Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 15 October 2005, 13:49   #1
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 18
Avon Searider

I've been seeing some used examples of this boat about on the web for some quite atractive prices. Was this a good model? Another thing I want to ask about is ribs with old dirty tubes. Are these easy to clean up and make them look new?

Thanks
__________________
Willwors is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 October 2005, 16:12   #2
RIBnet admin team
 
Nos4r2's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: The wilds of Wiltshire
Boat name: Dominator
Make: SR5.4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Yam 85
MMSI: 235055163
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,053
RIBase
Wonderful beasties-but then I WOULD say that, I love mine to bits. Tube cleaner is easily available-make sure you follow the instructions though!
__________________
Need spares,consoles,consumables,hire,training or even a new boat?

Please click HERE and HERE and support our Trade Members.

Join up as a Trade member or Supporter HERE
Nos4r2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 October 2005, 16:13   #3
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Marblehead, MA
Boat name: Bouncy Pumpkin
Make: Avon Searider 5.4
Length: 5m +
Engine: Evinrude 90 E-TEC
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 390
Only a matter of time before you hear, "best rib ever." I happen to own one, so that's my opinion!

Seriously though, they are widely considered to be very seaworthy and well built. I've only owned mine for about a year, and haven't really had it out in any nasty conditions. I'm sure I will though. My 5.4 does have a tendancy to chine walk at high speed (80hp 2 stroke).

Tubes will generally clean up with elbow grease and proper products. I like the 303 stuff myself. My boat is an ex-US Coast Guard, nearly 20 years old with original tubes in great condition.

Assuming the tubes are in decent shape, it would be tough to go wrong with a Searider. Just beware of whatever outboard is hanging off the back. That's where you could easily go wrong...
__________________
dctucker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 October 2005, 16:16   #4
RIBnet admin team
 
Nos4r2's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: The wilds of Wiltshire
Boat name: Dominator
Make: SR5.4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Yam 85
MMSI: 235055163
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,053
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by dctucker
Only a matter of time before you hear, "best rib ever." I happen to own one, so that's my opinion!

Seriously though, they are widely considered to be very seaworthy and well built. I've only owned mine for about a year, and haven't really had it out in any nasty conditions. I'm sure I will though. My 5.4 does have a tendancy to chine walk at high speed (80hp 2 stroke).

Tubes will generally clean up with elbow grease and proper products. I like the 303 stuff myself. My boat is an ex-US Coast Guard, nearly 20 years old with original tubes in great condition.

Assuming the tubes are in decent shape, it would be tough to go wrong with a Searider. Just beware of whatever outboard is hanging off the back. That's where you could easily go wrong...

yep...

Amazingly seaworthy-I took mine across the shambles bank in a force 6...6 foot whitecaps,wind against tide. Wasn't fun but it wasn't worrying...
__________________
Need spares,consoles,consumables,hire,training or even a new boat?

Please click HERE and HERE and support our Trade Members.

Join up as a Trade member or Supporter HERE
Nos4r2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 October 2005, 17:41   #5
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 18
thanks for the info. I am probably looking at the 4metre or maybe 4.7 at tops. I have seen a 4m with a Mariner 60 on the back. Looks great, would this go well?
__________________
Willwors is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 October 2005, 17:50   #6
Member
 
Country: USA
Boat name: The Boot
Make: Avon SR5.4
Length: 5m +
Engine: Suzuki DF70
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 270
Depending on how your setup a 4 meter with a 60 is a death machine I think. I have a 50hp and have just set it up to do 38mph which gets unsteady. Any speed above 36mph I noticed the 4 meter searider starts to float odd and chine walk.

