is searider worth the money?

118118 · 15 November 2004, 19:50

hi,
i am looking for a 4m avon searider with a budget of £3000. i have seen a rib on boats and outboards, but would like your exerienced oppinions! even with my limited knowledge i think it is overpriced, but how much is it worth in your oppinions?

the add says
Avon Searider rib 4.2m Centre consul VGC.
Set up and ready to run with Johnson 30hp GWO recent service.
Snipe road trailer, Tailored covers, Wheel Clamp, Pump, Bruce Anchor and warp, A fast and economical rig with exellent seakeeping ability. Plated for six adults.
asking 1950

in an email i was told that boat and engine are 1988 and engine doesnt have power trim or electric start.

am i right, or do i have too higer expectations?
--------------------------------------------------------
ps. if anyone has a 4m searider with engine for about £3000 with 50hp for sale, drop us a line

Nasher · 15 November 2004, 19:58

Hi

Agreed it appears a little overpiced, not exactly fast with a 30Hp either, might even struggle to get up on the plane with 6 adults.

Nasher.

Biggles · 15 November 2004, 20:09

Hi

No RIB is cheap. That is compared to a normal hard boat. Have a look at a few and get some ideas.

ollyit · 15 November 2004, 20:12

hey mate, pm/mail tcwozere (tony)
he has a 4m searider with a 30hp on it, he'll be the best to tell you exactly how it performs with that configuration engine - all the best with finding ur boat

ADS · 15 November 2004, 20:22

Thats a bit over priced considering the age of the engine and the fact that it does'nt have ptt or electric start. I would say 1.5K tops for that.
With a 30HP you would probably get around 24/25 knots, I would be very surprised if it planes 6 up, particularly if it still has a flooding hull.

Alex

118118 · 15 November 2004, 20:30

i have no plans to ever try to put 6 people in a 4m boat, the most i would probably have in it at a time would be 3. do you think i would be able to waterski or wakeboard with 2 people in boat and me behind? thanks

ollyit · 15 November 2004, 20:33

with what motor mate? the 30hp ?

118118 · 15 November 2004, 20:45

the outboard is a 1988 johnson manual start, manual trim

. i would assume it's a 2 stroke

ADS · 15 November 2004, 21:09

Not sure you could water ski behind a Searider with a 30HP because they require alot of grunt to get on the plane with flooding hull, having said that with the right prop you might manage it.

That Johnson would put me off a bit, a friend of mine a has a Johnson 35HP and that is pretty gutless, it smokes like Fawley refinery at idle too.

However, Slimtim said he wakeboards behind his flatacraft with a 25HP.

Daniel TD5 · 15 November 2004, 21:24

118118
don,t put 3k down the toilet
a searider just happens to be the dearest rib not the second hand market they are the best but with 3 k you will end up with a very old rib with a engine to match my new valiant is only 18 months old and as a few problems
what would a ten year old rib be like how long would it last any way
once you have got into it you will what a better boat so
go for a diffent model

avon super sport
valiant
zodiac

3 k is a lot of money spend it well

ADS · 15 November 2004, 21:32

I agree entirely with Daniel TD5, they are very over priced considering their age, but they are very well built.

A couple of ebay links here, the first contains a couple of seariders:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/rib_Boats-W...ertyZ1QQsotrZ2

This second one I spotted looks like a laugh, would probably do 40knots! I can't tell what model of Flatacraft it is but if its a Force 3 it is seriously over powered!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ayphotohosting

If you are going to buy of ebay make sure you go and look at it first, and have a read of the recent stolen boat thread, just to make sure.

Nasher · 15 November 2004, 21:44

Thats a Force 4 Flatacraft and not overpowered at all. I put a 55HP Suzuki triple on mine with PTT and it went like stink, strengthened the Transom before though.

Details are still on www.flatacraft.com although I've now sold it to concentrate on my Ocean 6.5.

Nasher

slimtim · 15 November 2004, 21:48

Ireckon you could wakeboard behind that searider with the 30hp. I wouldn't buy it though. As already said, overpriced for its age!

