American trailerable sport fishers

[Nick_H]

However, I was quite taken with these http://www.shearwaterribs.com/gallerydetail-58.php All the fun and seakeeping of a RIB but with a cabin and a spray hood over the helm.

Yep, there are a handful of <8m RIBS with toilets now - Shearwater, BRIG 780, Stingher 800 GT and Capelli 770, plus some with full cabin, and I haven't ruled out one of them, but they don't have full windshields, so its a difficult sell with SWMBO.

 

[MapisM]

What am I missing?

The only thing I can think of is that they are really poor slalom waterski boats (too much wake), just in case you're interested.

 

[2hullsonemarinaberth]

Could try something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jeanneau-...ower_Boats&hash=item3f2c135e8d#ht_1414wt_1255

 

[landlockedpirate]

Nautorius had one a few years ago that I used fairly regularly. He only had the 5.8m version with a 90hp etec, as you point out, it really needed a loo to make it a true day boat.

We used it in the UK for season before he took it to the Med, it had a 2 person console, you could just get 2 people behind it, other seating was the front U shape/sunpad and a triple back seat. I really like this type of boat and I am currently looking for something in the 6m range (with toilet) to use as a day boat as well, but they are really cold to use in the UK. However the good freeboard and self draining cockpit combined with a decent V hull made it feel a safe boat.

The back seat was freezing on all but the nicest UK days and the bow seating was cold and wet. I think part of the problem was our lack of proper clothing, you really need to dress like you would for a rib trip rather than a day trip on a cruiser. If he had kept in the UK for another season he was going to have a variety of spray dodgers made to try and reduce the spray and wind. We did find it really versatile and used it all over from a Saturday trip down the Thames to a very very wet and cold night in Fowey watching the Red Arrows.

In the med its a totally different boat, still needs a loo but does everything else really well, getting a bucket of clear warm med water in the mush on a 30 degree day isnt really a problem.

I think your issue will be the maximum size you can tow, which I would guess will be about 6m, you really need to go to the 7-8m range to get some proper protection for helm and passengers.

 

[rustybarge]

A wild card: http://www.findafishingboat.com/cheetah/DB57490

View attachment 37628

 

[MapisM]

I think your issue will be the maximum size you can tow, which I would guess will be about 6m

I don't think there's a length limit, or if there is it's much higher, anyway.
Fwiw, when I towed my old lake boat from the UK to IT with a Ford F150, her previous owner seemed pretty confident to be legal, at least within the UK.
And I'm talking of a 8.23 x 2.54 meters boat, weighing 2,350 kgs plus 650 of trailer....

 

[Pinnacle]

I don't think there's a length limit, or if there is it's much higher, anyway.
Fwiw, when I towed my old lake boat from the UK to IT with a Ford F150, her previous owner seemed pretty confident to be legal, at least within the UK.And I'm talking of a 8.23 x 2.54 meters boat, weighing 2,350 kgs plus 650 of trailer....

MapisM.......have you heard of Mandy Rice-Davies?

 

[cstewart37]

How's about a Wraparound ex-demo RIB with 300 ponies should be good for 45kn

 

[MapisM]

MapisM.......have you heard of Mandy Rice-Davies?

LOL, I see what you mean, but during that trip it was the previous owner who was driving (all the way from S'hampton to Dover in the UK alone, so not exactly round the corner). And the boat was not yet paid.
I guess he wouldn't have wanted to take a big risk.... But what do I know?

 

[Portofino]

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r27/landlockedpirate/CIMG0034.jpg[/IMG]

It's that hot you pee when you swim in the warm water -loo not an issue here

 

[Pinnacle]

Take a look here http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/dimensions.aspx

Length was prob ok ( allowing for overhang at the rear ), but poss too wide? Anyway, its all a bit academic now!

 

[landlockedpirate]

I don't think there's a length limit, or if there is it's much higher, anyway.
Fwiw, when I towed my old lake boat from the UK to IT with a Ford F150, her previous owner seemed pretty confident to be legal, at least within the UK.
And I'm talking of a 8.23 x 2.54 meters boat, weighing 2,350 kgs plus 650 of trailer....

Sorry, I didnt make that very clear. The max 6m estimate was based on the max towing weight of the XC90. I tow a 9m boat and trailer combo quite happily and legally.

 

[wakeup]

Gutless Four Strokes - Sessa Key Largo

I don't think you're missing anything - sounds a great plan

The thing I would say, having been brought up on beautiful Merc 2-strokes, is that these 4 stroke outboards are a bit gutless. There is no power until say 4000rpm. That Yam 70 on my tender looks like it will make the whole rig fly, and it does if the boat is light and you get to 4000rpm, but not otherwise. Even that 300hp Yammie on the MRC/JFM Rib in Antibes, which looks a complete monster of an engine, isn't exactly quick pushing that RIB. So I'd urge you very strongly to get the most massive FO outboard(s) as you possible can on the back

I have to agree with JFM re gutless 4 stroke outboards. I chartered a Sessa Key largo 28 with twin 250hp Suzis on a recent trip to SoF and I was really looking forward to Miami Vice type acceleration. The boat didn't really shift until throttles were 3/4 open. It was surprising to me and more than a little disappointing indeed. See pic below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snoxy/11195323545/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snoxy/11195329526/

 

[MapisM]

poss too wide?

Nope, with a max beam of m 2.54, she was just within the 2.55 max width limit.
I recall that one, because it's the same as in IT and FR.
Anyway yes, not that it really matters anymore...

@ landlockedpirate: aha, understood.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I have to agree with JFM re gutless 4 stroke outboards. I chartered a Sessa Key largo 28 with twin 250hp Suzis on a recent trip to SoF and I was really looking forward to Miami Vice type acceleration. The boat didn't really shift until throttles were 3/4 open. It was surprising to me and more than a little disappointing indeed. See pic below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snoxy/11195323545/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snoxy/11195329526/

I've seen that boat before ... is that in the corner in Golfe-Juan? Was that the actual boat you chartered?

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[wakeup]

Yes, actual boat from Winner in La Napoule.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Yes, actual boat from Winner in La Napoule.

Nice. I was there exactly a year ago with EME and his swmbo, and I noticed it then. I do like those Key Largo's, perfect med day boat.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[wakeup]

Yes it certainly looked the part though it didn't drive well. I tried trim tabs and drive tilt but it stayed very flat, too flat in fact so I think the hull design isn't quite right.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Yes it certainly looked the part though it didn't drive well. I tried trim tabs and drive tilt but it stayed very flat, too flat in fact so I think the hull design isn't quite right.

Blimey, how disappointing. Oh well. It's the SoF after all - looks are everything!

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[longjohnsilver]

You're not wrong about RIBS. I owned a Revenger 27 in the UK a couple of years ago and in the end none of my family wanted to go in it because of the lack of facilities. However, I was quite taken with these http://www.shearwaterribs.com/gallerydetail-58.php All the fun and seakeeping of a RIB but with a cabin and a spray hood over the helm. I also looked at Grady-White and I thought they were pretty good although I think the importer has disappeared from the UK now but IMHO, the best are still Boston Whalers although they're very pricey

I've had 2 Boston Whalers and they are superb, although I can't say they're the best as I've not had anything similar to compare them with. If I was buying that type of boat again, the BW would be right at the top of my list. And I'd be looking for an Evenrude Etec to put on the back, best 2 stroke engine available, all IMHO.