Osprey Vipermax 7M 'V' Tornado 695 - help needed !

[1978SeaRider]

Hi everyone...

I need a bit of advice please... I have a dilema (a nice one).... I am interested in two boats but need a bit of impartcial advice... I'm stuck

Boat One;

2004 Tornado 695
2004 200hp Mercury Optimax (300 hours)
17.5k

Boat Two;

2004 7m Osprey Vipermax
2004 200hp Honda 4 stroke (300 hours)
16.5k

Both boats are in great nick and look the part... but I'm not sure about the difference in hulls ?? I have a Oxprey 5.85 which I'm impressed with, but I know the pedegree of Tornado is also excellent...

I use the boat for diving, wakeboarding and trips out... after RIB'ing for 15 years I go out in any weather and I'm after a boat that will handle big swell and chop very well.... i often go around Anglesey and I'll be looking to do Dublin this year.... 'Out the hole' performance and top speed is also quite important... Fuel consumption is not an issue.

I've recently been told that I should look for a hull with 24 / 25 degree pitch.. and I have know idea which each is...

Does anyone have an opinion please ?

THanks !!

[Hightower]

Does the Tornado have PVC tubes?

I would go for something I knew and go for the Osprey. As you've said, you've owned the 5.85 and were pleased with it. I have the 6.2 Vipermax and never thought I'd made the wrong choice.

As for the engines. A 2004 Optimax is getting on in terms of age for such a high tech bit of kit. Even if it's been properly serviced and has only done 300 hours, I might question it's reliability and have heard stories of air compressors failing and the like. But might give you more of a buzz in terms of off the line performance and noise.

As for the Honda. It's going to heavier than the Opti, more fuel efficent and quieter. But might well have the reliability factor over the Opti.

What are the dealers like in your area. Honda, Mercury?

The osprey is also £1k cheaper too.

It's your choice though!

[willk]

If the Osprey has been well rigged (e.g. not a botched homer) I'd go with that - on a rig that big, the touch of lard from the Wanda isn't gonna make THAT much difference, and it's gonna be cheaper now and in the long term...

[1978SeaRider]

Thanks guys, my main concern is that the osprey will be under powered with a four stroke... How do the hull V's compare ? Which would be the deepest ?

[BogMonster]

I'd get the Osprey but I suppose I am biased too

[Mollers]

Tornado.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by willk

If the Osprey has been well rigged (e.g. not a botched homer) ...

OK Twillk.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Mollers

OK Twillk.

What, what? I did a good thing, already!

[willk]

Admit it, it pressed both of your buttons...

[nan-ber]

both good boats and even though i m not really a honda fan , i d take it over an aged opti.

[Robbie Diesel]

Out of the 2 boats you mentioned, I don't think you could go far wrong with either! I'm probably biased as I have the Tornado 750 , but I rode on an osprey vipermax 7.5 with a 300 e-tec at ribex a couple of years back too, and its a great hull also. I would say the Osprey was marginally more comfortable a ride perhaps? Hard to say, but the Tornado has a Higher Bow which i like (un-stuff-able in the 7 years I've had the boat in big Hebridean seas) and also I didnt like the way you cannot walk around the console on the osprey, you have to walk on the tubes to pass around the console. (on the double console one i was on anyway) The tornado seems larger inside space compared to the Osprey.

But like i said, both very good boats.

[Downhilldai]

If the Vipermax is the boat I'm thinking of, the Honda is a 225hp and the hull is older than 2004?

[1978SeaRider]

Downhilda... It's grey and based in barnmouth... Same boat ?

[Downhilldai]

Maybe - the one I was thinking of was based in Anglesey last year. It may have been moved to Barmouth though. 2 x single + 2 x double jockey seats, discovery console and a rail around the screen which was made from an ugly stick.

[gotchiguy]

I think I may be thinking of the same boat. If so, make sure you have a look at it first...there is some work to do.....

Tornado probably the safer bet as per Mollers

This must be the first time the others are rooting for the Osprey and we're saying go with the other option

[1978SeaRider]

Downhilldai / Gotchiguy.... yep, thats the one !! i'm suprised i've not seen it as i'm based on anglesey... I brought RachelRIB's old Osprey Vipermax and use it around anglesey

Either way, What sort of work are you thinking, cosmetic or something more sinister ? apparently its been reupholstered etc... my main concern is that it will be slow out the hole and sluggish with a 4 stroke..... but if the boats a hound it would be good know before i go to see it......

[Chris]

Simples ! Buy the Osprey, flog the Honda and wack a 250 e-tec on the back

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Chris

Simples ! Buy the Osprey, flog the Honda and wack a 250 e-tec on the back

Only problem is that when the Opti on it was switched for the Honda it wasn't exactly done....to a..brilliant standard.....

Main work is to sort out the bodge-job on the console, and make sure that the holes from the opti have been sealed properly etc (assuming they are different?). Possibly (seeing as upholstery has) it might have been sorted, and if so it could be a good buy, especially at that price.

Edit: but how would I know, I don't have an Osprey according to the details on the left. LOL

[1978SeaRider]

thanks gotchiguy.... very interesting... thanks for the heads up... I'm supposed to be going down this week to look.... so i'll have a good look at the transome and console.... and then i'll flog the honda and put an Vmax 250 hpdi on it

[1978SeaRider]

just asked if it had been in anglesey ever.... no..... did it ever have an optimax on it.... no..... the plot thickens

Is this the one you were thinking of ?