New from Thailand

JohnNoi · 08 March 2022, 01:43

Originally Aberdeen.

I have three 3.7m SIBs called GTK370 from Aliexpress, all with local bought Parson 5.8HP 2 stroke. Very happy with them.

Boat weight about 30kg without seats, engines 20kg. All to save my back. Can take 2 people comfortably or one plus fishing gear.

Bought three so I can be sociable and travel in groups. They are for in sight of shore sea fishing and I prefer groups for the redundancy of safety. They have 5 air chambers inc the air deck, and are surprisingly stable.

I have seen similar on youtube via various resellers in US, UK and Asia with minor differences. Most others look to have only 3 air chambers so I am quite pleased with these. Only 0.9mm PVC but my choice not to take the 1.2mm option.

I installed standard transom wheels recently. There is plenty online about fitting various transom wheels to these narrow SIBs. My solution was a simple leg extension inside the leg that I use after launch so they stick out far enough to be clear of the outboard and I have to turn them facing inwards (or I could have made super long leg extensions but it would have looked weird).

Also have one 2100w 48v trolling motor I am in process of modifying. I cut the SS leg down for it be a normal short shaft length, installed a proper kill switch, and still need to put a better waterproof battery connector on it. Main issue is finding a prop suited for speed instead of the standard slow speed high torque trolling prop but I am working on that. I have loads of high Ah 48v packs from some E bikes I have which is why I took a chance on the trolling motor.

Have been a lurker for a few years and decided to sign up.

Havent figured out how to post pics yet but I put enough info in this post for you to find online pics if you are interested.

Fenlander · 08 March 2022, 08:16

>>>Haven't figured out how to post pics yet

Click Go Advanced at the bottom of the text box... then Manage Attachments... then Choose File from the pop up box... then Upload... finally Submit Reply.

Look forward to seeing some of your mods.

JohnNoi · 08 March 2022, 09:59

I bought the second two boats after the first so they are still clean. One allowed in the living room while I was installing the transom legs

JohnNoi · 08 March 2022, 10:02

Anchor was while I was figuring out how to heT bend some PVC pipe to make an anchor holder and rope guide. Not made that yet. Nice fit to the bow nose though.

This is pics of two 35ah 12v LFP battery boxes I built just before i hooked up the iine fuses. All waterproof connections.

JohnNoi · 08 March 2022, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

>>>Haven't figured out how to post pics yet

Click Go Advanced at the bottom of the text box... then Manage Attachments... then Choose File from the pop up box... then Upload... finally Submit Reply.

Look forward to seeing some of your mods.

Thank you. Saved me a lot of figuring out

willk · 08 March 2022, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnNoi

One allowed in the living room while I was installing the transom legs

And there it is, the shibboleth that proves you are "one of us"

Welcome to RIBnet.

Robmac · 08 March 2022, 18:59

Great seeing some pictures of your mods, look forwards to more.

Welcome along.

Fenlander · 08 March 2022, 22:36

Good to see the images.

They seem a great concept for the right use. I'd assumed mainly lake/river so really interested to hear how your coastal trips go.

JohnNoi · 08 March 2022, 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Good to see the images.

They seem a great concept for the right use. I'd assumed mainly lake/river so really interested to hear how your coastal trips go.

I got some confidence from Youtube. Quite a few youtubers use inshore California, Malaysia, Indonesia, and UAE and some good offshore vids from a company that sells them in UK. I have only run on lakes so not tried real chop personally. I dont plan ever on rough weather and the country I am moving to next for work its entire coastline is a beach where launch and recovery can be done at any point because waves are small. So long as I stay within sight of shore if the weather picks up unexpectedly I can be on the beach in max 30 mins (12 knots / 7 miles). There is a big shelf drop off within a mile of offshore where I am going too and I dont plan on deepwater fishing with these so my only risk is motor failure combined with weather picking up. Having buddies in the other ones for a quick tow solves that. I have the oars but under no illusions they are pretty useless in a strong breeze and tide.

I am quite risk averse. Just trying to balance being on the water with avoiding damaging my back.

Will look up some of the youtubers names and post them later. Worth a look. They do look great fishing platforms out on the ocean and you will see how easy the launch and recovery is.

JohnNoi · 08 March 2022, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

And there it is, the shibboleth that proves you are "one of us"

Welcome to RIBnet.

Thank you 😊 My wife doesnt get why that's funny.

JohnNoi · 08 March 2022, 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robmac

Great seeing some pictures of your mods, look forwards to more.

Welcome along.

Here is one of the overload mod. It's a little top heavy but with a tiller extension I can still sail her if I sit on that top cooler.

It's been there for 3 months while I order stuff getting ready for a country move. The creases on the bow are just natural slow deflation over that time. Not due to a leak. Have to say my wife is actually very patient and understanding.