Davits & Loads

[Guest]

Re: character witness re Valiant

Well if weight's the concern (and still on the Ron Hale subject as well, by a strange twist of fate), then put on a Yamaha 8hp 2-stroke. I bought one over summer from Ron Hale, and it's the dogs. It is exactly the same weight as the 6hp version at 27kg, and is about 20 kg lighter than any other 6/8hp 2 stroke. Which are all lighter than a 4 stroke. Honestly, for the weight saving, premixing oil has to be worth it, and the noise? Well, that's half the fun.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: character witness re Valiant

I wanted a 4-stroke because I cant be bothered with all that oil mixing lark and I dont get that oily mess that inevitably seems to collect in the bottom of the dinghy. Anyway, I did'nt particularly want to plane and, in any case, I reckoned that you would struggle to get a 3m RIB to plane with a 6/8hp motor and 2/3 people in it so thats why I went for 4hp

 

[Guest]

Re: character witness re Valiant

We have a Quicksilver 2.7m Airdeck, and that planes happily with two adults and two kids. Actually, it goes like a scalded cat, and I've still not finished running in. I mixed one tank of fuel/oil at the petrol station, and I'm still running on it. No mess in the boat at all. Still, the four strokes are quiter and smoother, but they're a hell fo a lot heavier.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: character witness re Valiant

Correct me if I'm wrong but thats an air filled hull and not a GRP one so I'm not surprised it goes like hell!

 

[Guest]

Re: yam 8hp decent

we had one. easy to control. Separate fwd/back and throttle is ghood. Some mercuiser integrated gear/throttles harder to control.

 

[Guest]

Re: character witness re Valiant

Correct. <GRIN>

 

[traceyandsteve]

Re: character witness re Valiant

Our 3.0m Avon with a 15hp Mercury nearly takes off, and it scares the c**p out of me when the other half has it full throttle and well up on the plane.

We only bought it as a compromise because the two little 'uns wanted to learn to ski, so rather than buy a new little tender for the 385 and a speedboat, we thought we'd buy a rib that was good enough for both. The kids love it, and they get up on the ski's no problem. Only problem now is having to buy new davits or have old davits reinforced (jury still open on that one). Wish I'd asked the same question Gludy did before I splashed my dosh!

Tracey