RC 5.85, SR 5.4 or 6.0 Humber Destroyer..Discuss

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Having owned an SR 5.4 for decade in the past with an opti 90 and now have the Humber 6.3 OP with Opti 175 on i'm curious as to the others that fit in the middle really.

I know the OP 6.3 (with 2.34 beam) is a much bigger boat to the 6.0 Destroyer (most seem to be 2.28) beam. I've seen them next to each other on trailers when we bought ours.)

The SR just used to struggle going a long way out if there was any sea with a low bow etc. The OP is just fantastic, I'd go almost anywhere in it, I will bottle it before it's capabilities ..... but it's quite a beast and unless you have a 4x4 really to tow it places, it isn't going far other than on water!

Thinking ahead (two years???) for a good boat to tow and launch with a 320d (2011) tourer, what would be a good balance? Has anyone actually been in them to comment on their abilities?

An RC 585 has a renowned hull (if not front hatch build quality )and with a 115 opti on seems a great set up if you wanted to tow a lot. Is it enough though, or would the 6.0 Destroyer (with narrower beam than 2.34) be a better bet?

Got to admit, the below looks like a great boat for me/wife/two littluns on glorious days, Me and perhaps one littlun on a average day. Me and a mate for bad rough days. (For really rough days, I'd go on my own and have a play in the OP )

cold but great fun.

[willk]

If you're looking at the R/C, then give a moment to consider a you-know-what 6.1m

Ole Montgomery Swan liked them "Our trials at sea that day did reveal one other find though. I made the return journey back to Cushendall helming the 6 metre model in the Stormforce series. It was probably one of the most sure*footed craft of its size I can remember handling ....but that's another story, "

Of course, you have to ask yerself if he CAN remember the others

It would look well behind a Beemer in a nice custom design.

Once upon a time I used to dive out of one - a decent boat. I prefer the 650, mind.

[Markyboyo]

I can see how 6cm in the beam may make the OP feel a bigger inside than the Destroyer but I wouldn't have thought 3cm either side would make too much difference in terms of towing it on the trailer?

How about a 5.7m OP in the 2.34M beam rather than a 6.0m destroyer with the 2.28 beam?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

How do you find your 5.5 destroyer Markyboyo?

The thing with the OP we have is that the extra 6cm width and 0.9m length really does make a bigger boat. As i said, we saw the 6.3 x 2.34 parked next to the 6 x 2.28 and it was unbelievable. Plus the associated bigger engine 2.5L V6 instead of 1.5L 3 cyl and console and batteries etc it is just a much bigger/heavier rig to tow around.

I'm just trying to work out what combo somewhere between that and our old 5.4 SR would be.

The max hp on the SR was 90 and having seen the 5.85 with a 115 it just looked really appealing further down the line so was wondering how people find their boats of that size.

[Polwart]

Have you ruled out the vipermax? I know the owners are a dodgy bunch but you could try to break the mould?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Not ruled anything out. (Though you would be branded as one of them ) Just mulling over what boats between the 5.4 SR and our 6.3 OP would a good buy, so if one came up 2nd hand in a year or so I may be tempted. I'd certainly want a 2 stroke, either etec or opti probably.

SR's bow was too low and transom also too low, always shipped water over the stern sat at rest in a swell, or reversing. But was a great boat mind.

[Zagato]

Great thread Paul Very timely

Chris

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Have you ruled out the vipermax? I know the owners are a dodgy bunch but you could try to break the mould?

I thought they were good boats? That's a bit extreme isn't it?

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

....and now have the Humber 6.3 OP with Opti 175.

Easy. Stick with what you've got, I guarantee you'll regret going down in size and especially in power.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Easy. Stick with what you've got, I guarantee you'll regret going down in size and especially in power.

Possibly wise advice there. A cheap old 4x4 might be an easier way to solve the problem - even if it only got used for towing the boat. Personally I'm not convinced by the need a 4x4 argument for a boat that size for long distance towing. Most long distance stuff is on big open roads at 50-60mph. It the first/last 50m where a 4x4 might be useful, and its careful selection on launch location can help with that.