bought a RIB on ebay

[mdearman]

Hello,

I bought this RIB a month ago, I knew it was going to be interesting but decided as long as the engine looked and ran ok I could do something with it.

Picking up an unknown trailer is always a concern but it looked reasonable and we re-checked it a couple of times on the way home, with 20 miles to go one of the wheel bearings collapsed entirely, 4hrs later we got it onto an AA recovery vehicle and we got it home, many lessons learned!

on further inspection and after some reading there were a few issues:

1) Trailer axle knackered and illegal as braking had been removed
2) Not a BWM as advertised (as far as i can tell anyway, it is a Concorde 210 for which i can find zero information online, anything anybody can tell me would be appreciated.
3) Hadn't ever been on the water like this. I'm pretty sure this is the case because the hydraulic steering was completely dry, the cables are too short to allow the engine to turn one way, the gearbox was empty, the bolts holding the helm pump were the wrong length, so probably an abandoned project that had been thrown together to sell

On the plus side the tanks stayed inflated longer than I expected and the engine looks very good to me for its age, and runs well

So, i've fitted/am fitting:

1) new braked axle, new coupling, new wheels - £800
2) extended cable harness to allow engine to turn left!
4) new steering fluid, new gear oil, new impeller, new fill/drain plugs, spark plugs, fuel filter, new tab washer, new trim relays
6) replaced all instrument wiring
7) bought aux engine.

Work has been held up as i had to go to on business for two weeks but looking forward to getting the trailer back together and getting it out on the water for a test.

Mike

[Jizm]

Good luck with it. Plenty of useful info and helpful people on here. You're right the hull does not look like a BWM.

[Nos4r2]

Why on earth haven't you left him negative feedback? He's utterly screwed you reading that description. No mention at all of any of the problems.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Why on earth haven't you left him negative feedback? He's utterly screwed you reading that description. No mention at all of any of the problems.

Yea I would certainly support that approach!!

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[Jizm]

Did you pay the price on the auction or negotiate on it a bit?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Unless you paid pennies you could get your money back. False description of sale.

[mdearman]

re feedback, i haven't left anything yet, you get 60 days and I am waiting to get it on the water and discover any other surprises before commenting.

with regards to the price, I wasn't aware of most of the issues when i bought it, but given that it was on ebay and the way it was written I expected some problems with it so I guess i'd set my expectations accordingly + i'm rubbish at negotiating. There aren't many RIBs for sale in the North of Scotland so I still think i did ok (i'm sure you guys may think differently

I didn't notice the cable length issue because the power trim down relay had failed, and in the up position the cables reach! I suspect he may not have known about it either. The parts of the trailer i could see looked roadworthy and he did tell me that the brakes had been removed from the trailer, at the time I was pretty ignorant as to the weight limits so i assumed this was ok - again many lessons learned!

Mike

[HUMBER P4VWL]

But have you not bought a specifically named type of boat, and it's a different one?

If someone advertised a merc and you collected a vauxhall, he'd have to take it back.

[Jizm]

Depends how much you want the boat......

[mdearman]

Fair point! But I didn't know anything about the BWM hull and I don't know anything about this one so nothing lost as such. When I'm upside down 5 miles offshore I may change my mind about that....

[Jizm]

If you're happy with the boat and the deal then crack on I say....

[Dhf]

Originally Posted by mdearman

Fair point! But I didn't know anything about the BWM hull and I don't know anything about this one so nothing lost as such. When I'm upside down 5 miles offshore I may change my mind about that....

I was watching this rib on eby and was tempted to place bid, and I thought it looked like a BWM hull from the port side pic, very simular either way, good to hear the engine runs well, I'd say you've got yourself a bargain there. As for ending upside down, that can happen anywhere with any boat, its all about knowing when to shut back or off on the happy stick/throttle.

[willk]

Welcome to RIBnet. Hope the RIB works out for you. Photos attached of RIB for future reference. From the look of it (side and internal pics) it looks like quite a shallow V hull...?

[Peter_C]

Never hurts to ask for some money back, stating the reasons as you did above. At least you might be able to get money for the steering cable etc back. The worst he could say is no. I have gotten money back and even was granted all my money back and told to keep the item worth about $100 when I wasn't happy with an ebay purchase.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Jizm

If you're happy with the boat and the deal then crack on I say....

I'd agree with that statement.

Welcome to the forum!

Have you thought of moving the A frame further forward and attaching a perspex screen to the front? Would make an awesome cockpit for a bit of Scottish weather protection

[thomas]

My first RIB was a right old heap with a load of issues, every time I took it out it went flat or broke down. It turned out to be a great project and I loved doing it up, my only regret was selling it, enjoy.

[beamishken]

Sounds like a good reminder to everyone to never buy a boat without putting it in the water & trying it if the seller wont allow a water test then walk
if everyone did the same instead of taking chances on ebay less people would get burned with ebay "bargains"

personally I always ask if im the winning bidder can I test the item on collection & if I get a no sorry don't have time or other lame excuse I don't bid

how many genuine sellers will refuse a trial of their boat or anything else if they have nothing to hide?

what other item would you part with several thousand pounds for with only the sellers word that it actually works

the usual response from people who sell dodgey items is tuff its "buyer beware"

I also assume if the make is in doubt that it doesn't have a build plate either? what proof of ownership did the seller have?

I hate to see people getting ripped off with junk when genuine people cant sell their nice boats at a decent price because people think there overpriced because they saw a bargain sell on ebay when the reality is that the bargain on ebay is a heap

you might get some recourse via ebays "item not as described" link in the resolution centre where you can report it & ebay will investigate but it works best if you paid by paypal & the sooner you do it the better I wouldn't wait id open a case now

I've reported a few items not as described & had good results although not to this value so maybe worth a try for a partial refund if you want to keep the boat

[Landlockedpirate]

Boats are excluded from ebay buyer protection, its not worth the grief of using the resolution centre, you wont win.. FWIW I understand your frustration, but its a decent looking boat with a good engine and the price sounds fair, if you are happy crack on.

I would leave negative but fair feedback.

[thomas]

I'm guessing it's cost you more money now so you are where you are and doubt you'd loose anything if you decided to sell it on. I'd not have gone anywhere near that seller looking at his feedback, not so much the negative comment than the fact he never responded to it.

[mdearman]

For the record I'm ok with how things have worked out so far and not looking for sympathy. I started this thread because the story was more interesting than just introducing myself on here and maybe it helps someone else out.

Stuck in America at the moment, I can't wait to get back to it.

Mike