

Originally Posted by squiddy

Hello to you all,

Where's fellow Welshy codprawn gone?

Cheers to all for any opinions/info/advice/sarcasm/offers of free boats.

Squiddy

For a newbie, that is a particularly insightful question. Having spoken with him fairly recently, my impression was that he got a life...

I'm getting one for my birthday

Someone useful will be along shortly to assist with the rest of your query.

Welcome to rib net, btw.

[azzurro]

Whatever you get, get inside boat seats (thwart seats or similar). Sitting in the floats is too much adventure for kids.

I believe that mounting-dismounting is better with V- hull rather than Alu floors. I prefer Alu floor just because I mount-dismount my boat once a year.

Get a trolley for that engine. Get another (or wheels) fro the boat.

Cheers.

[squiddy]

Originally Posted by willk

For a newbie, that is a particularly insightful question. Having spoken with him fairly recently, my impression was that he got a life...

I'm getting one for my birthday

Someone useful will be along shortly to assist with the rest of your query.

Welcome to rib net, btw.

Thank you very much!!

I wouldnt say "insightful" - it just shows how long I have been doing the lurking!

Got a life? Tsk tsk! i'd much rather have a new boat!

squids

[squiddy]

Originally Posted by azzurro

Whatever you get, get inside boat seats (thwart seats or similar). Sitting in the floats is too much adventure for kids.

I believe that mounting-dismounting is better with V- hull rather than Alu floors. I prefer Alu floor just because I mount-dismount my boat once a year.

Get a trolley for that engine. Get another (or wheels) fro the boat.

Cheers.

No - they wouldnt last 2 seconds sitting on the floats even on dry land!

I will indeed be getting (inflatable) wheels for the boat ( one thing I have learned here). 20hp engine is 52kg ( 2.3 hernias) , same as 15hp. Should be able to drag this about with only a few major forseeable problems! I work at a hospital so could prebook the hernia op for my return after summer.

So many things to buy as well as main kit and I am seriously about to blow this entire year's weapons budget, so to speak.

[simsy]

Nose weight can be a little high on some boats, when on rear wheels, limiting how far you can roll with them on shore.

My 3.6m yamaha yam360 (zodiac) with 20hp 2 smoke on the rear is heavy on the nose, as the wheels are right at the back. But managable, just. Heavy aluminium floor model, Engine is 50kg. You will not carry engine far, I can do 10 feet or so max, and I am 87kg 6'1" .. I use a engine carrier frame all the time, and trailer the boat...

Getting engine from boat to frame, etc, is not that easy, and you can drop them hurting your self in the process (or killing small creatures your engine falls onto, dogs, or more important things!)...... 52kg is the max most normal sized people can safely lift the 10 inchs off the transem.... I am sure some of my farmer friends could do this all day long..........

BTW The ali floor on my boat is heavier than the boat it's self, when in the bag I can not lift the floor bag......

[Downhilldai]

Good to see another Sosban on board.

Have you thought about getting a second hand Avon instead of a new Honwave/Zodiac? An S3.40/S4.00 Sportsboat or an R3.40/3.80 Rover should do the job. They come up quite often on e-bay.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Good to see another Sosban on board.

Add a Bordsmoothio, we'll nearly have a full cupboard.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by willk

, my impression was that he got a life...

And a darn good business. I booked a 'Cod-shift' collection last week, it was gone within an hour at a good price.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Mollers

I booked a 'Cod-shift' collection last week, it was gone within an hour

That's pretty much expected of a jack.