Seapro Reccomendation ?

[philpot]

The Seapro boats from Higham's are a nice boat from what I have seen of them BUT and there often is a 'but'................there have been supply issues with these boats and Simon Higham brought in another boat which is made of the same material to replace them. I have to say that when you invest in a £2k boat/engine, you want to have the best value for money and a product which has a name that will give you an easy sell should you decide to move the outfit on as time goes by..............Seapro............perhaps not such an easy sell.

I am happy to talk to you on the phone regarding this package but not on here, PM me your number and I will try to help.

The Honwave and the Excel have a great following in the UK but the design of the floor is quite different from eachother offering different performance on the water but also in handling the boat in and out of the car/garage and seriously think what you want from your engine and how it will be used before you decide on an engine. I have always bought the maximum engine for the boats I have owned, which in most cases has been 15hp because of the boat size I prefer but in many cases, I have also bought a small engine for pottering around with..........so a few things to consider.

Please do not jump in at the deep end here.

Phil

[kaman]

So in other words Kaman
You really want the 4m f-rib

Hi Martin did seriously look at the Frib.
However the Highfield 380 CL is top of next years shopping list at the moment.

From the specs the Highfield is slightly larger but actually weighs in at 2kg lighter than my Honwave 3.5ae and that's with an integrated anchor locked and fuel locker in the bow
With my Tohatsu 20hp it should fly along and handle better than old sausage keel.
I have added a lot of bits and bobs to my Honwave over the years so will need look at ways of incorporating those little luxuries to the Highfield.

[philpot]

VERY nice Kaman, very nice indeed. You will be able to pose in that for sure and that floor will leave the Honwave way behind.

Phil

[harrison]

The Suzuki 9.9 can be converted to a 15 quite easily, so if you get one , it's not a big or overly expensive job to get extra power at a later date

That MAY be incorrect Paul and I wouldn't want to mislead Pete.
Iirc, that 9.9hp of your dads was a high torque 2008 with (I think) 327cc, the same cc as a 15hp of that year. Suzuki made several changes around the 2006-2009 time.
A carb change due to throttle body size was the only requirement afaik.
Also keep in mind, the later (2011) 15hp go to efi, so no carb
And 2015 the 9.9hp, 15hp & 20hp go lean burn efi.

Hey Guys,
Just flicked through this thread and a bit confused on advice regarding converting Suzuki 9.9 to 15hp.
Might be wrong but my understanding is the OP is looking at new boat and outboard, and uprating the 9.9 to 15 only applies to much older models.
The current 9.9 is already the big brother of the 8hp, both weigh in at 39.5kg and share the same 208cc block. Current model is carburetor not EFI.
The current 15hp and 20hp motors are lean burn with battery less EFI and introduced mid 2013. They both weigh 44kg and share same 327cc block.
Hope not treading an any toes, just my understanding on the Suzuki range.

[Martin]

Hey Guys,
Just flicked through this thread and a bit confused on advice regarding converting Suzuki 9.9 to 15hp.
Might be wrong but my understanding is the OP is looking at new boat and outboard, and uprating the 9.9 to 15 only applies to much older models.
The current 9.9 is already the big brother of the 8hp, both weigh in at 39.5kg and share the same 208cc block. Current model is carburetor not EFI.
The current 15hp and 20hp motors are lean burn with battery less EFI and introduced mid 2013. They both weigh 44kg and share same 327cc block.
Hope not treading an any toes, just my understanding on the Suzuki range.

Hiya Harrison (long time no type)
I'm somewhat right and wrong lol, and thanks for highlighting it.
Most of the info I put up was off the top of my head, hence the "afaik & I think" quotes.
I've got a little mixed up. Suzuki do-do a 9.9hp efi (DF9,9B). . Not quite sure why its not publicised more... http://www.suzukimarine.com/Product%20L ... 20EFI.aspx perhaps a short run model between 2012-2014
You are correct that the UK Suzuki Marine website offers the current DF9.9A/AE etc is a carb model.
I'd already highlighted that the earlier models of the 9.9hp were the ones to upgrade via carb, I think upto the latter end of 2009.

