Advice on an Upgrade, Please.

MTHP · 24 January 2015, 20:44

Hello,

I'm new to RIB.NET so hello all, I could use some advice on an upgrade.

I've always been into boats and had fair experience on different craft through my years. Last year I decided to get the ball rolling with my own boat. (At the grand age of 21) I did my research on SIBS and bought a Bombard Aerotec with a AE30HP Yamaha, slightly overpowered but within weight. When used sensibly is was a great little starter boat and I really made the most of it last year.

Now, what I'm looking for is a trailered RIB around 4-5.5M in length and around 40-60HP 4 Stroke.

I'm looking to spend between 4-6K.

My questions are -

What is my best option to look for? make/model/size/engine

What should I expect fuel economy, roughly speaking?

I look forward to your replies,

Dan Gurney · 24 January 2015, 22:52

Hello mate, and welcome.

I'm a relative newb only having 2 and a half seasons in, so I'm sure there will be more experienced voices along in a bit, but for what it's worth we were working with a similar budget to you when we bought our first boat.

We ended up with a Humber Attaque, 1993, with a Yam 85 two stroke on it. This boat is basically the same as the boat currently marketed as the Ocean Pro 5.3 and the 85 two stroke is essentially the same as the Yam 90 2 stroke which is a highly regarded engine. Basically we totally lucked out; it's been a great boat for relatively small money. Very confidence inspiring and has done everything we've asked of it with very little serious maintenance other than an annual engine service. It had quite a lot of work done by the previous owner so was very tidy for it's age.

So... the advice:
1. A respected Hull. Searider 5.4 is probably you main target, but any Humber other than an Assault is probably a decent bet. I reckon personally that any Ribcraft/Ribtec/Ribeye in your price range will be a bit tired.
2. 2 stroke engine: 2 stroke simplicity wins every time. As long as it's beeni looked after. The Yam 90 is what you want but they can fetch silly money. Ours is still strong in every respect apart from the fact that it's in bits to change the top mounts! Even if you can't find a Yam, having worked on mine, I'd say 2 stroke simplicity is an advantage over a leggy 4 stroke with lots more to go wrong.
3. If you're going to do any towing, don't ignore the trailer. It's not a deal breaker if the rest of the boat is A1, but it could potentially need a lot of work to make good.

Good luck, hope you find something.

neil.mccrirrick · 25 January 2015, 08:18

All good advice 👍 you can expect around 1 litre a mile. In the price range look for comments regarding how well the tubes hold air, your lower budget is near the price of a retube.

Sent from my iPad using my finger

chris.moody · 25 January 2015, 08:40

On my Avon SR4 with a 50hp 4 stroke I'm achieving 0.65 litres per nm cruising at 25 to 30 kts with quite a bit of WOT as well.

MTHP · 25 January 2015, 08:44

Okay, thank you. All good advice. It gives me somewhere to start. I understand the advantages of 2 Stroke vs 4 Stroke as far as simplicity is concerned, how does that stack up vs economy?

I'll certainly pay close attention to the Tubes. Is there anything else I need to look closely at? (Apart from trailer)

chris.moody · 25 January 2015, 08:57

At high speed there is not much between 2 stroke and 4 stroke economy wise, it's at low speed where the 2 strokes gobble up the fuel.

chris.moody · 25 January 2015, 09:05

How many people will you regularly carry over long distances or waves? That will decide the number of seats and more seats means longer and wider hull.

Are you going to be only using it on flat water, or will you be going out in rough seas? That decides if you want a shallow or deep V hull.

Think about seating arrangement, jockeys or bench?

Will you be spending much time at displacement speeds or at rest? If so a flooding hull might be an advantage and a 4 stroke may save you a fair bit in fuel.

Will you be launching single handed? If yes you will want a smaller more manageable boat

Once you have answered the above questions you will have a pretty good idea of what boat meets your requirements.

Dan Gurney · 25 January 2015, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.moody

At high speed there is not much between 2 stroke and 4 stroke economy wise, it's at low speed where the 2 strokes gobble up the fuel.

Bear in mind that (correct me if I'm wrong here Chris) he's running an almost new Honda. I'd have thought the economy on that would be better than the kinds of four stroke you're likely to be looking at.

