Suggestions on spending £500 to ice my Searider 5.4m cake :)

[Knot Yet]

Hi All

Having asked a question regarding "which is best AIS vs Radar Reflector" - Polwart suggested the debate could be enhanced by tweaking the question (see here http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32873) - so .....

We have a cracking Searider 5.4m RIB, she sits on a good quality trailer with a 75 Yamaha Outboard, in addition to these main toys we have the following:

4hp Tohatsu outboard - yet to be attached
A frame with navigation lights and VHF aerial
3 seater jockey style seating
2 x 40 litre fuel containers
Box of current inshore flares
1st aid kit
3 x 150n automatic lifejackets
1 x Handheld VHF
1 x Fixed DSC VHF
1 x Garmin GPSMAP 550s with Bluechart
1 x compass
2 x fire extingishers
1 x anchor and chain
6 x fenders
2 x drysuits (on order)
Completed Powerboat level 2 - all three of us
Completed CHF Radio - all three of us

We play mostly in the Solent as this is our closest water, we plan to do some night fishing but mainly just pottering and perhaps some day fishing.

We are all new to RIB's but I have canoed most my life with a small amount of sailing - but none of us are in anyway experienced

I have £500 pounds to spend on my new toy to make her safer or perhaps just more enjoyable

What are your suggestions

TQ

J

[C2 RIBS]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

Hi All

We are all new to RIB's but I have canoed most my life with a small amount of sailing - but none of us are in anyway experienced

I have £500 pounds to spend on my new toy to make her safer or perhaps just more enjoyable

What are your suggestions

TQ

J

Ok I dont have to be serious all the time I will let others give you their best, so spend it on me helming!

[Knot Yet]

Oooh now there's a thought .... chauffeur driven RIB - not bad

[BruceB]

Couple of personal Epirbs and some plastic freezer bags..........

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

I have £500 pounds to spend on my new toy to make her safer or perhaps just more enjoyable

I really do not see anything missing other than an Echomax passive reflector.

[chewy]

Hand held GPS and a laminated bit of paper with waypoints on along the coast. Should your plotter fail you should be able to navigate home on these waypoints.
Echomax RIB radar reflector.
I've got black cushion matting on my SR4, takes alot of shock out of the waves and is non slip.

[Knot Yet]

Thanks Chewy - forgot to add we have a handheld GPS as well, but never thought of taking the laminated co-ordinates "doh"

Black matting sounds a good idea - what's it's commercial name?

J

[chewy]

Its this stuff I got, its not pretty but does the job.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grass-Matting-...item1e58bcc741

[cuttlefish]

How about this:
http://www.raymarine.com/ProductDeta...4&PRODUCT=3771

Don't know how much it is, tho. Indeed, if anyone knows, perhaps they'd let me know.

[willk]

You possibly have this and didn't mention it, but I'd include a good waterproof searchlight and power socket, going to set you back £100. A couple of wee cheap red deck/console LED lights are great at night too...

I think the guys are right about the Echomax, those feckers in the big boats won't see you anyway 'cos they're kippin' on autopilot - so it's cheaper for them to mow you down with the Echomax than with the AIS, Sea-Me etc... Keep yer eyes peeled at night and by day

As for the rest of the £1000, don't worry, the first day out in the Spring will tell you where you're spending that