Osprey viper

martin33100 · 03 September 2009, 17:38

Hi, a guy down the road from me has just offered me his 1993 Osprey Viper 5.2m rib, it seems to be in good condition, has anyone had experience of this model?

Downhilldai · 03 September 2009, 23:37

Nice boat, designed for the 90s dive market, so usually fitted with a single jockey console. DM on here has had a few of them and rates them very highly, as do Pete7, Chris and many others.

What motor does it have?

martin33100 · 04 September 2009, 06:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Nice boat, designed for the 90s dive market, so usually fitted with a single jockey console. DM on here has had a few of them and rates them very highly, as do Pete7, Chris and many others.

What motor does it have?

It has a Suzuki 115, I am going to have a good look at it tonight

Chris · 04 September 2009, 07:03

Great boat, it will go well with a 115 ! I got 40+ knots out of mine with a 115

The centre console is a good one although the standard place where the helm is fitted puts it a little low especially if you like standing at the helm when its choppy. It is fairly easy to get this moved and you can see what I did here...

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?...ny+boy+surgery

Daniel · 04 September 2009, 08:44

they are a very good sea boat, i would have an osprey again anyday and in the real rough stuff, it would be my boat of choice.

nugent · 04 September 2009, 09:06

as every one else says, excellent boat would be confident going out in any weather and feel secure with one,
as opposed to many others i have helmed

martin33100 · 04 September 2009, 17:43

This is the boat, it looks tidy for its age and comes with alot of extras, my local outboard man is going to give the engine a check over, he is going to let me have the rib for £3500

Kernow Buoy · 04 September 2009, 18:13

Martin
That's much better value than the Ribtec. If the engine's good grab it!

martin33100 · 04 September 2009, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernow

Martin
That's much better value than the Ribtec. If the engine's good grab it!

The engine did start first time and sounded ok but my local outboard man is going to check it out in the week, he know alot about the problems and the electrical quirks with the suzuki's, it has a 1991 DT115

Viper · 06 September 2009, 21:47

The Viper is a great boat, brought mine in 1994 and still have it, it is as good as the day we collected it!

It was once described as 'very big small boat' and I think I know what they meant!

I have the original report from Diver Magazine printed in 1993 where Colin Jones raved about it. I can post if allowed to?

Anyone know what happened to the Osprey Owners Association?

martin33100 · 06 September 2009, 23:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper

The Viper is a great boat, brought mine in 1994 and still have it, it is as good as the day we collected it!

It was once described as 'very big small boat' and I think I know what they meant!

I have the original report from Diver Magazine printed in 1993 where Colin Jones raved about it. I can post if allowed to?

Anyone know what happened to the Osprey Owners Association?

When did they start to make the Viper? it would be good if you do have that magazine review

Pete7 · 01 December 2009, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin33100

When did they start to make the Viper? it would be good if you do have that magazine review

Martin, Viper hull number 1 was Oct 1992.

Now that Osprey you want to look at, did it have a combined bottle rack and seat so if you removed the seat you could use the frame to store dive bottles? Engine used plastic cups rather than a key? black HD non slip deck. Mattery master switch on starboard side of console? Cheap b/w eagle echo sounder and probably eagle or Ultra GPS? Fuel tank 20 gallons/90 litres?
Elephants trunk fitting has been repaired with 6" x 70mm of grey plastic drain pipe to hold the trunk on?

Pete

The wolf · 20 January 2010, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper

The Viper is a great boat, brought mine in 1994 and still have it, it is as good as the day we collected it!

It was once described as 'very big small boat' and I think I know what they meant!

I have the original report from Diver Magazine printed in 1993 where Colin Jones raved about it. I can post if allowed to?

Anyone know what happened to the Osprey Owners Association?

hey viper could you let me have a look at that post from colin cheers The wolf