9m Solent - Suzuki 250

Tim M · 20 December 2009, 12:00

Spotted boatphotos out one afternoon so did some turns and things around their boat, just found these:

http://www.boatphotos.co.uk/portfolio73484.html

The 9m Solent is a fantastic hull

Jizm · 22 December 2009, 20:11

Those are pretty good.
Back in the summer?

Tim M · 23 December 2009, 13:37

October

willfinch36 · 23 December 2009, 14:05

nice shots!

Jizm · 23 December 2009, 17:31

Whats the performance like with that motor tim?

C2 RIBS · 24 December 2009, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jizm

Whats the performance like with that motor tim?

There is a full write up on the Solent 9meter in Sports Boat and Rib Jan edition with Kev the builder at the helm.

Jizm · 26 December 2009, 07:50

cheers, just got that mag in the post, better take it out of it's packet then....

Tim M · 26 December 2009, 12:06

With that engine shes a little under powered I think. I'm planning to put a 300 on her in the next few months; Lee at Fairweather has had just under 60 knots out of his one (9m/300 Suzi). This one will do near 40 knots with 10 people on board which isn't bad going. That hull is really fantastic in the chop though; I'd rate it better than a 9m Ribcraft.

Robbie Diesel · 27 December 2009, 21:11

Tim, the boat looks fantastic.! I've heard a lot of good things about this hull. What is the fuel consumption like at 27-30knots cruise in litres per hour? I'm just pondering as to how much more fuel a 9 metre would burn as opposed to a 7.5 metre. I'd be amazed if a 9 metre with a 300 did 60 knots????

If it does then that is very very impressive indeed

Tim M · 02 January 2010, 15:15

Cruising gently I can get down to about 40 litres an hour (that's paying a lot of attention to the fuel consumption gauge and not the speedo!). I had, until recently a 7m Solent with a 225hp Suzuki (same block as the 250) and I don't really notice a huge increase based on a day generally razzing around. The 9m hull, compared to the 7m is a vast improvement though (7m and 7.5 are same hull, one just slightly longer, 9m is a totally different design). I found the 7, (and indeed the 6.5) to be quite slammy and "sharp", whereas this is like sitting on a motor cruiser; doesn't slam at all, just cuts through anything that gets in the way. The 9m is considerably beamier as well. The finish on this one is a lot better than my 2005 7m. If you do buy one, get a 300 on it