Can anyone advise, speed boat...

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GTM

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First post so hello to everyone.

I've had a Avon 280 Rib and 8hp 2 stroke engine for awile now, and I've desided to sell up and look at buying a solid hull small speed boat. My budjet is 1.5k (or less lol) I don't mind having to do a small amount of work (I'm a car refinisher by trade, so a prep up and respray is no problems) Only requirments are it has to sit 4 at least and be very fast /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've seen alot of Fletcher Arrow Sports for my budjet some with 80hp Mercury engines! Are these boats fast?

If anyone can offer any words of wizedom, I'ed be very grateful.

Cheers!
 
Welcom to the Forum..............

Flying or boating, Sir.........................?

Arrows are pretty quick, as are Glastrons but do keep your little 8hp as a "get you home" engine if you intend coastal use. Also, take orange smokes, phone and wear lifejackets, hand held radio if you can afford it. Let someone know you are going out and where/when expected back.

Someone will be along in a minute with some more hull advice no doubt.
 
Fletcher Arrowsport 155 with an 80 hp engine should do between 40 and 45 mph depending on the prop.

That feels plenty fast enough for your first boat, and the Fletcher has a decent hull.

If you want to go faster than that on your budget you will need something like a Phantom 16 or 18 and at least double the horsepower. I'm not sure of the exact performance but I would guess you should be able to top 50mph or even 60mph with an 18 and 200hp outboard.
 
OK, probably much faster but - with inexperience quicker to kill yourself too, plus.........no trailer! You'd do better with the first I'd say. Your choice in the end tho'. The first would happily plane with 20hp and 4 up so 85hp is over-kill anyway. 115hp is more like a race boat, say "hello" and "see you later" to Jesus brother cos' you'll be on your way!

Seriously, power plus speed plus waves = accidents/flip overs etc, get some experience first please.
 
Mmmm yeh, speed and waves can get slightly manic! I've driven my old mans boat alot, on some crossings over the chanel. Hes got a... Falcon SPC 23.

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Its nowhere near the speed of that Phantom tho, by a long way. I've got my old man to thank for urge to buy a sea going boat.
 
The different names were the model names for most of the 70's, 80's and 90's

They have always had loads of different names, a few from memory:

Arrowsprint about 13ft and Max 50hp (Became 129, 130)
Arrowflyte about 14ft and Max 65hp (Became 140)
Arrowsport about 16ft and Max 85hp (Became 150, 155, 15 etc)
Arrowflash about 17 ft Max 115hp


Rings and Phantoms are basically race boats, Fletchers, Drivers and Pictons are slightly detuned race hulls with smaller engines and better interiors. Shakespears, Super V's, are more leisure orientated (Wider and flatter hulls designed for smaller engines)

Be carefull when looking at these older rigs I have seen a few lately that are massively overpowered, i.e. Fletcher 14 with a 115hp on it.

And lastly as mentioned above think about running costs, a 65hp will run all day on about 10 gallons. A 150-200hp will use 2 or 3 times that much for, what in reallity, is very little extra performance.
 
Try a post on the Boatmad forum as well - most of the people on there own small sportsboats and there's a wealth of expertise if you can get past the various egos and running gags. There's a a brilliant video clips section as well.

I've lost the link but I think it's www.boatmad.com then click on Forums and register.
 
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