Engines

[sparerib]

It all been said really as above.....

My Ocean Runner is rated for a 25hp Short shaft max 89kg.....its fitted with a ahem 30hp long shaft

Done by the previous owner, who got a deal that couldn't be passed up on the engine......

Does the engine work well ....yes

Is the extra power used all the time ....No

Does the extra weight reduce performance...in theory yes, in reality no, especially with an aux ob, and a weeks worth of camping gear and my not so slim 6'2 frame on board....max about 30mph in perfect conditions regardless of load.

Does the extra weight affect the trim/balance of the boat....yes, bow locker loaded with bits, not least some lead and the jockey moved forward over the winter, but having said that with power trim easy to manage, without all the extra bits and two up just trim to suit once you go from displacement to planning.

and fingers crossed it hasn't fallen off the back yet

[chris moody]

I tend to agree that jockey seats are probably not the best option for what you want to use the boat for. A bench seating layout might work though. You can get bench seats with reversible backrests, so you can sit facing forwards or backwards which might work well for fishing.

But I'm still thinking a open dory style, or Warrior with a cuddy, might be your best option as you get much more usable space for any given length.

[Andy]

But I'm still thinking a open dory style, or Warrior with a cuddy, might be your best option as you get much more usable space for any given length.

I did look at a few of them today, but if i want to play at being a lunatic, they just dont seem like much fun. I looked at some fishing boats as well, but they just looked like wobbly fishing boats, that chug along. Great space I must admit, but not much more than that, and most you have to stand up in all day. Most actually had too much space.

Ribs just seem like more fun, more potential to do something else as well as fish, once I teach myself how to handle one, and all you loonies have one !

I did see a rather nice boat, only 650K, biggest laugh was you couldn't fish from it

So I might just go out and buy summit cheap and cheerful to start with, and if I dont get on with it, ill leave it up in Scotland as a Viking burial !

[chris moody]

If you want cheap fun, get an Avon SR4. Fantastic handling for their size, loads of fun, will do over 30 kts (at least two of us on here have had 37 kts out of a SR4), and dead easy to resell. Get one with either a 40hp or 50hp engine.

[9-R]

Maximum fun and safety will be had with the larger engine. At a guess a 460 with 20hp lightly loaded will get on the plane and probably do just over 20mph flat out. It won't feel very spritely and may struggle to maintain planing speeds at ideal cruising revs of 4000/4500rpm.
The same boat with a 60hp moderately loaded may achieve around 38mph, cruise all day at 25mph/4000rpm and nip on and off the plane with little effort.

As open boats the 420/460 would probably go quite well with a 30hp tiller motor lightly loaded as the bare boats only weigh around 120/130kg. Fit a consul, seating and a few bodies etc. then will certainly benefit from more horses.

This is about right for a SIB. We had a 460 SIB with aluminum floor deck. Once we got the engine height and prop pitch correct, we were at a max of 17-19 mph with 2 adults, 3 kids plus gear with a 20hp 4s. Not the best for planing but not too bad either with a 9-pitch. 2s most likely would have been better performance but then I would have needed twice the fuel... A 30hp would have been more appropriate if I could have lifted one.

Dual or single rider, I was seeing 23mph max with the same setup.

For a RHIB, I would think the performance could be better?

Our boat size and type had been rated at a max of 40hp at one point and then dropped to 30hp. Not sure of the reason except that maybe 4s was becoming more common over the 2s and therefore they had to drop the max weight to accommodate?