BWM story!

Bajan · 15 April 2004, 16:36

Hello all!
My friend and I own a 1998 6.5m BWM with 90 Mariner 2 stroke. Just out of interest, I have had a look to see the history of BWM and haven't come up with much. The feedback about the RIB so far has been positive, however if anyone has had a BWM or knows anything about them, I would be interested to hear ie. What conditions they're known to be best/worst in, any shortcomings or benefits(other than the obvious benefit of having a RIB in the first place) or any other info. Also is this boat underpowered with a 90hp motor? It goes well, but I don't know how it compares to others speed/power wise and I haven't seen any other 6.5m boat with a 90hp engine, they're all bigger. I still don't know what speed it's capable of(Installing a GPS shortly so that should be solved soon.) Also is there any way of getting an idea of how much fuel is left in the tank. It's an underfloor tank and I have no way of physically measuring fuel so at the moment constantly topping up the tank so as not to get caught out.

Sorry about the lengthiness of the question.

Many thanks.

geoff · 15 April 2004, 17:28

Dont know much about BMW but can advise you on fuel. First of all get yourself a GPS, a hand held one will do fine. Fill the tanks up to the brim and take a spare 20l fuel can out with you just in case. At the end of the day, fill the tank up to the brim again and look at how many miles you have travelled. You will probably find you use about 1 litre per mile, more if you have lots of people on board or go flat out or are in rough sea. We find that fuel consumption is remarkably constant on a per mile basis and its a good a measure as any provided you dont try and cut it too fine. Fuel gauges on boats are notoriously unreliable.

Dirk Diggler · 15 April 2004, 19:27

Hey Geoff, all the BMW's that I've owned have done around 25 mpg or better.

Hightower · 15 April 2004, 19:59

Bajan,

All I know about BWM is that it started trading about 1990 and produced Deepsea 18 and 21 models, in the mid 90's started supplying South Coast RIBs (I think which became Scorpion) with hulls and tubes. Late 90's went into and out of different owners/liquidators supplier probs etc. Ceased trading 2000/01.

I think that someone is producing BWM's again:http://www.rib.ws

Can't tell you how my deepsea 18 handles because since buying her I've stripped everything and am in the process of re-assembly. You can however see some pics of her here:http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4373

As for fuel, I would drain your tanks till empty, which will clean any crap out as well and re-fill. Siphon will do it, can you pull the fuel line off the outboard and let the fuel drain into your car overnight or something.

Have you not got a fuel gauge on the console? If not fit one. The other method would be a long stick that you'd shove down the fuel filler.

As for power units for a 21/6.5m I should think a 150hp would do the trick nicely, mine is only 18/5.5m and I've got an 80hp and I knew someone who had a 130hp on the back of their 18.

Hope this helps a little. Try doing a search for BWM and you'll see other threads of interest.

Andy

Pete7 · 15 April 2004, 20:04

Oh come on Dirk you can be more helpful than that or have you been sniffing the resin again. And you know that from those early BWM ducklings grew great swans (Scorpion Ribs).

Bajan, sounds like you have one of the ex charter boats that were operating out of Lymington. They had three BWM with 90 mariners, one which was stolen (apparently). Rogue Wave will know which company it was, perhaps it might be worth contacting them for the history.

But yes, 90 hp is a bit mean, 150 would be nice

Regards

Pete

Mark Halliday · 15 April 2004, 21:59

Bajan
I have a Porter 6500 circa 1997/8, which is a BWM DS21. (Does anyone actually know when BWM stopped trading?) As far as I know Porters produced the hulls for BWM, and when BWM went down Porters kept the moulds.
BWM history is chequered to say the least. Bit of a Pheonix company.
They have solidly built hulls, but were considered to be a "budget" RIB and some say that the fit out quality was not good. Sea keeping is excelent, the deep V and heavyish hull give a good soft ride. No bad habits that I know of.
Fuel:- I am assuming you have a full width console, curved at the front with a bench and locker below, almost vertical to the rear, Fuel filler 1/2 way up the console side. Measure from the inlet/breather pipes under the console to the well. If that is about 2.2m you have a 25g/112l tank. If it is around 2.7m you have a 30g tank. There should be fuel sender (or flange for one) at the center of the tank.
I have a 140hp 2s carb engine, ally prop, top speed in flat water 2 up is around 40kts. Fuel consumption at full chat is around 52 l/h or 3.5 mpg

I can take some pics of the fuel tank bits if it would help. I now have a hatch over the back of the tank, which is useful if you need to change the fuel line.

Daniel · 15 April 2004, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

and I knew someone who had a 130hp on the back of their 18.

Was that me?