Mine is a Flatacraft Force 3 GT with a 1987 yam 25hp and I can wakeboard with TWO up in the boat! I have to use my low pitch prop but i reckon thats still pretty good going! She has a flooding hull too.

ADS, That flatacraft is a force 4. My mate had one and believe it or not, its not over powered! That engine does look huge though. I think it can take upto a 50hp (mine take upto a 30hp) and my mate had a smokey old marina 60 on his. Went like grease sh*t off a shiney shovel!

118118, Follow the advice of these people, they know what they are on about!

Cheers

Tim

slimtim · 15 November 2004, 21:49

Nasher, you beat me to it!

118118 · 15 November 2004, 22:00

thanks for all the replies.
with that advice, i will definately not buy this particular rib, but will probably still go for a searider if i can find one witha decent 50hp 2 stroke. although i will widen my search for other ribs.

thanks everyone!!

tcwozere · 15 November 2004, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel TD5

118118
don,t put 3k down the toilet
a searider just happens to be the dearest rib not the second hand market they are the best but with 3 k you will end up with a very old rib with a engine to match my new valiant is only 18 months old and as a few problems
what would a ten year old rib be like how long would it last any way
once you have got into it you will what a better boat so
go for a diffent model

avon super sport
valiant
zodiac

3 k is a lot of money spend it well

3k is a lot of money.. Not exactly sure why buying a Searider is the same as putting it down the toilet..

Also not exactly sure what sort of Valiant you would get for 3k, or Zodiac for that matter.. As for them being old, well, that's true.. But as there is a lot still afloat, and still in use, mebbe they were better built than other make's of ribs.. Mine is an '88, with a '92 engine.. It starts first time, and hasn't got any rip's or tears or whatever's.. I would put mine, (or any other 16 yr old, looked after rib), against some of the over priced tat being made nowadays..

3k is a lot of money, spend it well, and spend it wisely.. If I ever replace my rib, it's gonna be another searider.. The RNLI seemed to know what they were doing when they bought them..

ADS · 15 November 2004, 22:02

Sorry,
Nasher, Slimtim looked smaller than a Force 4 but looking closer it must be a F4, that spray dodger is deceptive! Makes it look shorter. Probably not overpowered then but would be lively that 50 is big though, but I don't know alot about Selvas. Think its a bit overpriced though.

Nasher, still interested in prop about to send you a PM.

Alex

slimtim · 15 November 2004, 22:11

No need to apologise alex! It looks absolutely tiny with that engine!

Tim

Daniel TD5 · 15 November 2004, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcwozere

3k is a lot of money.. Not exactly sure why buying a Searider is the same as putting it down the toilet..

Also not exactly sure what sort of Valiant you would get for 3k, or Zodiac for that matter.. As for them being old, well, that's true.. But as there is a lot still afloat, and still in use, mebbe they were better built than other make's of ribs.. Mine is an '88, with a '92 engine.. It starts first time, and hasn't got any rip's or tears or whatever's.. I would put mine, (or any other 16 yr old, looked after rib), against some of the over priced tat being made nowadays..

3k is a lot of money, spend it well, and spend it wisely.. If I ever replace my rib, it's gonna be another searider.. The RNLI seemed to know what they were doing when they bought them..

i did say seariders are the best but they cost the most second hand and may be the money would go that little bit further on a super sport

seen two valiant vanguard 4m for around 3.5k both had 40hp both were a 1996/7 year and looked nice been a few humbers for 3k on ebay

just see what comes up

i agree with you about (or any other 16 yr old, looked after rib), its the looked after bit that makes them good buys

dan

Searider · 15 November 2004, 22:36

118118

For £3000 I would expect at least a 50hp 3cyl Yamaha to be on it.
My 4m (5 years ago) I bought for £2150 with a manual 50hp yamaha. (This was too cheap but the owner was desparate to sell in April to pay for a teak deck on his other boat)

Sold it a year later for £2850 once I had tidied up the trailer. (This was in May and I think about the right price)

Nothing wrong with high expectations but prepared to wait for for the right boat to turn up, and be prepared to travel a bit.

Happy hunting - got to have something to do over the winter!

Regards