New sib

[Tellum]

Hi all, looking for a sib around 3 metres. I have gone from a 3.8 honwave ,a t40 honwave, then a 420 rib and now a 16 foot orkney fishing boat.
There are times when I wish I had a small sib. So my plan is to get something light and usable with a 6hp 4s which will double as a auxiliary on my orkney.
Main use , me alone fishing in the creeks and estuaries, and me wife and daughter pottering around the rivers. I could go down to a 3.5 auxiliary for the orkney but it would limit my use of a sib, so a 6hp with 3 meter sounds a good compromise to me.
My first choice was a honwave in 2.7 or 3.2 ie, I have had the honwaves before so happy with materials but I did have problems with the air floor on the 3.8,that puts me off. Would I see the benefits of the air floor design of the honwave if I am just pottering around with a 6hp. Will I be just has happy with a air mat floor. These tend to be a lot cheaper.
Been looking at the quicksilvers,c pro ,sea pro, sunsport along with several other types. I suspose my questions are, is it worth spending more for the honwave 1200 for a 3.2 or another brand with air mat floor for 750.
Air all brands similar in quality?
I have checked some of the other brands ,and the materials seem similar.
What are other people using?

Cheers

[harrison]

Might also be worth considering the Elling KB350. Light at around 40kg, very efficient cat style hull with flat air deck floor and will go well with a 6hp motor. Also comes with lots of Borika mounts fitted so good for fishing.

https://boatworld.co.uk/elling-kb-350-air-floor

[Tellum]

I havent looked on that site before, but looks OK although out of stock at the moment they do a 330 version v air floor with 3 year warranty for 675 quid, the new 3.2 v air floor honwave is 1200 so food for thought,thanks

[wba 1879]

I have a Sunsport airdeck and did some research to check its quality I got this back from a store.

Quicksilver are made in China by Mercury / Brunswick in their own factory.

They also make the Sun Sport, Aqualine and Silverline, Talamax boats.

So compared to many other brands that are made in third party factories and badged by the importer the Sun Sports are better than that option.

[Tellum]

Thanks for the reply, no rush so I will keep looking around. I have checked the less know brands and the materials and techniques are not much different if at all, and some offer a longer warranty while coming in at a cheaper price. I don't want to regret getting a cheaper model,but I also don't want to be sucked in by the big name brands clever/superior marketing. At the minute I like the sunsport, seapro and quicksilver, will see if I can get a package deal somewhere.

[wba 1879]

My Sunsport seems decent quality, they do packages with Mercury outboards, and have a 2 year warranty with any Mercury dealer. There probably isn't much difference between the main brands the place I got mine from said it was as good as the Honwave but a bit cheaper, they sold Honwaves aswell. So I went with the Sunsport/Mercury package. Good luck with your search.

[Tellum]

Well quite surprised how limited stock was for new and for that reason the 2nd hand market was asking fair money.
I managed to reserve a new 6hp tohatsu to collect 12th April, and I found a new quicksilver 320 which is arriving Monday along with transom wheels so happy days

[bbutty]

Hi Tellum, is it the quicksilver 320 airdeck or ali deck you have gone for? I loved my 320 airdeck and the quicksilvers seemed to be built well too

[Tellum]

Hi
I have gone for the airdeck,quick and easy to setup. Not sure how long it will stay white for though.
Should have all bases covered now, the Orkney for full days out , the Sib for those days when the sea is to rough or time is limited, I can go play in the estuary/sheltered waters and failing that I have my perception triumph kayak,
As long as I am on or near the sea/water I am happy.

[PeterM]

I have just seen a nice 3.2m Lodestar on gumtree . I'm a fan having had the 2.9m version. If anyone is after a decent used SIB I'd think its worth consideration . ( i just cant justify the expenditure at the moment )