My 2 stroke averages about a litre a (nautical) mile cruising at 4000 - 4500. At WOT (5500 ish) you can pretty much watch the fuel gauge dropping!

Nos4r2 · 25 January 2015, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTHP

Now, what I'm looking for is a trailered RIB around 4-5.5M in length and around 40-60HP 4 Stroke.

I'm looking to spend between 4-6K.

My questions are -

What is my best option to look for? make/model/size/engine

What should I expect fuel economy, roughly speaking?

I look forward to your replies,

Should point out here that 5.5m with 60hp will be underpowered. 80hp+ (up to the boats max) would be about right.

You'll have an absolute blast in any Searider as long as it's got enough HP.
If you don't get a Searider (there's other alternatives-Tornado/Humber/early Osprey and a few others), don't buy a shallow V-you'll really regret it on a smaller boat if it gets lumpy.

Don't buy a non 'known' make or a homebuilt unknown boat either unless it's so stupidly cheap you're close to getting the hull for free.

Fuel economy wise, yes, even with a 90hp 2 stroke you'll still get 1nm/L if you're not running at WOT constantly.

MTHP · 25 January 2015, 10:41

Okay, thank you for the insight on fuel economy. That helps a lot, actually. There will always be at least 2 people to Launch the boat. My main use would be on the Sea with some use on Rivers and lakes so I see a deeper hull being preferable.

Passenger wise I'd regularly carry 2-4 but capacity up to 6 would be useful but not q necessity. I'd be happy carrying 4 if the boat was right. I've been looking at Searider 5.4's with varying motors, you guys suggest a 90HP Autolube being a good match? What rate of knots should I Expect from such a boat?

My Aerotec was clocked at 34knts one aboard and was probably near disaster at any moment, I look forward to the stability of a RIB!

Nos4r2 · 25 January 2015, 11:04

Realistically not much faster than 34 knots, but in far larger seas

Carrying 4 on a Searider will be very difficult unless you put a rear bench of some kind in. If you're thinking of ever carrying 4 on anything sub-5.5m, you need the max HP for the hull or it'll really struggle.

MTHP · 25 January 2015, 11:47

What's the SR4 like with a 50HP 2T on it? Apart from very cheap? 😉

Nos4r2 · 25 January 2015, 12:35

Fast. Very fast.
Theres a small amount of footage of my old one with a 50hp here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTCJbjVeX8w

2.00 and 2.25, Shows quite how quick they pick up too.

MTHP · 25 January 2015, 13:03

Quick little boat! Small though, 2-3 tops right? How many knots have you had out of it?

Ian M · 25 January 2015, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Fast. Very fast.
Theres a small amount of footage of my old one with a 50hp here:-

Sorry, off topic, but what a lovely blast from the past Matt

Nos4r2 · 25 January 2015, 13:37

It is rather Ian.

MTHP- yes, 2 on the jockey console. I only ever carried 3 once at sea. It was very very cramped.

There's not a lot more room on a 5.4 , but you could adapt it a bit easier. The SR4.7 doesn't have much more room in than the 5.4.

Nos4r2 · 25 January 2015, 13:49

Some more footage of Andy C's old SR4 here, this time with 2 people aboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNIDn7JeoYc

Mollers · 25 January 2015, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian M

..but what a lovely blast from the past Matt

Not only have most of the boats from that vid now been cut loose, some of the wives have also.

Hambleite · 25 January 2015, 14:22

We had a 5.4m searider with a 90hp Mariner 2-stroke. It did 39 knots but was very, very close the 'chine walk' wipe-out speed!

Awesome boat and the take off when to boat was light was very impressive. If we ever had to 'downsize' a 5.4m would be on the list.

Having read a lot about peoples fuel consumption figures and my own experiences, you'd be safe to bank on about 1 litre per nautical mile.

Dan Gurney · 25 January 2015, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

If you're thinking of ever carrying 4 on anything sub-5.5m, you need the max HP for the hull or it'll really struggle.

Not sure I fully concur with this.

We have seating for 3 (4 at a push) on jockeys, with the potential with another couple on the tube in the right weather. The hull is rated for 150 hp and I've seen the same hull for sale on here with 130 2 stroke. We managed just fine 5 up with the 85 swinging a 15 pitch prop. We normally run a 17 for 2-3 crew.