T38/Mariner 20 efi

[harrison]

So, returning to sibbing after a few years hiatus with a Honwave T38 and Mariner 20 efi. Fresh out the box, first inflate, motor not even fired up. These are my initial impressions.

First Honwave for me, and for a so called budget Chinese made sib, overall quality and attention to detail seems pretty good. Nice meaty transom, plenty of grab handles, eyes, grab lines etc. Air V floor only slightly out of symmetry at bow but probably well within tolerance and not one of the defective floors often recently reported. On water testing will hopefully confirm ok.

The Mariner has a hard act to follow though as previously we had a Suzuki DF20. So six years on will the new Mariner be able to put the Suzi firmly in its wake!

Looks wise the Mariner is pretty sharp, with its edgy angular hood design and large imposing tiller. The lower leg profile with decent sized av plate and twin splash plates above together with the pointed leading edge all indicates it should not be prone to generate excessive splashing. It came with a 10” pitch stock prop. Gut feeling this should be about right for the Honwave. Mounted straight on the transom, with no packers necessary, the av plate sits nicely level with the keel. How lucky is that. Looks spot on but on water testing will confirm.

The fancy all singing/dancing fully adjustable multi function tiller is certainly impressive at first glance. It does however add around 2 to 3 kilos weight disadvantage over the Suzuki and even the Tohatsu version. This baby weighs over 47kg so if weight is a serious issue please bear this in mind if considering the Merc/Mariner versions. Worth remembering manufacturers usually quote dry weights of the lightest in the range...so ss, manual start/tilt, remote model (probably not even a tiller in the mix).

One disadvantage of the central tiller immediately obvious is, it hinders access to the front lifting handle under. Fortunately the enormous tiller castings are so strong a good hold can be had under the pivot point.

Quality wise the Japanese Tohatsu manufactured Mariner seems good both externally and more importantly under the hood. Visibly better in fact than my Chinese made Mariner 60!!

So, initial impressions, very pleased with look and quality of both motor and boat out of the box. I’ll hopefully be able to follow up with more informative observations and opinions after I’ve had them out on the water and fully run in.

T38/Mariner 20 efi

T38 Slightly asymmetrical bow

AV plate perfect height - no shims!

T38/Mariner 20 port side

T38/Mariner 20 starboard side

Trail Tech Rev/hour meter fitted

Hey Mods, any chance you could perform interweb black arts and rotate piccies. Thanks.

[harrison]

That engine looks niiiiice. I want one!

Your floor is very similar to mine - as you say they would probably tell you it was “within tolerance”

I am really looking forward to seeing you boat out on the water.

Also: pics fixed as requested!

[chris moody]

That is a lovely looking engine you have there @harrison. As you pointed out the engine height looks spot on as it is without the need for any packing on the transom. It looks like the ventilation plate will be just below the surface when that's on the plane and trimmed correctly.

[Martin]

Congrats on the purchase Harrison, are you happy with the floor levels ?
I’ve seen a lot worse but I’ve seen better too..
I do wish Sun/Honda would sort this issue out, never any issues on the IE1 or earlier IE2 models.

Anyways, excuse my comments, not meant to be negative- in fact far from it...
welcome to the SIB world

Martin

[ChrisParish]

welcome to the SIB world

I think that should be “welcome back” to the SIB world.

[harrison]

are you happy with the floor levels ?
I’ve seen a lot worse but I’ve seen better too.

Am I happy with the floor levels?

Not ecstatic no, but are these the norm now and within tolerance. Reserving judgment until I’ve got it wet.

What do other T38 owners think? @ChrisParish has already kindly commented his is similar.

[Martin]

I've seen many with similar floors and advised the owners to send them back. All the boats i'm aware of that have been returned have been replaced with a none wonky floor model.
Not all the T38ie's look like that, there appears to be a few friday tea time boats around though.

I personally wouldn't accept a sib with a floor like that.
Whatever they've done/broken in their manufacturing process needs fixing ... Honda shouldn't be selling boats like that.

ps... Welcome BACK to the sib world

Martin

[harrison]

I've seen many with similar floors and advised the owners to send them back. All the boats i'm aware of that have been returned have been replaced with a none wonky floor model.
Not all the T38ie's look like that, there appears to be a few friday tea time boats around though.

I personally wouldn't accept a sib with a floor like that.

Thanks Martin, that’s certainly taken the wind out of me new rubber duck!

Might fire off an email and pics to Ely/Honda just to lodge a potential fault and see what they say.

Anyways, been out today and completed three hours running in. Sea up here cut up by current easterlies into unpleasant short steep chop. Although only plodding along, T38 seemed to cope ok and soften out the ride. It aint no Aerotec but then I never imagined it would be.

Not sure slightly wonky floor had any untoward effects but none immediately detected...will have better idea when on flat water at full pelt.

Motor ran faultlessly as expected. In early stages of running in so unable to report on performance, but felt lively with plenty of low range grunt on tap. Looking forward to winding on some revs soon. Very impressed with engine mounts...virtually zero vibration transferred to tiller or boat.

First launch T38/Mariner 20

Flushing and hose down

[Mitch]

Glad you got out & tried it, I had one of the problem floors & it seemed ok when I bought it but it was a new engine so until the engine was run in I didn’t notice anything plus it was the first boat I ever had so didn’t have any experience. Once it was nearing run in & I opened it up for short periods I noticed a lot of cavitation but again didn’t really know any difference until I went out with the lads.
It went fine going out getting up to 19 knots but when I came back in I couldn’t keep up with them & it was a bitch to steer.
Next time we went out at Southampton paul, Pete & Andy looked into it a bit more & we tried different trims but just made it worse & when I opened it right up it kept veering hard to port nearly throwing me out & I couldn’t hold it straight above 14 knots.
With saying that mine was a lot worse than yours, it was flat on the bow as well as misaligned so hopefully yours will be ok & you’ll be pleased with the way it goes.

[sonny1]

reading through the above comments it makes me realise that i know nothing about boating and hope that i can get as lucky as mitch in as much as i can find a :paul,pete and andy: to point me in the right direction. the only person i have met is ian (harrison) and if every one is as giving with help and advice as ian has been to me then i will have nothing to worry about. just for the record i only got on the water last year in my 3.5 merc and 2.7 sib so ive been pretty much feeling my way blind , so in a couple of weeks (new boat) i will be looking for some guidance. i have to say im surprised that somebody so ignorant(me) can just walk in off the street and buy something so potentially lethal. any thoughts?