Zodiac futura junior

Mickhitchuk · 09 August 2018, 17:48

Seen one of these on eBay,bit of research shows it’s probably built in 1992, I know I must be crazy to consider this but I just love the look of it, so apart from a possible transom repair and seams coming unglued, is there anything else I should watch out for if I pursue this vintage sib
Cheers
Mick

Fenlander · 09 August 2018, 19:11

I say the same thing on all Futura threads... That I've been close to a couple in the past but never quite made it despite loving the look/idea of them. The ones with a bit of white on the tubes and red transoms look really good.

But yep at that age you'd have to expect every seam to be failing or about to fail soon. If you budget in a proper 10+yr life pro repair then why not??

I'll look it up in a while but what's a Junior model... the normal models can be quite heavy.

Mickhitchuk · 09 August 2018, 20:07

Here she is
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zodiac-In...oAAOSwsndbawXW

phantom 19 · 09 August 2018, 20:22

I was offered a early 2000’s 4.7 futura mk3 package, complete with steering console, decent road trailer and 2003 60hp Mariner short shaft (!), for £1500 or less. Its hardly been used, unmarked and garaged all its life, however despite this the transom is still unglued from the tubes!

I am still half tempted but the engine I expect being a short shaft of that size is technically almost worthless

Fenlander · 09 August 2018, 22:56

Ask the guy what that Honda weighs... looks more suited to a small river cruiser.

What's the Futura's floor... in the images it looks like a deflated air floor??

Mickhitchuk · 10 August 2018, 05:23

The floor is a sticking point, I’ve asked twice now about the floor as it looks to me like it’s missing, I was after the sib only as I don’t want the outboard,
You think the sib is for river use only?
I can’t find out much about the junior on google as it seems they were only manufactured for 2 years 1992-1993, there is a very old post on here from the USA ,which most people advise to avoid such an old sib,
The project just appealed to me to have a tiny vintage futura with a steering wheel etc, I’ll see what the price for the sib is then make a decision, but I’m not going to go for it if it has no floor

Fenlander · 10 August 2018, 08:23

>>>You think the sib is for river use only?

No I was meaning that was an older Honda OB and my experience of the earlier ones were they suited being bolted to a river boat as they were so heavy.

I wonder how the seller sees the value split. If you bought the outfit (that's what I would do if I wanted the Futura) and he accepted an offer of say £850-£900 I reckon as long as the Honda runs nicely it might fetch £750-£800 leaving you a Futura with its remote setup for £50-£150. Plenty of scope to have a pro repair and you'd get a very interesting classic.

But only if the floor is correct/present. Interestingly all the images on the net for the Junior model shown the floor looking the same... red and a bit "loose". I wonder as they don't have a central keel and the floor plays no part in performance on the plane if it is different to the HP air floors as we know them now?? Perhaps it is as it should be but the guy doesn't know enough about them to give a proper answer??

See these images from a foreign forum 9yrs ago... note the glue has failed on that one...

https://www.gommonauti.it/ptopic2062...utura_320.html

Fenlander · 10 August 2018, 08:39

Ahh this might be getting nearer the floor thing.... see second image down. Could it be a sort of pillow before they developed the HP drop stitch method. Or have lots of the drop stitches failed? Anyway seems it was glued to the tubes directly rather than being removable like the newer ones.... so the floor can't be missing as its integral.

https://www.gommonauti.it/ptopic2010...er=asc&start=0

Fenlander · 10 August 2018, 08:53

And here is another Junior that sold recently... better view of the floor that looks more like a normal flat air floor... albeit glued to the tubes...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/2537154...2047675.l10137

Note it looks like my link is wrong until you scroll down a bit.

Mickhitchuk · 10 August 2018, 12:09

Thxs for all the advice, now let’s wait to hear the best price for it

jeffstevens763@g · 10 August 2018, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

And here is another Junior that sold recently... better view of the floor that looks more like a normal flat air floor... albeit glued to the tubes...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/2537154...2047675.l10137

Note it looks like my link is wrong until you scroll down a bit.

what's the flooring is it a zodiac accessory.

Fenlander · 10 August 2018, 13:17

I wondered too Jeff... that or a neat bit of DIY. Having said that I wonder if the degree of protection it would give the floor might be offset by a risk of the timber chaffing through the air floor??

jeffstevens763@g · 10 August 2018, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I wondered too Jeff... that or a neat bit of DIY. Having said that I wonder if the degree of protection it would give the floor might be offset by a risk of the timber chaffing through the air floor??

um dont know i like the concept to get a hard flat floor and guess you could keep the gaps close, chafing might be a problem unless you made say a neoprene end & bottom protection you can buy it that just sticks on thats whats on my bow dodger for the same reason. the floor could be taken out say on the beach to sit on, if the floor did go down some degree of stiffness would still exist as a get you home at sea.just caught my eye