am i being realistic

[118118]

hi,
i am fairly new to this ribbing thing, but have decided that i want one! i have sorta decided that i want a searider, 4meter or 4.7metre with a decent engine, but i only have about £3000 to spend. am i being realistic, or do i need a bigger budget? i don't need to buy any oilskins/lifejackets etc, because i already have some for sailing. parking isn't a problem either.

thanks

[Tim M]

I don't think that's asking too much. Ebay is always good for bargins, although you do sometimes need to be careful. However, I have bought various boats off ebay including my RIB and have never had any trouble.

There are loads of cheap sea-riders on there at the moment, most with engines. Might be worth going to have a look before you buy but I think that's your best bet.

Tim

[Tim M]

I just had a look at ebay: this is slightly above your budget but this package looks very nice. The engine looks very nice:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WDVW

Only disadvantage is that it's got "those" seats - I prefer a jockey seat.

[Zippy]

In my very limited experience i think you are about right.

I was in the same position a few weeks ago and but took the plunge and spent a little but more and bought a nice 5.1 m rib with decent 4 stroke engine. Had to compromise a bit with equiment so will be looking to get an A frame and electrics sorted over the winter.

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F49947/

taken from the first page of the search. theres quite a few about and with christmas coming i would think it will be a buyers market for a few months. when i was looking a month or so ago there was a 4.0 meter searider with 1998 honda 40 (?) four stroke for around the 3K mark

I gather the 4.7 searider is pretty rare. must say i have not seen one before but i am told the 4.0 is a great boat. take your time and really look around. the right one will arrive eventually!

Good luck!

[ADS]

3k is about right for a searider, make sure you get one with a modernish engine, the standard consoles are usually a bit low and uncomfortable but are easy to replace. Personally, I would try to negotiate on a boat with 'cinema' style back to back seating.

This one on ebay is definatly worth watching:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=4502358426

Good luck

Alex

[ADS]

Heres a rare 4.7, bit overpriced and that Suzuki is getting on a bit ( I reckon late '80s).
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...502377282&rd=1

[118118]

thanks for all the replys, just wondering if you are able to take off the front screen, and canopy bit, and replace the bucket seats for a decent consol?
if so how hard a job would it be?

[ADS]

Relatively easy job, many people have done it, quite easy to source a decent console for reasonable money. Ollyit, here on the forum has just made a very good job of restoring his 4m Searider, see his website:

http://www.ollysrib.741.com

Alex

[Bilge Rat]

118118

There is no such thing as a cheap boat, they start as a cheap toy and then things start to go wrong or need replacing, then you aspire to fit the boat out with more toys and gadgets and slowly the thing that started as a cheap weekend toy is costing you thousands...... i know i've been there and have the T shirt !!!

IMHO (and its only and opinion) spend a little bit more money from the outset, buy something with as new an engine as you can as these are the expensive bits when they go wrong, dont forget the hiden cost such as the trailer, tow bar etc, these things we take for granted or dont think about but run into hundreds at the end of the day.

There are 4.7's about if you look hard enough for one, the one Ads pointed out on ebay is over engined and you'd have trouble getting it insured, the 4.7 is rated for a maximum of 70 HP

[dodl]

Hello,

3000 is exactly what i paid for a 4,7m Searider including trailer and a 50HP Engine in Germany/Austria. Should be no problem in the UK, since it seems much cheaper there, when you buy a boat. The engine is very old, but it runs fine. For a few bucks more i could have a much better engine, but there was not enough money

Bilge Rat is right about hidden costs. You always need something.

cu
martin