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Old 29 July 2014, 19:59   #1
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What boat to buy?

Hi everyone,

I'm new to boating. Bought an inflatable boat last year. The idea was to go out on the sea and although this is possible, it's not very practical due to the low speed I can go when the sea is anything other than calm.

I'm already thinking to change it as it is not quite what I wanted.

Would anyone please be so kind and advise me of what would be the boat to buy?

The requirements are:
- boat + engine on the trailer should fit in the garage (5m x 2.1m)
- should be able to comfortably ride slight/moderate sea at 20-25 knots
- be capable of carrying 2-3 adults plus some luggage (fishing gear)
- be able to go offshore up to 20-25 miles
- optional be able to take two smaller engines rather than a big one for redundancy.

Obviously price and fuel economy are an important factor as well.

Note: I use the boat in the Solent, Chichester/Selsey area.

Thanks a lot.

Regards,
Nic
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Old 29 July 2014, 20:36   #2
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SR4 + 40hp 2 stroke?
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Old 29 July 2014, 20:41   #3
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I've heard good things about SR4, but I don't believe you can buy it brand new or fairly new. As I haven't got much experience I'd rather like to buy a newish one than a 15-20 years old one.
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Old 29 July 2014, 20:42   #4
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SR4 +50hp 2 stroke =
I had one with a Evinrude 50, fantastic combination and we had hours and hours of fun with ours.
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Old 29 July 2014, 20:54   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by naexparvu View Post
Hi everyone,

I'm new to boating. Bought an inflatable boat last year. The idea was to go out on the sea and although this is possible, it's not very practical due to the low speed I can go when the sea is anything other than calm.
What sort of hull have you got on your SIB?
What does "other than calm" mean to other people...
Someone will be along to say you should be able to use your SIB in rougher weather than you are managing...

Quote:
I'm already thinking to change it as it is not quite what I wanted.

Would anyone please be so kind and advise me of what would be the boat to buy?
OMG! The rib.net possie will all be along to tell you to buy whatever boat they own...

Quote:
The requirements are:
- boat + engine on the trailer should fit in the garage (5m x 2.1m)
So you are going to need to take into account that the trailer is longer than the boat because of the draw bar...

Quote:
- should be able to comfortably ride slight/moderate sea at 20-25 knots
Define comfortable. Moderate sea state is Wave height of 1.25 to 2.5m. 2.5m is the height of a door! Thats a fairly lumpy sea..
If you want really comfortable you need suspension seats... for 3 people on a <5m rib... ??
Quote:
- be capable of carrying 2-3 adults plus some luggage (fishing gear)
Are the 3 adults on the 25mile off shore passage in a sea state > 2m (i.e. really need a seat)? Or are 3 adults going round to the next bag at slow speeds and can sit on tubes?
Quote:
- be able to go offshore up to 20-25 miles
Where? Channel vs Atlantic vs North Sea all a bit different...
Solent doesn't have 25m of offshore...?
Quote:
- optional be able to take two smaller engines rather than a big one for redundancy.
On a < 2.1m transom to fit in a garage?
You know 2 x 40HP does not equal 80HP of output? You know it also equals 2 x40HP of fuel which is more fuel consumption than 1 x 80. So you might find 2 x 40 gives the same as running 1 x 60 of geegee but consumption more like a 100HP. The concept of dual engine sounds logical. BUT unless you run seperate fuel systems, seperate batteries (on a <5m boat?) you still have combined points of failure. A small get you home aux would be better and people do manage to squeeze small 2.5hp on searider transoms..

Quote:
Obviously price and fuel economy are an important factor as well.
New? Second Hand?
Fuel system? 2 smoke less economical but lighter. 4 smoke quieter but heavier so needs more power to get going...
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Old 29 July 2014, 20:57   #6
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Originally Posted by naexparvu View Post
I've heard good things about SR4, but I don't believe you can buy it brand new or fairly new. As I haven't got much experience I'd rather like to buy a newish one than a 15-20 years old one.
Why? New = massive depreciation. Old = change your mind minimal loss?

