Size of Boatshed?

[doncanavan]

Does anyone have any advice on the optimum headroom required for working on a Tornado 8.5m or 9.5m RIB, while on its trailer?
We are currently designing a home for one and need to leave room for working within the boat as well as the height of the rear framing.
Many thanks.

[Nick Hearne]

Why not call Barnet!
Barnet Marine Centre Ltd
Greenhill Parade, Great North Road, Barnet, Herts, EN5 1ES, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8449 4142 Fax: +44 (0)20 8440 7326
Nick

[hard1]

I think that would depend very much on the trailer! I had a Vector Vagabond on a drive-on trailer that I needed a step ladder to get into, whilst I can get my leg over (!) the tubes on my Cobra on a Snipe. I would certainly plan for a 3 metre clearance for 'A' frame and console ( 10') . (Lowering the aerial and GPS of course)

[Daniel]

Slightly off thread but i'm keen to know anything about a Vector Vegabond since my friend has one and we know very little about it - never seen or neard of another - any idea when they were made and what happened to the hull - it's very quick.

[hard1]

Probably made around 1995. They are a curious design with a flat run aft, (as opposed to a deep 'V') allegedly designed for inshore fast patrol craft. They are quick allright, being of narrow beam and 7.25 metres long. Not the most comfortable in waves and they do tend to chine walk from side to side - very scary! I could see myself flipping it in a sharp breeze in a Solent chop! If you try to ride out a short steep chop in a Vagabond at a "sensible" speed, you're gonna get very wet,the way to run it is flat out over the top. A former Coastguard mate of mine looked at the hull and reckoned they'd been playing around with such a design for speed and inshore capability. Mine was used as race support for Offshore RIB racing and made many cross channel trips in sometimes filthy weather. In fact, lost a crew member still strapped in, seat and all running flat out through the Cascades!

Company went bust in 1996 I believe, and they were made in Poole area. Mine was famously owned by a former Hamble Harbourmaster who wanted to catch speeding miscreants! Interesting boat though, pretty well made. If you look closely at the attached, you'll see the weirdly designed stepped hull aft, although the flat bottom is not evident.

By the way, apologies for any thread hi-jack.

[Pete7]

Hmm, familiar name, Daniel have a read of these two threads. Wonder what happended to all the Vector moulds.

Vector Ribs

Osprey XR24

Pete

[Daniel]

Thanks, i'll dig out a piccy. The seats are almost identical to those in my friends, although i would not agree with all your comments re: handling - what engine did you have?

"Childs Play Too" had a 200Suzuki which we immediatly replaced with a 150Mariner and now has a 150 Optimax. She will clear 40knts with the Opti which is good for a 7m+ boat i think.

[hard1]

200 Suzuki 2.8 litre 2 stroke.. I ran it for a year as a charter boat. Remember, the engine was set high for speed so it was kind of "skittish" to say the least. It would certainly keep you awake though.

[Daniel]

I'm begining to wonder if it was/is the same boat with those seats set high up in the back, but there is no evidence of any seating for charter in the front of the boat i know. The rear "bucket seats" are mounted on a (approx 300li) fuel tank???? Did the suzuki have twin spark heads?

[Daniel]

As promissed, taken this morning on the way back from Calais!

(Prehaps JK can split this thread into something called "Vector RIBs"???)