SIB Choices

[Sibfish]

Hi everyone i posted a while ago (years) and said i was saving for a sib and outboard now i have the money for a 9.8hp 4stroke and a 3.6+m sib, i was almost set on the honwave t38 but i have been looking at other choices and i like the look of the excel sibs. Im stuck between the Excel Volante 390 and the Excel Volaire 390. I have looked at the specs and there arent really any differencs apart from the weight, tube diameter and the fabric. Im taking myself missus the boy and equipment + 3.3hp spare engine (i will get back to shore!), Most of the time it will be just me.

Would the tube diameter make much difference?
Weight is one of those things, i will just have to get on with it and i will only be lanching from herne bay slip.
Fabrics? 1100 vs 1670 much difference in the long term?
Is 9.8hp enough? 6hp is out of the equation as im sure it will not be enough go, even for me alone in a 3.9sib



Any help would be much appreciated

If you were looking for a fresh outfit what would you buy with £2900?

[ChrisParish]

Hi SibFish.

The excels are good boats and well built.
Personally I wouldn’t buy the Volante as it has an air floor with a sausage keel - a combination widely felt to be the worst of all worlds when it comes to performance and sea keeping.
The Volaire is a good boat; I’ve helmed the 390 and it was a good, although brief, experience.

The massive difference between the Volaire and the Volante is the floor. The Volaire has a low pressure - high volume floor whereas the Volante has a high pressure - low volume floor.
Essentially this means the the floor on the Volaire is much thicker and forms the V for the keel using the internal shaping of the void within the floor, whereas the Volante uses a thin high pressure “deck” and then an inflatable sausage to form the keel.
The low pressure - high volume floor gives a really good ride and is quite forgiving of choppy conditions.

9.9 is a touch on the low power side, but on your own it will get up and go just fine and with all three of you in you should be ok to get on the plane on calm days if you keep it light.

What has turned you off from the T38? For the money you will be very hard pushed to beat it for performance, sea keeping and comfort.

[Sibfish]

Hi ChrisParish

I havnt been put off by the honwave im just looking at all of the options before i buy. I started looking around at the other choices and i quite like the look of the Excel range im still thinking about which one to get. I keep talking myself towards one then the other as the honwave has weight on its side also its a honda, plus the 9.8 wouldn't struggle as much with it. The excel is deeper wider (only a bit). I am going to have a look at a Honwave t38 today if i like the look and feel i might just buy it. I like to see/poke/feel things before i buy.

[Martin]

The Excels are superbly built boats and they’ll last for years, I’m a little undecided about the V hull variety and would love to helm one before I pass comment any further.
The Honwave T38ie is in my opinion the best bang for buck in all aspects, although the warranty is significantly lower than the excel, they’ve proven to stand and last for donkeys years.
I have a Frib 375 and love it, if it got nicked and couldn’t buy another one (For whatever reason) I’d go straight for the tried and tested T38ie any day of the week.
Yes they’ve had floor alignment and general finish quality issues - But find a good one (most seem to be Much better these days) And you’ll have a superb sib !

I’m with Chris on his views of the air mat and hard floor sibs, they have their place dependant on what you want the sib for, but overall I still think the T38ie is king.
Match that with a 15/20hp Suzuki outboard and you’ll have a very desirable set up.

Martin

[Sibfish]

Well I placed a deposit! The stock will be in next Wednesday ish and i will collect after work once it arrives. Next is the engine i spoke to Whitstable marine today and they said the 9.8 4 poke should be fine with just me and ok with the family aboard. If i can find a second hand 15hp 4 stroke local then i will go for it but if i cant then i will go for a new tohatsu 9.8 4 stroke. The guys down at Whitstable marine are really nice they didnt try and push anything on you like some and didnt mind spending some time explaining a few things, 5 stars there!

[Oldman]

Well done on pulling the trigger Sibfish, no doubt we will bump into each other off Herne Bay at some time in the future.

[Sibfish]

Hi Oldman,

I hope so would be nice to talk to someone that knows what to do, i would like to meet up with someone who knows the ropes and go out for a days fishing or just boating. i have ordered a PLB from Ocean signals and i am in the process of selecting some safety gear for myself and the missus any recommendations? im not going with the auto inflate versions as i just want it to work regardless of the situation and if it gets sprayed and goes off then its time to go home, Im a safety first kind of person then fun. When it comes to the sea i will not take any risks.

[ChrisParish]

Personally I like the Crewsaver Sport 165 life jackets - they are comfortable and not expensive to recharge if you have to use them. I have the manual ones because I am guaranteed to slip on the slipway and wind up on my ass and I don’t want the life jacket going off and adding to my embarrassment.

You can get lifejackets with Hammar triggers which are automatic but require the life jacket to be immersed in about 10cm of water, so they don’t go off if they just get wet.

[Sibfish]

Its here!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yYCwvwK9ntnm81F2A

The floor looks fine nice and straight.

The only issue i have is the foot pump leaks! so it is impossible to pump it up anywhere near the 0.25bar or 0.80bar. No Matter how the fitting from the pump to the tube is done up it leaks

[ChrisParish]

Treat yourself to an electric pump. A bravo BTP12 or an Itiwit. There is another one which @harrison uses which is also very good.