Any one in Mallorca selling a Williams rib? (or want a Walker Bay tender)

[PEJ]

I am looking to buy a Williams rib and the mother ship is based in Cala D'Or. I thought I would just put it out there on the off chance that any of our Mallorca based brethren have one they want to sell or know someone that does.

I will need to move on the Walker Bay tender that I have as well, so if anyone is interested in that let me know.

 

[rlw]

Will send you a PM. Might have one for sale in the next few weeks.

 

[jrudge]

Possibly in a few weeks I will have a 325 for sale

 

[Eren]

I am looking to buy a Williams rib and the mother ship is based in Cala D'Or. I thought I would just put it out there on the off chance that any of our Mallorca based brethren have one they want to sell or know someone that does.

I will need to move on the Walker Bay tender that I have as well, so if anyone is interested in that let me know.

Just out of curiosity, what is your motive in changing from Walker Bay to Williams (or from outboard to jet)? Cause I am just about to do the opposite...

 

[MapisM]

I would dare envisaging that the only possible reason why someone can consider replacing an o/b rib with a jetrib is that he/she hasn't owned one yet!
Though I must say that they are indeed fun, till they last...

 

[PEJ]

Possibly in a few weeks I will have a 325 for sale

Thanks J. Can you email me some more details? PM me I if you have lost my email address.

 

[PEJ]

Just out of curiosity, what is your motive in changing from Walker Bay to Williams (or from outboard to jet)? Cause I am just about to do the opposite...

Towing power. I love the Walker Bay as a tender and a play thing when on your own but it hasn't got the power to tow our Jobe seat and when a friend towed it with his Williams, one white knuckle ride later, the kids convinced me I should get one!

 

[jrudge]

Thanks J. Can you email me some more details? PM me I if you have lost my email address.

Mail sent

 

[Eren]

Towing power. I love the Walker Bay as a tender and a play thing when on your own but it hasn't got the power to tow our Jobe seat and when a friend towed it with his Williams, one white knuckle ride later, the kids convinced me I should get one!

Reasonable. Another good point is that it doesn't have a propeller, so that kids can swim around safely.

Major minuses:
- Wet ride at seas above 30-40 cm waves. Above 50 cm, almost not possible to ride without getting soaked down.
- You always have to flush it with fresh water. Even though you take care of it very carefully, the manifold will break one day and the bill will be around EUR 4.000-5.000. I took care of it very well and mine lasted 6 years. "Every 2 years" is a common term within not well maintaining users.
- Fragile electric/electronic systems.
- Jet intake sucks any line less than 18 mm thick. If your mooring lines are thinner, I recommend you to change them.

Otherwise, it is cool, fast, powerful, safe. All in all I used one for 6 years, and using another one now. Just be careful when buying second hand. There are many around with chronic problems. You should find one which is without problems.

 

[PEJ]

. Even though you take care of it very carefully, the manifold will break one day and the bill will be around EUR 4.000-5.000. I took care of it very well and mine lasted 6 years. "Every 2 years" is a common term within not well maintaining users.
- Fragile electric/electronic systems.
- Jet intake sucks any line less than 18 mm thick. If your mooring lines are thinner, I recommend you to change them.

Just be careful when buying second hand. There are many around with chronic problems. You should find one which is without problems.

Interesting. Thanks Eren.

How can you tell if a used one has problems? What would you look out for?

 

[PalmaTarga]

This facebook page can be a good resource https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondhandboatsmallorca/

There's a newly serviced 325 on there dated march 3rd

Good luck

 

[Eren]

Interesting. Thanks Eren.

How can you tell if a used one has problems? What would you look out for?

- The biggest issue is with the thickness of the manifold. Unfortunately there is no quick way to check for it. You can ask for service background and see if this was changed. If unchanged for more than 3 years of use, it means that it is close to the end of life.

- Make a test drive and see if the boat reaches to max speed (which is around 40 knots).

- Another weak side of the boat is the main wiring loom. It somehow gets corroded and then the engine gives silly and different errors until you give up and pay for a new wiring (another 2000 euros). Again, it is difficult to check for this. Best advise would be to trying to learn the boat history, with as much proofs possible.

I repeat, it is a cool boat and catches looks. But be prepared to maintain it good and to have an additional budget for it, which was not needed for Walker Bay.

 

[jrudge]

- The biggest issue is with the thickness of the manifold. Unfortunately there is no quick way to check for it. You can ask for service background and see if this was changed. If unchanged for more than 3 years of use, it means that it is close to the end of life.

- Make a test drive and see if the boat reaches to max speed (which is around 40 knots).

- Another weak side of the boat is the main wiring loom. It somehow gets corroded and then the engine gives silly and different errors until you give up and pay for a new wiring (another 2000 euros). Again, it is difficult to check for this. Best advise would be to trying to learn the boat history, with as much proofs possible.

I repeat, it is a cool boat and catches looks. But be prepared to maintain it good and to have an additional budget for it, which was not needed for Walker Bay.

Interesting. I have never heard of a manifold issue. I would be surprised if they went in anything like 3 years as they spend 99% of the time out of the water! Having said that i have never heard of one going at all.

Agree it should go like s*** off a shovel.

Re wiring, again never heard of this. The standard service includes dumping half a tin of WD40 over the electrics to keep them dry. This would be the same in any small craft where the elections could get wet / damp.

Alot of people knock williams ( Eren post was not ) which having owned them for 5 or so years I dont really understand.

Yes if you run over a rope it will be swallowed by the jet drive.

Yes if you run it so shallow as to pull sand through it it wont help matters

The main thing to me is that the engines are VERY powerful for their size and hence stressed. My 2014 one had 2 engines under warranty ( dropped valve twice) but again I have not heard anyone else have that issue. I drive mine enthusiastically but seek not to push it to the las RPM ( but I do the same with the mother ship and my car so maybe its just me!)

Williams parts are very reasonably priced and available the next day. Tubes - E1000. Cheap in my view. All other parts are "normal" prices even those that could only really come from Williams.

The big thing for me is an inboard, and no prop to get the kids. They are a lot of fun.

20mph is a nice speed in most sea conditions. If it is at all rough they are no good at all and you will get a bouncy and wet ride, and I have no doubt that other ribs with outboards could well have better sea keeping, but i doubt their accelerate from a standstill in quite the same way!

 

[Eren]

The mechanical part of the engine (pistons, cylinders, armes, etc) never break at this Weber. You can push as much as you want, don't worry.

Crazy performance + no props + tidy and classy boat at your platform = That is why this boat sells.

As always it is all about what you give and take. These are also the reasons why I use Williams but, I am nowadays a bit upset that I cannot get to the restaurant at night without getting wet, if the sea conditions are just a bit nasty. All the other minuses, I can accept.