However worth taking a look at the X-Pro or highfield ranges? 4.8m Highfields did well on the RI2013 but I suspect that doesn't quite fit the garage. X-Pro option of aluminium hull (lighter = less fuel / smaller engine) - 4.2m has done some Channel Crossings etc, would imagine would fit the garage...
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:13   #7
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You can buy seariders new, they are just very expensive. I think Matt H knows the figures as I recall him saying he asked for a quote??
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:14   #8
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roughly 6800 for a new one with basic consol no trailer etc etc plus SR4 not so ideal for 3 adults and luggage and distances you mentioned
Whats your budget??
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:16   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by naexparvu View Post
Hi everyone,

I'm new to boating. Bought an inflatable boat last year. The idea was to go out on the sea and although this is possible, it's not very practical due to the low speed I can go when the sea is anything other than calm.

I'm already thinking to change it as it is not quite what I wanted.

Would anyone please be so kind and advise me of what would be the boat to buy?

The requirements are:
- boat + engine on the trailer should fit in the garage (5m x 2.1m)
- should be able to comfortably ride slight/moderate sea at 20-25 knots
- be capable of carrying 2-3 adults plus some luggage (fishing gear)
- be able to go offshore up to 20-25 miles
- optional be able to take two smaller engines rather than a big one for redundancy.

Obviously price and fuel economy are an important factor as well.

Note: I use the boat in the Solent, Chichester/Selsey area.

Thanks a lot.

Regards,
Nic
You're making a heck of a jump - going from a cheap 3m Chinese SIB to wanting to go out responsable for two other adults in moderate (rough by anyone's standards once you get out in it in a little RIB) seas at 25 kts.

And 25 miles offshore?!!

Might be worth doing PB2 or similar and trying a few options before making another unsuitable purchase.
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:23   #10
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Dude. Buy an SR4. A 15-20 year old good SR4 will outlast a lot of the new boats today, without a massive depreciation hit. It's the very best boat that'll fit in your garage on a trailer.

Then figure out what you can do with it. 25 miles offshore is unrealistic.
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:23   #11
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4.8m Ribcraft?

Fitting any boat on a trailer in a garage will be difficult.

I keep the trailer for my 4M searider in the garage and I think the boat would fit in the garage - but not much else!
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:24   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShinyShoe View Post
What sort of hull have you got on your SIB?
What does "other than calm" mean to other people...
Someone will be along to say you should be able to use your SIB in rougher weather than you are managing...
1. V shaped with aluminium floor
2. anything above sea state 2
3. I have used my SIB in sea state 3, but only doing 4 knots at best and going up and down like being in a tumble drier.

OMG! The rib.net possie will all be along to tell you to buy whatever boat they own...


So you are going to need to take into account that the trailer is longer than the boat because of the draw bar...
Is it not possible to make the draw bar foldable? I've never seen it, but it might be an idea.

Define comfortable. Moderate sea state is Wave height of 1.25 to 2.5m. 2.5m is the height of a door! Thats a fairly lumpy sea..
If you want really comfortable you need suspension seats... for 3 people on a <5m rib... ??
Comfortable means that after a day on the boat you'll still be able to move. The moderate (up to 2.5 m) is maximum that the boat should be able to manage. I'm not expecting to ride at 25 knots on 2.5 wave height, but if caught in such a situation to be able to get out. If I can ride waves up to 1m that's good enough.

Are the 3 adults on the 25mile off shore passage in a sea state > 2m (i.e. really need a seat)? Or are 3 adults going round to the next bag at slow speeds and can sit on tubes?
Yep, they can sit on tubes.

Where? Channel vs Atlantic vs North Sea all a bit different...
Solent doesn't have 25m of offshore...?
Channel.

