Limits of an Avon Searider with 50hp

[Steviebaby]

I am interested in other peoples opinions of what the maximum conditions they would take out a 4m Avon Searider with 50hp outboard. At the moment, I won't go out of the harbour in anything approaching a Force 5.

The RIB is fitted with a centre console (GPS, Fish Finder, VHF) and an aray of safety equipment.

[Tim M]

Nos4r is your chap to ask when it comes to extreme searider useage. He took his (4m, 50 Mariner) out on the October Solent cruise when it was something crazy like force 8.

[Tims Osprey]

Originally Posted by Steviebaby

I am interested in other peoples opinions of what the maximum conditions they would take out a 4m Avon Searider with 50hp outboard. At the moment, I won't go out of the harbour in anything approaching a Force 5.

The RIB is fitted with a centre console (GPS, Fish Finder, VHF) and an aray of safety equipment.

It depends on your experience and type of sea, sea states will vary and using the Beaufort scale to predict how dangerous the sea state can be is not always wise? some people can take a small rib in a big sea and get home safely with a big smile on their face while others with less confidence would get back terrified and very wet, if they manage to get back without capsizing that is?

[Rogue Wave]

it eally depends on our sea state more than wind force. e.g niing into the solent and hitting some chop at force eight is a lot safer than shhoting out of Sunderland Harbour in a orce 6!

I also think you ar eright to err on the side of caution what's your operating area?

also remember the boat is a lot tougher than you, so the boat might be able to take the hammering but can you? and if you can for how long?

[Sixy_the_red]

Originally Posted by Tim M

Nos4r is your chap to ask when it comes to extreme searider useage. He took his (4m, 50 Mariner) out on the October Solent cruise when it was something crazy like force 8.

Or out off Old Harry at full tidal flow in about a f7...

I'd agree with Tim M in that you can't really go of wind strength alone. To an extent it depends on where you are - the solent (particuarly west solent) can be evil in strong wind, (*cought* windovertideheadingfromYarmouthtoCowesinthe5.4 *cough*) but off Poole for example the wind doesn't seem to have that bad an effect.

You won't break the boat (unless you tip it up) but you might break yourself...

[Steviebaby]

Thanks for your replies. It was really the maximum sea states that I was after, I just use the wind speed as a starting point to gauge wether it's worth looking into the conditions any further.

I mainly launch within Chichester and Langstone harbours. I use the Chimet and Cambermet services to give me realtime info on what the conditions are beofre I make a passage plan.

[codprawn]

Big huge waves are often safer than short steap breaking seas.

Just watch your local inshore lifeboat and you will get an idea of what a small inflatable can go out in.

[LURCHER]

Chi bar can be very nasty in wind over tide conditions especially a southerly as we had on Saturday with a big ebb flowing but it was only blowing about 5 - 6 .

[Nos4r2]

Or Shambles bank off Weymouth in F6 on springs. That was a bit hairy...

You need to be confident in your boat and engine for a start. You also need to trust your own judgement-and be realistic about it. If your head is saying 'I'm not sure about this' then you shouldn't be there.

Having the flooding hull helps a LOT with stability at displacement speeds in big waves. The flappy thing I put on it helped too-it meant if I had to back off to displacement speed for a moment and then bang the throttle open the flooding hull hadn't filled and the boat would take off like a scalded cat.
I scared myself on a few occasions as well but that was part of the buzz of doing it.

DISCLAIMER-I DO NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM ADVOCATE GOING OUT IN EXTREME/MORE THAN CAT C RATED CONDITIONS IN AN SR4 TO ANYONE.

[al40]

They are incredibly capable boats for their length (I had 50 Tohatsooo on mine) but they also ride quite low in water compared to the 5.4 for example and also have fairly small diameter tubes.

I came back from Arran on the clyde in what I guess was a F6 or 7 with very confused sea and it was extremely wet with waves crashing into the boat. The boat felt secure enough but it was fairly uncomfortable and I was very wary about broaching. With no tide, the waves would be bigger but probably less steep and less confused.

So, yes they are capable boats but it really depends on the wave types and size (and of course experience of the helm) rather than just purely the wind force.