Other than the speed mine feels bomb proof in the rougher conditions. Its almost silly how tough yet small it is. I wish I had a 5.4 Searider though

I personally like the flooding hull setup also. When at rest the boat does not bob around so much.
__________________
boatster_sr4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 October 2005, 20:14   #7
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Nr Faversham, Kent
Boat name: C Rider
Make: Avon
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 80
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 513
Willwors,
Kent Scouts have a 4m Avon Rib (cant remember exact model but its about 10 year old) with a yam 30 on it. On flat water it can outrun my 5.4 /90 ! Although as soon as any chop picks up you would wish you had gone for the 5.4
Maybe I am biased cos I have one, but in my professional and humble opinion they take some beating.
My boat is 22 years old, on its original tubes which are looking a bit tatty, and still it has years left in it. Not sure about a wolf in sheeps, but its more like Mike Tyson in a Les Dawson.
__________________
Searider - The Best 5.4 x Far
Swifty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 October 2005, 06:01   #8
RIBnet admin team
 
Nos4r2's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: The wilds of Wiltshire
Boat name: Dominator
Make: SR5.4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Yam 85
MMSI: 235055163
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,053
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willwors
thanks for the info. I am probably looking at the 4metre or maybe 4.7 at tops. I have seen a 4m with a Mariner 60 on the back. Looks great, would this go well?
Be aware that a 4m searider is only rated for up to 50hp by Avon. I suspect that insurance may get a bit funny about it if an asesser has to look at your boat.
__________________
Need spares,consoles,consumables,hire,training or even a new boat?

Please click HERE and HERE and support our Trade Members.

Join up as a Trade member or Supporter HERE
Nos4r2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 October 2005, 14:42   #9
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Margate
Make: Between Boats
Length: no boat
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 57
If you want to clean the tubes then contact Mike from Herne Bay (he posts as Mike), he has Spray9 which in my opinion is the best cleaner for tubes.
I have seen the results of this on several RIBS and it brings the tubes up like new.
It is inexpensive as well
__________________
oxboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 October 2005, 18:16   #10
Member
 
Jizm's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southampton
Boat name: Hissing Sid
Make: Ross Smith Cobra
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200HP Optimax
MMSI: 235038046
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,804
Didn't Olly have a result using the rib-revive stuff from rib shop?

here
Jizm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 October 2005, 19:45   #11
Member
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: Southampton
Boat name: DynaMoHumm/ SRV/deja
Make: Avon8.4, 5.4 & 4.777
Length: 8m +
Engine: Cat3126 Yam 90 &70
MMSI: 42
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,562
post a picture of the tubes !
__________________
Here it comes again, I don't stand a chance
Soul possession, Got me in a trance
Pullin' me back to you - Deja Voodoo
Rogue Wave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18 October 2005, 13:14   #12
Member
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Clyde, Scotland
Boat name: anon
Make: Northcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Mariner 60
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 22
Hooligan machine :-)

I had a Mariner 60 on my old 4M Searider, as other posters have said, the hull is only rated for 50hp max.

Yes, mine would get quite scary chinewalking but acceleration was most impressive! Great fun for wave jumping

Regards
Cameron
__________________
cameronke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18 October 2005, 15:16   #13
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: PORTSMOUTH
Make: Avon 5.4, Avon 3.4,
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha 90, Merc 30
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,976
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jizm
Didn't Olly have a result using the rib-revive stuff from rib shop?

here
Hi guys, yeah I did have a result, but it did take loadsa wellie and elbow grease -
__________________
ollyit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18 October 2005, 15:17   #14
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: PORTSMOUTH
Make: Avon 5.4, Avon 3.4,
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha 90, Merc 30
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,976
Quote:
Originally Posted by cameronke
I had a Mariner 60 on my old 4M Searider, as other posters have said, the hull is only rated for 50hp max.

Yes, mine would get quite scary chinewalking but acceleration was most impressive! Great fun for wave jumping

Regards
Cameron
Yeah I got a Yam 60 2stroke, on my 4m and its rubbish not fun at all!!
nah seriously its good but could be lethal in the wrong hands, my trim tabs have made it nicer to drive in bigger seas
__________________
ollyit is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 09:57.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.