On a < 2.1m transom to fit in a garage?
You know 2 x 40HP does not equal 80HP of output? You know it also equals 2 x40HP of fuel which is more fuel consumption than 1 x 80. So you might find 2 x 40 gives the same as running 1 x 60 of geegee but consumption more like a 100HP. The concept of dual engine sounds logical. BUT unless you run seperate fuel systems, seperate batteries (on a <5m boat?) you still have combined points of failure. A small get you home aux would be better and people do manage to squeeze small 2.5hp on searider transoms..
That's a good point. I didn't know that.

New? Second Hand? SH would be good as long as it's 3-4 years old.
Fuel system? 2 smoke less economical but lighter. 4 smoke quieter but heavier so needs more power to get going...
I'd go for the 4 stroke.
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:29   #13
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Originally Posted by ShinyShoe View Post
Why? New = massive depreciation. Old = change your mind minimal loss?

However worth taking a look at the X-Pro or highfield ranges? 4.8m Highfields did well on the RI2013 but I suspect that doesn't quite fit the garage. X-Pro option of aluminium hull (lighter = less fuel / smaller engine) - 4.2m has done some Channel Crossings etc, would imagine would fit the garage...
I think it's just less risk when you don't know about the subject. I wouldn't exclude fairly newish (3-4 yo) SH.
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:32   #14
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Originally Posted by matt h View Post
roughly 6800 for a new one with basic consol no trailer etc etc plus SR4 not so ideal for 3 adults and luggage and distances you mentioned
Whats your budget??
That's quite expensive.
I'd pay3.5-4k for the boat + 5-6k for the engine + whatever the trailer is.
If I was to go for SR, I'd go for 4.7m, but it's so hard to find them SH.
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:36   #15
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Originally Posted by ShinyShoe View Post
Why? New = massive depreciation. Old = change your mind minimal loss?

However worth taking a look at the X-Pro or highfield ranges? 4.8m Highfields did well on the RI2013 but I suspect that doesn't quite fit the garage. X-Pro option of aluminium hull (lighter = less fuel / smaller engine) - 4.2m has done some Channel Crossings etc, would imagine would fit the garage...
I've never thought of aluminium hulls. What are the pros and cons of aluminium vs fiberglass?
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:39   #16
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What boat to buy?

25miles offshore with 3 adults and gear, I'd want to be in something bigger than what fits in your garage.

:-(

SR4/Ribcraft 4.8
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:41   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by naexparvu View Post
That's quite expensive.
I'd pay3.5-4k for the boat + 5-6k for the engine + whatever the trailer is.
If I was to go for SR, I'd go for 4.7m, but it's so hard to find them SH.
for 4k you could buy a searider hull and completely refit it out with new tubes, console etc.

There is this Avon 4.65m RIB with Mariner 40hp | eBay

I think it is a searider 4.7? That engine has got to be worth at least what he has it advertised at so may even be a free boat?!

Then you can fit it all to your spec.

modern day engines on a searider has to be the lightest choice, i know the honda is the lightest 50 but not sure what the lightest 70hp is? You won't get a brand new 70 for 5-6k though.
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:43   #18
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Originally Posted by Nos4r2 View Post
Dude. Buy an SR4. A 15-20 year old good SR4 will outlast a lot of the new boats today, without a massive depreciation hit. It's the very best boat that'll fit in your garage on a trailer.

Then figure out what you can do with it. 25 miles offshore is unrealistic.
What about SR4.7? And you're right, 25miles it's a bit too much, but I still need to get 15-17nm to get to the fishing marks.
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:49   #19
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If you've got a 5m garage , an SR4.7 won't fit with a trailer and engine as well.
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Old 29 July 2014, 21:59   #20
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As others have said, you won't get a 4.7m rib in a 5m garage. The internal length of my garage is 5.15m and my 4.3 rib with engine on trailer (with a relatively short drawbar length fits with about 75mm to spare.

Also, the 2.1m width will limit your options unless you're willing to deflate the tubes every time you put it in and out.
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