Excel XHD Vanguard 395 - Afloat at last

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Golferboy Scotland
Newish Member, But I Like It Here
Posts: 34
Joined: 06 Feb 2020, 21:15
Boat Make: Excel XHD Vanguard 395.
Outboard: Suzuki 20hp.
MMSI Number: 10
Location: Greenock
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Excel XHD Vanguard 395 - Afloat at last

Post by Golferboy » 02 Jun 2020, 19:43

Hi all hope your are all staying safe and maybe getting out a bit more now the lockdown is easing a touch. My son and I eventually got the new Excel 395 into the water yesterday and had a day running in the new Suzuki 20hp well four hours really, so not much more to do,
Boat and Engine removed for the boot of the Edge.. took up most of the room but still had enough.
boat assembled on un-even ground... not one of my better plans.. it took a bit to get floor in with that, as opposed to the garden assembly which was no problem at all.
After assembly and putting launching wheels on it was a bit of a chore to pull it the 40 yards to the beginning of the slipway... with engine attached the boat balanced out really well and was much easier to wheel down the slip and over the sandy and pebble beach at low tide. So another lesson learned for me.. attach engine before moving..lol Anyway onwards as they say... the day went well enough with a run down the Clyde to Little Cumbrae and back round the Islands to Kip Marina again.. tried out different leg positions and will now look at prop options after the next run, my son has made me a wee extension for the transom to gain a bit more height for the engine,, so this i will try asap. boat handled very nicely but needed pumped up to max as i did feel it yaw a couple of times.. all the electronics worked a treat so was pleased the 12v power box did the job intended.
I will update as get it all together.
Stay safe all.

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Last edited by Martin on 22 Jul 2020, 16:15, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: SEO title edit

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ChrisParish Great Britain
Supporting Member
Posts: 2049
Joined: 23 May 2018, 15:30
Boat Make: Bombard Aerotec 380
Outboard: Suzuki DF20A
MMSI Number: 235916094
Location: Poole
Has thanked: 123 times
Been thanked: 636 times

Re: Excel XHD Vanguard 395 - Afloat at last

Post by ChrisParish » 02 Jun 2020, 19:47

That looks great. I love the sky in the shot over the bow.

Are you happy with the boat?
These users thanked the author ChrisParish for the post:
Golferboy (02 Jun 2020, 19:49)
Not a complete idiot - some parts are missing.

Golferboy Scotland
Newish Member, But I Like It Here
Posts: 34
Joined: 06 Feb 2020, 21:15
Boat Make: Excel XHD Vanguard 395.
Outboard: Suzuki 20hp.
MMSI Number: 10
Location: Greenock
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Excel XHD Vanguard 395 - Afloat at last

Post by Golferboy » 02 Jun 2020, 19:54

Yes indeed... I did have a few thoughts about size and weight for my time of life now.. not the fittest guy.. and having missed my 4 days a week golf i am even worse.. but given that the boat did pull easier with engine on was my biggest worry, yeh looking forward to next run and new trailer will arrive Thursday.. so even better..lol It handled very well at the slower speeds for approx 2 hours then runs up to 15kts for a minute or so then back down again was fine, it should be better once new rings are bedded in etc and the full time for running in is up..

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