Seapro Reccomendation ?

[Pete]

I'm some way getting my first inflatable but I'd appreciate some help/advice. I reckon if I set a price of around £1800/£2000 for boat and outboard it'll give me a realistic figure to aim for or save for! I don't know too many makes, I'm familiar with Humber from my scuba diving days but their inflatables are well out of reach.
I've noticed Honwave and Seapro inflatables being used for sea fishing in a few you tube videos, and after a google search I was happy to find that Seapro are supplied by Bill Higman Marine which is less than half an hour away. They do a Seapro 340 airdeck for £749.00 and a Tohatsu 6.0 HP outboard for £896.00, so £1645.00. I priced another outfit, a Seapro 380HD with a Mariner 9.9 HP outboard £2571, but at nearly a grand more, that money could be spent on all the other equipment I'll need.

So what do you lads and lasses reckon? Am I on the right tracks with the 340 airdeck and 6 HP and or would you recommend an alternative within my price

[Paul B]

Cannot advise on the sea pro boats, but I would say a 6hp engine on a 3.4metre boat might be a little underpowered if you are planning on sea fishing, you need to have enough power to cope with running tides etc, it will push it along ok , but IMO. I would prefer more power

I run a Honwave 3.2ie with a Suzuki 15 hp which has power to spare, the boat has been superb and is a really capable little bit of kit, I had a run out a few weeks ago with another forum member (Martin) in some pretty rough weather, and was amazed at how it handled it, not quite as good as Martins 3.8 Honwave, but it was really good fun, for me the Honwave is one of the best Sibs on the market, other might not agree,

[Pete]

I did think 6 HP would be a little under powered, especially running against a tide, but thought it would be OK if I didn't venture too far out.
I looked at a few Honwave packages on the yachtshop.co.uk site, I did drool a bit over the T40
Do you have an alloy floor Paul, or an inflatable one? And was there a specific reason for your choice?

[Pete]

I spoke to the dealer you mention some years ago whilst trying to find the right boat for my needs. I can't comment on the boat as I didn't get near enough to see them. Probably just me, but something just wasn't right when I spoke on the phone and it put me right off.
The chap at excel was completely different, and Matt-d on here has one, he seems happy enough with it.'

As Paul says (above) ..the honwaves are too class for the brass and certainly capable and sturdy.
The 3.8 is deffo a different boat to the 3.2, but even at that, the 3.2 certainly handles itself well.
You can see the difference here in size

3.2ie getting a piggy back from big bro

Honwave sibs 3.8ie & 3.2ie

The aluminium floor honwaves are available also, a little heavier and a bit more time consuming to get on the water in comparison to the high pressure "V floor" honwaves.

Another dealer fairly local to you "Pennine Marine" is a superb retailer. I bought my outboard from him,I can hand on heart say when he gives his word, it's set in stone!

Some of the other chaps will give you heads up on their choice of sib and outboard, but for me the best bang for buck is a Honwave and the Suzuki 9.9 & 15hp

Keep your eye out for used set ups, plenty kicking about.
You'll pick up a second hand decent one with an outboard/poss trailer and extra's for around £1500 to £2k

If you can stretch to the f-rib price, don't hesitate... They really are something completely different to the sibs but similar storage requirements.
They also need a lesser HP outboard due to the hard slippery hull.

There is no perfect sib, but you can certainly find one that suits your needs. Try to stick to the well known brands that have the "tried and tested" about them. Find one that's fits your budget and needs, not just your budget..

Regards,
Martin

[mattswan2512]

Just my 2pence worth as all the others have written comprehensive info but 6hp is just too low really for the size sib you are looking for.... 9.9 as a minimum really as 6 will struggle to plain and struggle against a spring tide etc and on the open sea although it will get you about, just not too confidently unless running with the tide. My friends had a honwave 3.2 with a 2 stroke 5hp and it was.....okay but struggled and against a 6 knot running spring tide and force 4 head on winds it almost sat still. Hit 11 knots top end perfect sea and no winds.

So to sum up that will be fine for lochs, lazy rivers and estuary mouths but the open sea......stay safe and spend a few hundred more.

[Paul B]

I did think 6 HP would be a little under powered, especially running against a tide, but thought it would be OK if I didn't venture too far out.
I looked at a few Honwave packages on the yachtshop.co.uk site, I did drool a bit over the T40
Do you have an alloy floor Paul, or an inflatable one? And was there a specific reason for your choice?

Hi Pete , I didn't choose my boat, it chose me it was my Dads setup, and I was that impressed I bought it of him when he'd decided to pack the boating in,
It's a air floor, but it spends its life on a trailer, the reason why my dad got the air floor was for ease and speed of setup when he went away in his caravan,

The hard floor boats are really great if you plan on trailering them all the time, especially when fishing etc, but are a right pain to set up if you plan on putting it away in the boot of your car each time you use it, plus the extra weight and bulk of the floor to store,

Imo the air floor or f-rib is the way to go if you are packing them up each trip, For comparison on cost. You can get a brand new Honwave 3.8ie ( air floor) for just over 1k new and the 4.0 ally floor for just under 1k, so it's not a million miles of the seapro in cost, but you are getting a really good boat for the money,

As for the engine, I would increase your budget and get something more powerful, 9.9 or higher, there's always lots of second hand engines about

[Pete]

I really appreciate the sound advice gentlemen and it all makes sense, no point taking chances and spoiling the fun for the sake of a couple of hundred pounds
I shall save a bit harder and longer ! I'm quite taken with the idea of a T38 now, although those F-Ribs get the pulse going a bit, but there has to be a limit, sadly!

Thank you for putting the images up Martin, much appreciated. Is the Suzuki better value for money compared against buying a Honda or other makes?

[Martin]

You'd have to check new prices, but for the weight/fuel economy and performance all rounder, it's a Suzuki for me
The Honda is the ultimate for reliability, but a bit boring lol...
Lots rant how good the yams are, but then look how many are broken.
The twatso (Tohatsu) are a cracking lump, and if you can find a two stroke 18hp.. Well I'll buy it off ya lol
The Mariners and Mercury pretty much the same thing, although there appears to be a few guys having floor defamation /over transom splash problems with the Mariners. Possibly down to the cavitation plate or leg width.

Hope that helps a little.
For specific advice on any, just ask

[Pete]

Thanks again Martin I know very little about engines so all the information is well received. I take it you are talking about a 4 stroke Susuki

[Martin]

Thanks again Martin I know very little about engines so all the information is well received. I take it you are talking about a 4 stroke Susuki

Yeh, but I have both a 2 stroke and a four stroke.
The two strokes are lighter and usually a little quicker off the mark than a four stroke.


2 strokes generally require a fuel mix unless it has the auto feed. Many remove the autofeed due to failure.
A 2stroke generally doesn't tick over too well for very long and they're rather noisy too compared to the four strokes. My 1978 9hp Suzuki sounds like a bloody spitfire lol...

The efi 4 stroke Suzuki 9.9 to 20hp come in around 42-44kg without the power tilt or starter. Obviously adding those increases the weight dramatically.

Honwave SIB with a Suzuki DF15 fitted with a stainless prop and stingray junior hydrofoil

Most of the other brands of 9hp-20hp four strokes come in around the 48-54kg zone. Again, you can save money with the Chinese copy's but at your peril.