Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 22 November 2020, 16:53   #1
Member
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: Ball Lightning
Make: Avon
Length: 4m +
Engine: Tohatsu 4 stroke
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 31
Avon sr4 transom/deck questions.

Hello,
I picked up an Avon sr4, my first ever boat, as a winter project, with an aim to using it as a dive rib next summer. It is quite old (1977 I think if I'm reading the serial number correctly) and I will have to replace the transom and the deck but the tubes and hull are in surprisingly good condition. I replaced a few of the patches on the tubes which were failing and it now holds air indefinitely, and apart from some dings in the hull it is also sound.

When I removed the capping on the transom I can see the ply is wet so it's probably rotten I will replace that, I expected doing this considering its age. About 600mm of the deck at the stern also feels soft so I would like to remove that and replace as much as is neccessary.

I'm wondering, am I better to replace the transom right down to hull level? At the moment it only goes down to around deck level.
And is there anything I need to bear in mind when removing and replacing deck, I can see through the hole in the hull that there are buoyancy chambers below the deck?
I am going to fit a four stroke around 95-98kg so would like to get everything sound and solid so wondering if I should glass knees also from transom to hull?
Thanks for any advice.
Apologies if this has all been covered before, I did use the search bar first! If there is a good thread on it please send me the link.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	20200809_190512.jpg
Views:	331
Size:	164.5 KB
ID:	135662  
__________________
Barrel Rider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 November 2020, 19:26   #2
Member
 
Tim M's Avatar
 
Country: France
Town: Côte d'Azur
Boat name: Beaver Patrol
Make: Avon Searider SR4
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,934
Hello and welcome. A great project you have there! Many many threads on Searider rebuilds on here if you search - probably one of the most written about models of RIB. A true classic! I did the same once - it was some years ago and I can't remember if full thickness of the transom should go all the way to the hull. Logic would suggest if you're going to all the trouble of taking the deck off you may as well beef up the transom and go all the way to the bottom of the hull regardless.

As for what's under the deck - very little apart from a buoyancy tank near the back. You'll need to put that back in so the boat sits at the right height (and water doesn't come over the transom) when the hull floods. That said when I did the deck on one I blocked up the hull at the same time do didn't bother with the tank.

As well as loads of info on here, there's a very active Searider group on Facebook - search for "Avon Searider Owners"

Good luck!
__________________
Tim M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 November 2020, 12:49   #3
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Godalming
Boat name: Bumblebee
Make: Avon
Length: 4m +
Engine: yamaha 40hp 2stroke
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 145
I'm getting the whole deck and transom done on mine, if you're going for a heavier engine then definitely strengthen the knees, also if you're doing more then 40hp its a good idea
__________________
Livid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 November 2020, 16:33   #4
Member
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Maybole
Boat name: Greylag
Make: AVON Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Outboard Petrol 70hp
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 51
Hi "BR", One wee point I should make is that if you are using this as a dive RIB then having the Wet Hull in-tack will be an asset in the sea otherwise it will be a little bumpy when anchored. As the guys advise raising the transom up a little in the mid-section with added 4-stroke engine weight would be good. There are others here with more Searider knowledge than me on this aspect though. Also when upgrading the transom, consider recovery from the sea for the divers perhaps? Rope ladder fixings?? best wishes Iain
__________________
IainK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 November 2020, 16:44   #5
Member
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: Ball Lightning
Make: Avon
Length: 4m +
Engine: Tohatsu 4 stroke
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 31
Thanks
Yes I'd like to retain the flooding hull so will put the buoyancy tanks back in. I'm not sure if I'll have room to glass in two knees going down to the inside of the hull though. I think the original ply in the transom is 18mm, I plan on redoing it with 24mm of ply.
__________________
Barrel Rider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 November 2020, 18:06   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Godalming
Boat name: Bumblebee
Make: Avon
Length: 4m +
Engine: yamaha 40hp 2stroke
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 145
My uncle did glass knees on his only to the floor
__________________
Livid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 November 2020, 05:23   #7
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Waterlooville
Boat name: Tickler
Make: Halmatic P22
Length: 6m +
Engine: Inboard Diesel 240HP
MMSI: 235115642
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,777
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Barrel Rider View Post
Thanks
Yes I'd like to retain the flooding hull so will put the buoyancy tanks back in. I'm not sure if I'll have room to glass in two knees going down to the inside of the hull though. I think the original ply in the transom is 18mm, I plan on redoing it with 24mm of ply.
In addition to the thickness, the quality of ply will make a difference. I'm not sure whether a 1/4 sheet of marine ply would be sufficient but people like Robbins sell 1/4 sheets of marine ply in 18mm - 25mm.
__________________
GuyC is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
avon

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 04:14.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.