Camel Trophy RIB question

Neil Harvey · 02 July 2006, 09:39

Hi All,

Am considering buying a Camel Trophy RIB.
Read all the comments on here about them, and the general issue seems to be the idea that they are under-powered for the boats weight.
That does not worry me too much, as I'm not after out and out speed. My Searider does 35 kn light and that's enough for now.

The question I have is this - what's the fuel economy like, lets say 2 people on board, no frame, but an a-frame, and about 100litres of fuel.

Usage over an hour at cruising speed of lets say 25kn.

Anyone any ideas??

Cheers

Neil

Pete7 · 02 July 2006, 09:52

Neil, worth having a read of page 2 and 3 of this thread.

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....=camel+mariner

Pete

Neil Harvey · 02 July 2006, 10:19

Thanks Pete - had read the 45lph somewhere else, hence the reason for asking, but was thinking more of cruising speeds, (WOT = full throttle right, or did I guess wrong on that one?), where I always thought 4-strokes were meant to be better that 2's. Of course maybe the Opti has changed this.

This is a big debate area, and one that I don't particularly wish to kick off again! Have read the previous posts, and reckon it comes dow to what you're after in a RIB. Would just like to know if anyone has any cruising speed figures!

It would probably do me for now anyway, could always change the engine at a later date, although have no idea of the value of a Honda 130 as a px.

Cheers

Neil

Rogue Wave · 03 July 2006, 08:42

Don't do it!

The Camel boat is a cluster and they weren't well fitted out !

The engine is a seriously heavy and underpowered unit on a very heavy 6.5 metre boat.

35 Knots per hour equalled 60 lph, That kinda takes a lot of the fun out of ribbing.

The frame is heavy and prone to weld failure and it's a curse to remove and refit after welding, it's also very noisy in use.

The electronics although once very good are now 4 years old and relatively worthless and quite badly installed

o all in all the only value in a secondhand one is in the toobs and the hull. if it's going for the right money ( uner 12k) and it's on a trailer then you could rip the A Frame and the engine off and start again with proper ones. You would probably get 2.5 to 3 for the engin on a good day

a 200 or even a 150 Opti would return you 45 knots at about 45 LPH

Neil Harvey · 05 July 2006, 19:26

Thanks for the advice guys.
Rogue Wave - have sent you a pm with a couple more questions - hope you don't mind.
Cheers

Neil

craig_c · 06 July 2006, 11:28

There was one at our marina that pissed fuel all over the car park...

Saw one in Loch Fyne with a 225 FICHT evinrude. that seemed a beast

wavelength · 06 July 2006, 15:51

Quote:

There was one at our marina that pissed fuel all over the car park...

funny that-we have one that visits here that did exactly the same thing all over the slipway. Usually it just breaks down and needs a tow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rogue Wave · 07 July 2006, 09:23

the problem is sometimes with the fuel inspection/sensor caps, they are made of a different alloy to the Fuel Tank and dissolve when water gets between the two decks and starts having fun with the sensors wiring.