Hardy 20 Family Pilot

longjohnsilver

longjohnsilver

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Someone I know may be buying this boat.

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Question is, with a 50hp Honda 4 stroke, any thoughts as to what cruising speed he's likely to get and what fuel consumption at that speed?
 
LJS, I recall seeing a post that maybe useful?, and just found it..

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194810&highlight=hardy+pilot&page=2

This may help? Obviously a bigger engine. The one thing I would say is these Hardy Pilots are best with a 75hp engine, with a 50hp they will struggle to get on the plane. However that may not be an issue if your friend only wants to fish or potter around, I would suggest WOT this will struggle to get over 14knots and at that speed will be burning quite a bit of fuel, she will be far happier at 6/7 knots and then at a guess probably be using around 6lph. Hopefully others with actual experience of these fine little boats will be along shortly.

Do suggest you friend joins the Hardy Owners club, more info will be available there..

http://www.hardy-owner.org.uk/
 
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Thanks, was trying to relate how a 50hp would push a smaller RIB which I have experience of, and reached much the same conclusion as you. I think even 14 kts might be over optimistic, suspect more like 10 - 12 max. I'd expect about 4 lts per hour at 5 - 6 kts. It would be much better with a larger engine imo.
 
longjohnsilver said:
Thanks, was trying to relate how a 50hp would push a smaller RIB which I have experience of, and reached much the same conclusion as you. I think even 14 kts might be over optimistic, suspect more like 10 - 12 max. I'd expect about 4 lts per hour at 5 - 6 kts. It would be much better with a larger engine imo.
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I know a couple of the chaps at MDL Mercury have Hardy Pilots & really love them. I know one of them has a 75hp Honda engine, not sure about the other. But IMO these are not really built for speed. I would have thought the hull could take a 90hp...? Certainly my old MF625 could, that was rated upto 115hp..but I think the Hardy is only rated to 75hp max.
 
Very unlikely to get on the plane if you are on board, ljs:)
 
Hardy Pilot owner here... (you knew one would come along if you waited long enough!).
I'd add my support to 75Hp. Mine has the ubiquitous 2-stroke Mariner 75, which is lighter than later 4-strokes. It had hydrofoil fins fitted when I bought it, so I've never used it without, but with 2 on board, she gets up on the plane very quickly (good 'holeshot', I think our transatlantic cousins would say), and she's still quick 4-up. I've had 23kts+ wide open, but she seems happiest at 7-8 kts, or around 20kts. I've got to grips with the fuel consumption now that I've fitted a NMEA2k fuel flowmeter - I'm getting 2.2nmpg at 20 kts, or 1.8nmpg at 7kts (excuse the units!). So, best range is on the plane. She cruises bow high, so I'm fitting trim tabs this winter, and will try with and without the fins to see what difference it makes. I have 40m of anchor chain in the bow, plus a bag of sand which I hope I can get rid of. I don't know why the manufacturer's limit is 75hp, given that she is so solidly built. I'll endorse the Hardy Owners' Club - the Forum has lots of useful stuff.
Great little boats, though - they look a bit old fashioned, but the sprint capability has surprised a few ....:D
 
I'd say so, but, as Firefly625 rightly observes, it all depends what he wants to do with it. I've seen them advertised with 15hp, which would be fine and relatively cheap for pottering around. 50 is neither one thing nor the other really - a bit much for pottering, but not quite enough for seagoing coastal stuff. That said, it wouldn't be a deal-breaker for river/estuary fun.
 
Shifted a few over the years
With 2 or 3 on board and vitals etc displacement speeds only unless a minimum of 40 horses
75 Hondas push them along quite nicely
Best was one fitted with a 90 e tech
Over the top if I remember ref maximum rating (not too sure about that btw) but it went well
Yes they deffo go ok at displacement speeds then whilst planing
In between, they don't really like it imho
 
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