Avon Searider 4m help!

lukewhiting · 31 August 2012, 22:31

ok, so i found this on ebay and it seems a pretty good price & im very tempted! A few things i dunno about though...

1. i hand launch my thundercat at swanage public slip instead of paying £12 to lauch at the other..being so light its easy to do. But do you think this could be done the same way or not? & does anybody have any idea of how much it weighs?

2. Switching from a thundercat to sommit like this its obviously going to feel slower & i dont want to get bored of it! What do we think the speeds would be like from this? would mostly just be used with 2-3 people in it?

3. Id want to fish off this too. Ive never had a mono hulled rib before that could be fished off of so dont know whether people think fishing off these is a good idea or not? Hooks and inflatables never mix well

Anyhelp'd be grateful!

AVON SEARIDER 4M RIB RIGID INFLATABLE BOAT SPEED SKI POWER 50HP OUTBOARD & RINGO | eBay

Mextli · 01 September 2012, 04:27

the SR4s hull with console weights 160kg
Now you have to find out how much your motor weights and you have your boats weight.

chewy · 01 September 2012, 05:35

You can launch and recover an SR4 on your own. When I was painting my I could lift the back end with the engine on to chock it up on my own.

The SR4 has a flooding hull which has been blocked off on the one in the advert, if you unblock this the space between the deck and hull will flood with water (its meant to) which will make it more stable, sit a little lower in the water and slow your rate of drift.
You'll be fine fishing off an SR4 regards the tubes although with two or three people it will be cosy.

The SR4 with a Twatsoo 50 is an almost perfect setup, you should't get bored of it although it will be different to a Thundercat.... probably a bit drier and more comfortable lol!

lukewhiting · 01 September 2012, 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

You can launch and recover an SR4 on your own. When I was painting my I could lift the back end with the engine on to chock it up on my own.

The SR4 has a flooding hull which has been blocked off on the one in the advert, if you unblock this the space between the deck and hull will flood with water (its meant to) which will make it more stable, sit a little lower in the water and slow your rate of drift.
You'll be fine fishing off an SR4 regards the tubes although with two or three people it will be cosy.

The SR4 with a Twatsoo 50 is an almost perfect setup, you should't get bored of it although it will be different to a Thundercat.... probably a bit drier and more comfortable lol!

All sounds hopeful!! Id have to sell my thundercat first though to raise the funds...and by that time thisll probably be sold

thinking now i will wait till next year & try grab something that comes up!

Nick Hearne · 01 September 2012, 06:37

Recon 3 up you should see 30kt & 1 up 30kt they are really a hell of a lot of fun like driving a go kart

Looks a good price too.

Nick Hearne · 01 September 2012, 06:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

All sounds hopeful!! Id have to sell my thundercat first though to raise the funds...and by that time thisll probably be sold

thinking now i will wait till next year & try grab something that comes up!

Lots will come up that is for sure but you will see a hell of a lot of rubbish till you see anther good one!

lukewhiting · 01 September 2012, 06:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Lots will come up that is for sure but you will see a hell of a lot of rubbish till you see anther good one!

Yeah theres alot of rubbish on ebay! Definatly run it past you guys before i get something!

Max... · 01 September 2012, 08:36

As above loads always come up and at hugely varying prices, you can get very lucky. Search eBay for completed listings to gauge prices.

lukewhiting · 01 September 2012, 19:17

You guys arent going to like this.....but im getting a jetski i think! im doing this because i drive a bike not a car so i dont tow my own boat & the person who does refuses to reverse so i have to hand launch my boat! this is sooo much effort plus i always have a person to help me pull the boat back up the slipway! Trying to get a mate out on the thundercats hard enough cause most are too scared & everyone else is busy! this is the point were i thought a RIB & putting it on a mooring but its too expensive & id have to worry about anti foul and all that so thats a no. Sooooo ive finally come to the conclusion that a jetski would be best! i dont need 2 people, i can lauch on my own, cheaper to run & id get a 70mph one....so alot faster! Also only being nearly 18 ive got ages yet to buy different boats & in about 2 years i should be able to afford car insurance...which is 3k for me at the moment!

so yeah...jetski it is!

chewy · 01 September 2012, 19:46

I had an SR4 and whilst it was good fun I'd choose a ski over it any day!

Boatnomad · 01 September 2012, 19:51

Plenty of speed anyhow

badbaws · 01 September 2012, 22:59

I had a jetski and SR4 wins... Jetski weighed more!! Used more fuel and couldn't take 6 people! Plus you aren't hated by every other water user for being in a RIB!

lukewhiting · 02 September 2012, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbaws

I had a jetski and SR4 wins... Jetski weighed more!! Used more fuel and couldn't take 6 people! Plus you aren't hated by every other water user for being in a RIB!

But i have sea sense unlike alot of jetskiis & i know what pisses people...eg, going 2 meters behind people jumping there wake

Jizm · 02 September 2012, 06:47

Jetskis are great but you can't beat a decent RIB and that SR4 you found looked a like a good deal.

Northern Tim · 02 September 2012, 07:18

If you want something to hand launch, forget the jetski. It will weigh at least twice the sr4.

chewy · 02 September 2012, 08:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Tim

If you want something to hand launch, forget the jetski. It will weigh at least twice the sr4.

All depends on what ski, my mates Kawasaki 2 stroke ski is pretty light, lighter than an SR4!

CornishAvon · 02 September 2012, 08:31

Luke,

Im not sure were you got your fuel consumption figures/parts prices etc (cheaper to run) from for a 70 mph jet ski? My Seadoo pumps out around 185 bhp and certainly consumes more fuel than my old SR4 (yamaha 50 4 stroke) by alot...... And the parts are very very costly when it goes wrong (and it has)!

As you say though great fun on your own although they are/were both easy to launch single handed. What ever the decision as long as you made it then it will be fine. Enjoy either way.....

lukewhiting · 02 September 2012, 09:14

Thanks for all the advice! Im now not sure! Id only have it for 2 years max then id move on to something else. Firstly ive got to fix the kill switch on my thundercat & sell it! Then i think ill see what comes up for sale & run it through you guys

Downhilldai · 02 September 2012, 09:39

If your mate is averse to reversing with a trailer, why don't you reverse the trailer down the slipway yourself?

lukewhiting · 02 September 2012, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

If your mate is averse to reversing with a trailer, why don't you reverse the trailer down the slipway yourself?

I wouldnt be much better! Passed my driving test in april & got a motorbike instead cause 3k for insurance is waaay to much!