Avon SR4 Performance

Channel Ribs · 21 June 2008, 06:02

I was doing some sums for a fellow RIB.netter about the likely performance increase of going from a fairly light 30HP to a heavier 40HP, do my results bear resemblance to people's experience?:

650kg loaded boat + 30HP = 29kn

670kg + 40HP = 32kn

MustRib · 21 June 2008, 08:43

Yam 40 2 stroke - Just me - about 40l of fuel - a little bit of chop
29 knots. Think there was a little more there but started chine walking and backed off.

Andy JC · 21 June 2008, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

650kg loaded boat + 30HP = 29kn

650kg sounds heavy for an SR4, considering the boat and console weigh approx 160kg(according to the Avon workboats site)
What else have to got on there that weighs nearly half a ton?

Channel Ribs · 21 June 2008, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy JC

650kg sounds heavy for an SR4, considering the boat and console weigh approx 160kg(according to the Avon workboats site)
What else have to got on there that weighs nearly half a ton?

I calculated the likely wet weight based on the current price of Chillean bannana seeds.

I did throw in some people, fuel, batteries and a few cases of beer. Too much beer you think?

Andy JC · 21 June 2008, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

Too much beer you think?

Nope, not possible

badbaws · 23 June 2008, 14:25

Personally I would bypass the 40hp and move to a 50HP, as depending on manufacturer of outboard some 40's are 30's tuned up and some 40's are 50's detuned.. Get a 50hp and then will have the extra grunt when you need it too, plus a higher cruising speed. I once had 4m with a 60hp.. that was just silly!! But fun!! Get the right prop too, can make the difference with top speed by 3-5 knots..
If going 40hp get a 3 cylinder model.. not a 2 cylinder model.. More grunt!

reinier · 23 June 2008, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbaws

Personally I would bypass the 40hp and move to a 50HP, as depending on manufacturer of outboard some 40's are 30's tuned up and some 40's are 50's detuned.. Get a 50hp and then will have the extra grunt when you need it too, plus a higher cruising speed. I once had 4m with a 60hp.. that was just silly!! But fun!! Get the right prop too, can make the difference with top speed by 3-5 knots..
If going 40hp get a 3 cylinder model.. not a 2 cylinder model.. More grunt!

I know a Avon 4 meter with a 60hp Merc, that flies indeed!

You better have too much horsepower than too less, because if you have too much you can put the throttle down, with too less you can't.

Jon Brooks · 23 June 2008, 16:58

Am guessing it depends on how heavy the lump is on the back.
The little 30ph I have at the mo is an old 2 stroke and gives me about 33mph.
Mind you not sure how much the engines weighs!

Cheers

reinier · 23 June 2008, 22:20

I know someone who had an Avon 4 meter with a Mercury 25hp Tiller steering, ran 34mph with two adults... A console slows the boat down very much as you can see.

badbaws · 24 June 2008, 15:19

If you have the standard avon Console it only weighs about 20 kg or so, as is thin and quite small and it also moves the weight of the driver and one passenger to the centre of the boat for best weight distribution rather than perched on the back. With a brand new Tohatsu 50 last summer I got 33.2 knots maximum with 1 person, 31 knots with 2 people and 30 knots with 3 people.
I think it needed a different prop to get a couple more knots out of it.. but pretty much with a 50hp the most you are going to get is about 35knots +/_ a knot...
If you are getting anywhere near 30 knots with a 25hp you must have the best 25hp ever.. as last one I saw with a 25hp managed about 23 knots..
Also it depends how you measure your speed, GPS up and down wind and up and down tide.. but most I have ever achieved in a 4m searider is 37 knots with a 1992 Mariner 60HP 3 cylinder engine.

9D280 · 24 June 2008, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbaws

If going 40hp get a 3 cylinder model.. not a 2 cylinder model.. More grunt!

...but also more weight!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by reinier

I know someone who had an Avon 4 meter with a Mercury 25hp Tiller steering, ran 34mph with two adults... A console slows the boat down very much as you can see.

Yep, Used a tiller 30 on an SR4 with nothing but a fuel tank & 2 of us. No idea how fast, but was a mentally fun ride, -can turn a lot sharper with a tiller than a wheel!

Andy JC · 24 June 2008, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbaws

If you have the standard avon Console it only weighs about 20 kg or so, as is thin and quite small and it also moves the weight of the driver and one passenger to the centre of the boat for best weight distribution rather than perched on the back. With a brand new Tohatsu 50 last summer I got 33.2 knots maximum with 1 person, 31 knots with 2 people and 30 knots with 3 people.
I think it needed a different prop to get a couple more knots out of it.. but pretty much with a 50hp the most you are going to get is about 35knots +/_ a knot...
If you are getting anywhere near 30 knots with a 25hp you must have the best 25hp ever.. as last one I saw with a 25hp managed about 23 knots..
Also it depends how you measure your speed, GPS up and down wind and up and down tide.. but most I have ever achieved in a 4m searider is 37 knots with a 1992 Mariner 60HP 3 cylinder engine.

I know the hull design is not supposed to have changed since they were first made in 1967 but have there been any slight changes to the exterior hull or tubes that could account for different perfomance results?

Some also claim to get issues with chine walking just after 30knts but others say they get no problems up to 40knts. I'm still running mine in after an engine rebuild but it was solid at 33knts.

I know that incorrect engine height, trim level, console position, load positioning etc. can cause premature chine walking but assuming all these are correct is it possible that slight changes to hull design could be the reason for varying results?

reinier · 25 June 2008, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbaws

If you have the standard avon Console it only weighs about 20 kg or so, as is thin and quite small and it also moves the weight of the driver and one passenger to the centre of the boat for best weight distribution rather than perched on the back. With a brand new Tohatsu 50 last summer I got 33.2 knots maximum with 1 person, 31 knots with 2 people and 30 knots with 3 people.
I think it needed a different prop to get a couple more knots out of it.. but pretty much with a 50hp the most you are going to get is about 35knots +/_ a knot...
If you are getting anywhere near 30 knots with a 25hp you must have the best 25hp ever.. as last one I saw with a 25hp managed about 23 knots..
Also it depends how you measure your speed, GPS up and down wind and up and down tide.. but most I have ever achieved in a 4m searider is 37 knots with a 1992 Mariner 60HP 3 cylinder engine.

Well it's not mine, that Avon with 25hp. First I didn't believe it as well, but then the guy took me out for a ride and it really hits 34 mph, with two adults. This was on flat calm water, both directions (there wasn't any tide). Adding more horsepower isn't always expressed in much more speed.

I had a Brig F360 with a tiller steered 40hp, so 3,6 meters, almost as long as the Avon we're talking about. Once there was a 25hp on it. Hitted 37mph with the 25hp, right prop and not too much load. With a tiller steered 40hp, she reached 40mph. That's a gain of 3mph in first instance. A bit later I used a bigger prop on the 40hp and with lot's of efford in testing engine mounting heights etc. I achieved 44mph.

BTW:
There's an Avon with a 2-stroke 60hp Mercury 3 cilinder @ the lake here, I always wondered how fast that goes... Thanks for sharing :P