Flatacraft Force 5

[BeaverDiver]

Hi folks,

Got this RIB about a month ago and it was in a very poor state. It had 2 slashes in the tubes and a rubbing strake that was just about hanging on.
We took it down to see the guys at SIT in Leyland for a wee bit of TLC and 2 weeks later we got it back. What a difference it is, well impressed with the job the guys done.

It is now back at home and turned upside down to carry out some small gelcoat repairs and polish the hull. This should be finished by Monday night then we will turn it over again. There is a center console to be fitted, deck to be flow coated in as close a match as we can get to the console. We have a 60hp Yamaha two stroke to go on the back and a new set of steering cables. Once we sell the SR4 we have then its on to electronics, tank rack and A frame.

[Pikey Dave]

If it's not a silly question, why didn't you do all the flipping gel coat & GRP repairs before having the tubes done?

[BeaverDiver]

We werent going to do it but it was suggested that we should. I was going to do it on the trailer but got offered a barn to do the repairs in. Bit back to front I know.

[falcon0310]

nice work do still like flatacrafts

[BeaverDiver]

Finally got the RIB up and running. Was worth all the effort, got our 4m searider with the Mariner 40hp tiller to sell to fund the electronics that we want now. Used an App on my phone to check our speed and it said we were doing 31knots max. I was worried that the 60hp wouldnt have been enough but was pleasantly surprised.
Thanks to Beamishken for all his help and advice

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by falcon0310

nice work do still like flatacrafts

I had one years ago and coupled with a Yam 60 smoker went all over in it
Tony Lee Elliot was truly one of the VERY first RIB pioneers and they are Built like the Proverbial...the reason why you still see them about!...and being retubed!
Good luck with Her.

[phantom 19]

Very fast hull, the force 5 was based on the Phantom 16 which was the best small offshore hulls in rough water.