I love the Suzuki's for weight, power, economy, price etc... but they really are buggers for giving conflicting evidence between Suzuki UK Marine and Suzuki.Com websites.

As per O/P question. yes he was looking at new, but the budget he's wanting to spend, there's no way in this world he'll pick up a new Honwave or equivalent and a 9.9/15hp Suzuki for that money, so I think he's contemplating a used later Suzuki outboard, hence my warning that the power upgrade isn't possible... (I think i'm getting confused now , never mind you lot lol.... )

As for the standing on anyones toes, not at all... we promote freedom of speech for discussions on here, discussions are what forums are for imo.
We leave the bickering to other forums

[Pete]

I am happy to talk to you on the phone regarding this package but not on here, PM me your number and I will try to help. Phil

I really appreciate the advice and the offer Phil, but bear with me on the phone, poor hearing and horrendous tinnitus I'm some way off buying yet but all advice is greatly received

Much more positives than negatives but I'd go down the airfloor route unless your gonna trailer it or use it a couple of times a year.

Sadly it wouldn't be used weekly Kaman, so I could live with setting it up if I had to, but you're probably right recommending the Airdeck.

PS: The Highfield rib is stunning.

[harrison]

Hiya Harrison (long time no type)
I'm somewhat right and wrong lol, and thanks for highlighting it.

Hi Martin,
Lets call it a draw, you're quite right Suzuki Global do make the DF9.9B, but not imported for the UK market. Must be for a tax/license threshold in some markets as can't be much demand over here for a detuned 44kg 9.9hp motor.
Suzuki make quite a few models they don't import here. I did enquire last year on their then new DF30A, which they make in manual short shaft same as the DF25A at 62kg, but sadly only available here in electric start/power tilt/trim, 9kg heavier and much pricier. A couple of dealers did say that they could probably get hold of one though, but I haven't pursued it further. Yet!
While in fantasy land they also globally make a DF60 long shaft tiller control, again not imported here, which would bolt very nicely onto an Ocean Runner 460.

Kaman,
Also liking the Highfield CL380, very tempted myself, and at only 71kg weight plus my existing Suzuki 20 means it's still practical single handed on a launching trolley or transom wheels.

[kaman]

Kaman,
Also liking the Highfield CL380, very tempted myself, and at only 71kg weight plus my existing Suzuki 20 means it's still practical single handed on a launching trolley or transom wheels.

Hi Harrison that's my reckoning too.
Light enuf to launch off a trailer on transom wheels single handed.
Light enuf to pull out of the water to beach or recover without dipping a trailer.
Highfield is lighter than my Honwave and with the hard hull it will undoubtedly out perform the Sib.
It's an upgrade that ticks most of my boxes.
It won't bust the bank and get me a kick to the nads from the Mrs
I've got a 20hp Tohatsu 4 stroke short shaft which will fit the bill nicely.
Gonna get 1 at srart of next year and sell on my beloved Honwave

[9-R]

Hi Harrison that's my reckoning too.
Light enuf to launch off a trailer on transom wheels single handed.
Light enuf to pull out of the water to beach or recover without dipping a trailer.
Highfield is lighter than my Honwave and with the hard hull it will undoubtedly out perform the Sib.
It's an upgrade that ticks most of my boxes.
It won't bust the bank and get me a kick to the nads from the Mrs
I've got a 20hp Tohatsu 4 stroke short shaft which will fit the bill nicely.
Gonna get 1 at srart of next year and sell on my beloved Honwave

Really bringing my interest back to the Highfield. Wish they were more easily available over here. Oh well.

Love the term 'Sausage Keel'. I'll have to use that with my wife...

[philpot]

Pete, following our phone chat yesterday, take a look at page 7 of 'the guppy' post in Frib section and you will see what I was talking about regarding the Frib with a smaller engine, you may well be surprised.

Phil