German guy, new skipper of Roy's blue Vipermax "Making Waves"

FunCaptain · 07 June 2018, 22:13

Hi all!

I live in south west Germany, and since some years I was looking for a British RIB, primarily for boating on the Rhine, and later maybe during holidays at sea.

Now I am really glad, I found a great craft: The family of Roy Bishop (former distributor and custodian of OSPREY RIBS, see here, here, and here) sold me his personal private boat: The blue Vipermax 7 "Making Waves" with a 250 hp Evinrude:

"Making Waves" on Ribnet

From what I have read about Roy, he was a great man and boating enthusiast and it is an honour for me to own his personal craft. I have never been to the UK before, but now it was a great experience to visit this beautiful country and meet its people when collecting this boat at Barmouth in Wales.

Max... · 07 June 2018, 22:35

Welcome! Nice story.

Dave Cowell · 08 June 2018, 08:11

Lovely Rib, Roy was great to work with. The blue was a favourite colour of his.

Picture of the rib on the day Roy collected it after we tubed it at Eurocraft.

FunCaptain · 08 June 2018, 08:27

Thanks, Max,

Thank you, Dave, interesting!

I also like the colour very much, as well as the seating, which is perfect for wave riding with up to 4 people as well as for a smooth Sunday trip with familly or friends.

One question I have: Is it difficult to add an A-frame?

Is there a standard A-frame available, fitting for this boat?

pilotwillie · 08 June 2018, 20:57

Just ask Osprey Ribs, the Vipermax is still a current model.

Hopalong99 · 08 June 2018, 21:15

Hopalong99 · 08 June 2018, 21:16

Some pics of the ‘A’ frame on my 7.0m Vipermax

Hopalong99 · 08 June 2018, 21:17

No idea why the pics have come out twice!!

FunCaptain · 08 June 2018, 21:58

Thanks for the pictures, looks good!

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotwillie

Just ask Osprey Ribs, the Vipermax is still a current model.

Yes, maybe they can send the original A frame, but the question is whether I can install it myself or need to go to a boat shop.

pilotwillie · 09 June 2018, 07:04

If you can use an electric drill and a set of spanners then you’ll be able to install it. You’ll need access to where the bolts go, obviously, to secure them. Normally they bolt onto the transom storage boxes (as per Hopalong99) which makes it simple but with your rear bench set-up it might be slightly different. Which is why I suggested you could / should speak to Osprey if you can’t figure it out yourself.

Hopalong99 · 09 June 2018, 07:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotwillie

If you can use an electric drill and a set of spanners then you’ll be able to install it. You’ll need access to where the bolts go, obviously, to secure them. Normally they bolt onto the transom storage boxes (as per Hopalong99) which makes it simple but with your rear bench set-up it might be slightly different. Which is why I suggested you could / should speak to Osprey if you can’t figure it out yourself.

I’ll be on my boat later this morning. I’ll get some photos of the fixing locations/ arrangements for you.

Alwyn

FunCaptain · 09 June 2018, 08:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopalong99

I’ll be on my boat later this morning. I’ll get some photos of the fixing locations/ arrangements for you.

Thanks, that would be great!

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotwillie

If you can use an electric drill and a set of spanners then you’ll be able to install it.

That's not the problem (electric enginieer).

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotwillie

You’ll need access to where the bolts go, obviously, to secure them.

I'm afraid, that's the problem, but later I will be at the boat and will double check, maybe there is access by dismounting the rear seat bench.

Hopalong99 · 09 June 2018, 15:48

Apologies but I wasn’t able to get the photos today and am now away for about a week. However there are some good photos of my A frame attachments on a long thread posted by Chris Stevens from when he owned my boat. The thread is called ‘Osprey 7.0 meter refurb’ if you search for it on this forum. Lots of good info there.

FunCaptain · 09 June 2018, 19:52

Thanks, no problem, and there is no rush for the A-frame project, there are enough other things to do.

Due to the weather I also didn't see the boat today.

OSPREY RIBS · 07 August 2018, 06:23

Hi FunCaptain. Its a fairly easy job to bolt on an A-Frame, if you email us we can give you more information on this - chris@ospreyribs.co.uk

FunCaptain · 07 August 2018, 15:57

Hi Chris,

thank you for your resopse.

I have already tried to email you some weeks ago, but your server seems to reject my mails, my provider is t-online.de.

Now I sent you an email via the board, hope that works.

Synchro_Ring · 07 August 2018, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunCaptain

Hi all!

I live in south west Germany, and since some years I was looking for a British RIB, primarily for boating on the Rhine, and later maybe during holidays at sea.

Now I am really glad, I found a great craft: The family of Roy Bishop (former distributor and custodian of OSPREY RIBS, see here, here, and here) sold me his personal private boat: The blue Vipermax 7 "Making Waves" with a 250 hp Evinrude:

"Making Waves" on Ribnet

From what I have read about Roy, he was a great man and boating enthusiast and it is an honour for me to own his personal craft. I have never been to the UK before, but now it was a great experience to visit this beautiful country and meet its people when collecting this boat at Barmouth in Wales.

What an amazing craft!! Blue is such a nice colour too, kudos to Dave for the tube work