Seapro Reccomendation ?

[Pete]

Pete, following our phone chat yesterday, take a look at page 7 of 'the guppy' post in Frib section and you will see what I was talking about regarding the Frib with a smaller engine, you may well be surprised.

Phil

Hello Phil Really appreciated the call and was sorry I had to leave so early, even had to leave the lads finishing off the new gutters and fascias, still, that's
one job out of the way, next is a new porch, removal of the old fire place and then it's SIB money

I gave a Excel a call for a package price yesterday, incredible difference between a Suzuki and a Vector 9.9 HP. Excel Volante SD 360 with a Suzuki, £2956.00,
Vector package £2368.00. Both prices including a set of Pneumatic Transom Wheels and Bow Canopy. I fully appreciate there is good and bad Chinese manufacturers, plenty of experience in the wholesale trade with goods coming in from China, plus the number of faulty machines I've bought for my workshop. What are peoples thoughts or experience with Vector outboards? I see on the Excel website that one outboard did 600 hours at the Olympics!

I found it interesting that Excel supply a stainless tubular transom frame, could be a handy addition for organising rod holders/fish finders etc. No doubt you
wouldn't want to over do it adding too much weight. Just ideas, obviously I have a lot to learn!

I can't deny I am blown away with the idea of an F-Rib, but as mentioned before price is a major factor, and I know I'm going to have to pull a few tricks to get
one of the above packages, but I have still have plenty of time to decide, sadly!

[philpot]

I can tell you from the conversations I have had with Terry at Excel and a visit to collect a boat that the Vector engine is a Yamaha base engine actually built in the UK by Terry's company so it the same set up as my Parsun, engine from Yam but in this case, finished in China.
You should take into account that if you are buying a new engine, it will be a 4 stroke which in engines around 8 - 20hp will be approx one third heavier than a 2 stroke engine of the same size and following on from our chat, you said you will not be using a trailer so handling the heavier 4 stroke engine is not so easy.
It has to be said however that one of our members, The Gurnard, also known as Donny, has worked out a method to handle his 25hp engine on his own on and off the water (see his story). Average 10-15hp 2 stroke engine is approx 37kg whereas the 4 stroke is approx 55kg, both depending on make. The Suzuki 4 stroke range, whilst more expensive that the vector are also lighter, in fact they are I believe the lightest 4 stroke on the market.
If you can man handle, on your own, the engine in and out of the car, on and off the boat and of course storage, then you will make much greater use of the boat, if it is a pain in the rear, you will use it less because of the hassle involved Pete.

Just to get a better picture of the Chinese aspect regarding the boats. The factory in China that builds the Honwave boats also produce for a number of other big name boats but also some lesser known brands such as Trans-E which are a fraction of the price. I cannot state for sure but my pal looked up the company in China on the internet after checking the maker's name on the makers plate found on the transom and from the photo's on the site, you could just make out in the background the name of Zodiac so we have a quality manufacturer making inflatable boats for varying brands to a given specification, which of course will differ from brand to brand.
Like with all things from China, there is good and very bad but this company really seem to have the inflatable market sown up with a decent range of products. Again I am not sure about this but I think they also produce a copy of the Honwave sold in the UK under a different brand name a little cheaper.

I firmly believe that many of the inflatable boats out there now come from this stable, like the Honwave and possibly the Excel (I have not checked this make) which offer the end user decent value for money with years of life ahead of them.

Have a look at the Excel 330 which will fit your bill quite nicely without going to the larger size 360 and less weight.

Hope that helps a little Pete.

Phil

[Pete]

I'm still not paying enough attention to detail Phil, my bobbin sander weighs in at 35 KG and I know how much I enjoy lifting that! So it's now coming down to a trailered SIB or an F-Rib with a 6 HP as Donny mentioned. With a 3.3 metre SIB is 9.9 HP still the recommended minimum to help get you out of trouble etc?

[philpot]

With the SIB, go for a 10hp at sea, less if you are only close to shore. The Frib design/hull will give much higher performance with the same size engine so it is possible to down a size in engines although a 10hp on the back of the Frib will give superb performance.

Much depends on the sea conditions you are facing. I could go out on my stretch of the Humber with my 2.5hp as it is shallow and calm for most of the time and to be honest, I have no reason to go out that far as the fish come in to feed, 500-800mts is enough really.

Another chat may be in order me thinks.

Phil

[Pete]

Another chat may be in order me thinks.

Phil

Me to Phil, and perhaps one or two Humber cod bashing trips when I'm afloat

[philpot]

I'm sure that can be arranged.

Phil

[Pete]

Well you learn something everyday! Just found out you can't buy a new 2 stroke outboard as they're for commercial use only. is this some EU ruling on 2 stroke engines?

[philpot]

It has been this way for some years now which is why I pointed out that any new engine would be a 4 stroke. There are plenty of GOOD second hand 2 strokes around although some sell quickly and at higher prices that perhaps you would expect, the reason is simple................many people including me do not want a heavy 4 stroke.

When you are ready to buy an engine, let me know and I will check a couple of contacts I have.

Phil

[9-R]

My 20hp 4-stroke weighs 115lbs or 52kg. Couldn't find the weight of the 2-stroke version but the Yamaha 2s equivalent that I found was 108lbs or 49kg.

[philpot]

I think it depends which engine block is being used. Most 15hp 2 strokes are around 37kg whereas a 4 stroke is around 55kg. Some manufacturers may use the same block for 10 and 15hp. Honda for example use the same block for 8, 10, 15 and 20hp if I am not mistaken so their 20hp seems a good weight but the 8hp is heavy in comparison. Forgive me if I have not quite got that just right as it is a while since I had the exact figures/specs to hand. I am sure you can see where I'm coming from though.

Phil