Looking for the 'right' RIB - help please - Page 3

Steve1098 · 02 December 2018, 12:53

Thanks for the links and advice all!

Since I started looking seriously I've ended up a single man, and I'm probably going to lose my storage space when I move in the next month or two.

So the search will have to wait until things settle down. I'll aim to get my PBL2 before buying anyway, that Coniston plus Barrow option sounds really good, I'll give them a call!

HDAV · 03 December 2018, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve1098

Thanks for the links and advice all!

Since I started looking seriously I've ended up a single man, and I'm probably going to lose my storage space when I move in the next month or two.

So the search will have to wait until things settle down. I'll aim to get my PBL2 before buying anyway, that Coniston plus Barrow option sounds really good, I'll give them a call!

As one door closes...http://www.rib.net/forum/f21/5-6m-hu...tml#post786969

If you’re single now there are plenty more options open to you

Steve1098 · 04 December 2018, 08:25

That is a good way of looking at it to be fair!

Steve1098 · 25 June 2019, 16:26

I'm back!

Things have settled down on the home front, so I'm ready to start looking again. PBL2 is booked for next month in Ballachulish, as I fancied a trip to the highlands this summer.

I've just spotted a fresh ad locally that looks on the face of it like a good deal. Keen on thoughts on what to look for with this particular setup.

6.5m Humber which has been set up for diving. I'd be replacing the dive rack with a couple of jockey seats.

150 V6 Mariner on the back - a quick Google suggests these are 4 stroke EFI?

I'm going to arrange a viewing, it's sub £5k which seems very cheap for these, is it because the engine will empty my bank account?

Thanks!

Tim M · 25 June 2019, 16:36

Can you post a photo of the boat? I’m pretty sure I saw that advertised in the last day or so. Believe the engine was an old school carb 2-stroke - hence the low price. If that is correct then yes that thing is going to drain your bank balance pretty rapidly. I had one on a Ribcraft 585 once - drank fuel like there was no tomorrow.

Phil M · 25 June 2019, 16:49

If you go see it, give the transom a good look at. There have been the odd case of the ply sheets separating on the destroyer, which could let in water and lead to rot. Other than that, check the general conditioning, wiring and tubes. I don't think they're are any other major issues with older humbers. They do handle well though.

Steve1098 · 25 June 2019, 17:43

See attached 🙂

Bigplumbs · 25 June 2019, 18:51

Hard to see but that motor looks like an early 4 stroke efi but can’t be sure

Either way I run several 2 strokes largest is 115 carb Mercury and in truth given the .amount people actually use their boat the cost of fuel is not too bad

HDAV · 25 June 2019, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

Hard to see but that motor looks like an early 4 stroke efi but can’t be sure

Either way I run several 2 strokes largest is 115 carb Mercury and in truth given the .amount people actually use their boat the cost of fuel is not too bad

Indeed the cost difference between an older guzzler and newer motor buys plenty of go go juice even if you are burning 30-40% more fuel it’s going to take a few years to recover £2k in fuel savings....

Bigplumbs · 25 June 2019, 19:17

Plus older 2 strokes are relatively simple beasts with less to go wrong

Also Sound and smell like an outboard should in my opinion

Steve1098 · 25 June 2019, 19:52

Had confirmation from the seller - it's an automix 2 stroke.

Going to see it tomorrow after work - it seems to be getting a fair bit of interest in the comments on facebook, under the ad. At the price, if it's useable, I may not struggle to move it on after a season or two...

HDAV · 25 June 2019, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve1098

Going to see it tomorrow after work - it seems to be getting a fair bit of interest in the comments on facebook, under the ad. At the price, if it's useable, I may not struggle to move it on after a season or two...

It’s the hot potato game... every time it gets passed on it gets closer to a big bill the trick is buy and sell before that happens..... a compression test on the motor will give you an idea of its health ideally all pots Within 5-10% and within factory spec not sure how much a rebuild on one of those is but it won’t be much change from a grand if any (pure guess work as not had to pay for a rebuild on a 2 stroke 150)

Bigplumbs · 26 June 2019, 03:34

If you can do a compression test fine if not just start it up on muffs and see how it runs

Depending on what you can get it for then just take the gamble/leap of faith. If it is a good one and you faff about too much you will most likely loose it to someone else

Many of the test/ things people advise to carry out prove not possible in real life for a variety of reasons

In the end with second hand it boils down to that leap of faith

HDAV · 26 June 2019, 18:19

If you have a compression tester easier to do a compression test on land than get it in the water for a proper test seen plenty of old outboards rub ok muffs and bog and die on the water. But often a simple fix.......or so you hope

nicksharpe · 26 June 2019, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

I personally would not worry about the actual tube material but would look at the condition of the tubes and the boat generally

also A 90HP on a 5.8 m rib is indeed a little on the small size but it would be ok if you were just 1 or 2 up. A min of a 115 hp would be better on that size.

At the £5K mark you should be able to get a decent boat but most of the value is in the engine. and something as large as 5.8m will be more expensive. Perhaps look around the 4.8 - 5.4 m mark. It will be easier to launch and recover on your own if this is what you want to do

The other thing is that your first boat is seldom your final boat and if you make a mistake at that price but use the rib you will learn a lot especially about what you actually want/need.

You are looking at a good time of year and I would advise to look on Gumtree, E bay, Boats and outboards every day and be prepared to travel and move quick.

Don't part with any money before you view a boat as there are a lot of scammers out there

Good answer Bigplumbs +1

Steve1098 · 28 June 2019, 09:05

Well I went to see it on Wednesday.

The photos were quite old - it's been in a field for a year or more, tubes flat, battery flat, no chance to start it up or even wake up the electronics.

The tubes looked very tired too, and when I was looking at the fuel lines one of them fell to bits in my hand. More of a project than I wanted, and I've realised it's probably bigger than I want as a first boat too!

PBL2 is only a few weeks away, so I'll keep an eye on what's out there, but the sensible option at this stage may be to hold out for winter and get a good deal...

Bigplumbs · 28 June 2019, 13:19

Now that seems a bad one good idea for walking away

Steve1098 · 22 July 2019, 07:35

I did my PBL2 this weekend with Ryan at iPowerboat in Ballachulish.

Quite a round trip of 550 miles but well worth it, the instruction, the scenery and the training boat were all absolutely spot on. The only problem is I now want a 300hp redbay!

I'm going to get seriously looking at projects in October, once I've finished my MSc and come back from the rugby in Japan...

Highland Haggis · 22 July 2019, 08:29

Yeah Ryan is a top bloke you couldn’t have picked anyone better for training and he got that Redbay for a steal [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]