Great boat. I could just touch 50mph, but at about 80li/hour!!!! She would cruise all day at 25knts, 30li/hour, but bear in mind i was running a 2-litle v4 2-stroke, i (hope) your 90 is somewhat more efficient.

Hightower · 16 April 2004, 00:06

YEP it was you I was thinking of Daniel. Shame website's gone, that was where I was getting my inspiration from. Should see water at end of month if my company doesn't send me off too often

.

You enjoying your new plaything?

Andy

Daniel · 16 April 2004, 08:14

You could say that - 50 hours on the engine now since the end of september, and she's covered over 1000 sea miles - not bad for a leisure RIB through the winter!

I'll put the grayswsish site back up somewhere son, it's just a case of finding time between boating and working (in that order

)

Rogue Wave · 16 April 2004, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Bajan, sounds like you have one of the ex charter boats that were operating out of Lymington. They had three BWM with 90 mariners, one which was stolen (apparently). Rogue Wave will know which company it was, perhaps it might be worth contacting them for the history.

Pete

He means I might know which company was that run the boats not stole them!

Rogue by name not by nature.

These boats served their masters well, were reliable and earned good money for a long time and were to my knowledge well looked after. One was owned by a guy called Rob and the others by IRS. They were also used for training work.

Bajan · 17 April 2004, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

He means I might know which company was that run the boats not stole them!

Rogue by name not by nature.

These boats served their masters well, were reliable and earned good money for a long time and were to my knowledge well looked after. One was owned by a guy called Rob and the others by IRS. They were also used for training work.

That's right! Rob sold us the boat...really nice guy and helped us out tremendously with info, advice etc. Gave me some very helpful tips on keeping the engine well maintained etc. He also told us about the one that was stolen although I can't remember the details.

What's interesting is the military modifications, like external flushing intake to apparently allow the boats to be started and running before they hit the water when they were on a ship etc.

Mark!
My console is different to the one you described and the filler is in front of the operator's seat, no bench in front. I've attached a couple of pics. I'll try the method that Geoff suggested now that I am in possession of a very handy GPS.

Hightower!
Thanks for the info! See pics! When will you have yours on the water?

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions! I will no doubt be coming back with more niggling questions at some point.

Bajan · 17 April 2004, 21:24

Pics as promised!

NeilRobinson · 21 April 2004, 17:49

Hi, have a Sub Aqua 19with 75HP which gives 34knots flat out. Generally very good sea boat with few vices. Major headache last year was 2 tube seperations from the hull, which tends to back up some of the 'budget' comments made elsewhere. Rectified by a specialist and new connecting pieces are now double the width of originals fitted by manufacturer. Suggest check yours!

Bajan · 21 April 2004, 18:18

Thanks for the advice Neil, I'll follow up on that. Better safe than sorry!

leeprice · 15 July 2004, 08:43

Hello

I noticed on the rib net forum that you are after some information on an old BWM rib.

BWM are in the process of re-launching the entire range again and it has been totally revamped, one of the main changes is that we are producing a sports rib with animal clothing, so it will be along the lines of the L200 jeep.

While we have been putting all our efforts into this project BWM has been operating on a low key basis and I just haven’t had time to look on rib net so I apologise for the delay in responding to this thread

We will be launching the new boat over the coming weeks in Cornwall

If you would like anymore information on your rib please either send me an email or go to http://www.bwmribs.com and contact us using the information there.

I hope I can be of some help

Lee

Pete7 · 15 July 2004, 09:12

Lee, have you got flash on your website or something, your web site just appears as a blank page ? could be the firewall at work is causing problems but if customers can't see the site ....

Pete

Nick Hearne · 15 July 2004, 09:36

Web site worked for me!
Nick

simmons0 · 15 July 2004, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

Was that me?

Great boat. I could just touch 50mph, but at about 80li/hour!!!! She would cruise all day at 25knts, 30li/hour, but bear in mind i was running a 2-litle v4 2-stroke, i (hope) your 90 is somewhat more efficient.

Call that an engine? my friend has a 150 on the back of his DS 18. Without a doubt too heavy for the boat and it handles like a dog but it sure is fast.

leeprice · 19 July 2004, 12:38

thanks for the info pete

im still in the process of rebuilding the site for the new rib and there is a flh into page that can be skipped but the button is embedded in the code so if you dont see the flash you can get in.

i will add a enter button thats off the flash page so people can shill get in.

thanks again

lee

vocalitylee · 19 July 2004, 13:19

Hello all

I was in Cornwall at the weekend and attended the animal beach party event at Fistral Beach, Newquay, where I came across this rib. Can anyone tell me anything about it? like is it for sale or is it just a promotional tool for animal?
It had a company logo on the back of BWM is it the same company hat is mentioned in the thread

I’m really interested in this rib can someone for the company please drop me a line?