My New 330
Posted: 30 Jul 2015, 09:46
My new F-rib 330 arrived the other day-
1st thing I noticed once I had removed it from all the packaging is that because it is a semi rigid lump of fiberglass and pvc it is actually easier to manhandle around the place. I can get it in and out of my van on my own. I couldn't do that with my sib as it flexed which made it a two man lift.
I blew it up and it was all as per existing pictures etc.
I had Steve pre fit launching wheels and these are super easy to clip on and off.
I fitted my 15 hp 2 stroke yamaha on the back. At first I thought I had no issues with the lip at the top of the transom but when watching closely as I tightened the clamps the engine rose up a couple of mm above the transom. The lip at the top of the transom was pressing into the curve of the engine clamp. So I just trimmed a couple of mm off the lip - sorted.
Last night there was a bit of breeze wind against tide giving some nasty tight chop but I was desperate to "check it floated" so my son and I wheeled it down the road, across the grass verge, across the main road and onto the slipway.
off we went, the nasty chop made things a bit uncomfortable both on or off the plane. I was desperate to open her up and see what she could do so I gave my son a gps to hold and he was calling out the speed as best he could while trying to hang on. down wind or into the wind, banging off the chop we could cruise at 13 kts, going sideways to the chop and trying to thread the boat along a trough in the chop we managed a max speed of 21.6 kts.
So quite pleased with that. We were in a bare boat and it was hard work to stop ourselves slipping off the seats. I have seat cushions but hadn't fitted them which will help matters. With every thing being new the floor had traces of mould release on it and even the grab rope on the sponson was slippy as all new rope is. When I hosed the boat down afterwards you could see the water was soapy in the bottom of the boat. So all the grip issues will sort themselves out.
I am waiting for some materials to outfit the boat for fishing and will take some photos and show you what I am going to do with it.
I am a windsurfer so always wants it to be windy but now I'm also looking for some nice calm days.
1st thing I noticed once I had removed it from all the packaging is that because it is a semi rigid lump of fiberglass and pvc it is actually easier to manhandle around the place. I can get it in and out of my van on my own. I couldn't do that with my sib as it flexed which made it a two man lift.
I blew it up and it was all as per existing pictures etc.
I had Steve pre fit launching wheels and these are super easy to clip on and off.
I fitted my 15 hp 2 stroke yamaha on the back. At first I thought I had no issues with the lip at the top of the transom but when watching closely as I tightened the clamps the engine rose up a couple of mm above the transom. The lip at the top of the transom was pressing into the curve of the engine clamp. So I just trimmed a couple of mm off the lip - sorted.
Last night there was a bit of breeze wind against tide giving some nasty tight chop but I was desperate to "check it floated" so my son and I wheeled it down the road, across the grass verge, across the main road and onto the slipway.
off we went, the nasty chop made things a bit uncomfortable both on or off the plane. I was desperate to open her up and see what she could do so I gave my son a gps to hold and he was calling out the speed as best he could while trying to hang on. down wind or into the wind, banging off the chop we could cruise at 13 kts, going sideways to the chop and trying to thread the boat along a trough in the chop we managed a max speed of 21.6 kts.
So quite pleased with that. We were in a bare boat and it was hard work to stop ourselves slipping off the seats. I have seat cushions but hadn't fitted them which will help matters. With every thing being new the floor had traces of mould release on it and even the grab rope on the sponson was slippy as all new rope is. When I hosed the boat down afterwards you could see the water was soapy in the bottom of the boat. So all the grip issues will sort themselves out.
I am waiting for some materials to outfit the boat for fishing and will take some photos and show you what I am going to do with it.
I am a windsurfer so always wants it to be windy but now I'm also looking for some nice calm days.
