Nimbus 280

Farmer Piles

Farmer Piles

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May have already asked this, it's an age thing, but looking at boat options and one of which is the 280. Main question: what is a realistic cruising speed and range on one of these. In adverts they are often listed as 18-20kts top end and 16kts cruising speed. Yet when you ask around I am being told expect 12kts. This seems to me to be a lousy speed for an SD hull. Maximum bulldozing of the water with minimum planing involved.
Any knowledge, views and opinions appreciated.
 
Farmer Piles said:
May have already asked this, it's an age thing, but looking at boat options and one of which is the 280. Main question: what is a realistic cruising speed and range on one of these. In adverts they are often listed as 18-20kts top end and 16kts cruising speed. Yet when you ask around I am being told expect 12kts. This seems to me to be a lousy speed for an SD hull. Maximum bulldozing of the water with minimum planing involved.
Any knowledge, views and opinions appreciated.
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We have passed an old one doing 15/16 and planing nice , it used to be owned by farther time aka kawasakie
 
I tried to join the Nimbus owners club in anticipation of owning one and to find out this sort of thing, but to be told I have to own one first. Very hard to find genuine figures on this sort of thing as most of the speeds you find are quoted by brokers and those selling their boats, often optimistic I suspect.
 
Surely 12 knots indicates an underengined mobo ? I have been looking at Nimbus on and off at larger size but don’t think 12 kn would be that attractive surely ? I guess you need to make a few offers and draw some owners into dialogue ?
 
ashtead said:
Surely 12 knots indicates an underengined mobo ? I have been looking at Nimbus on and off at larger size but don’t think 12 kn would be that attractive surely ? I guess you need to make a few offers and draw some owners into dialogue ?
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That was a big part of the reason for wanting to join the owners club. To get some firsthand experience and knowledge from those in the know.
 
I've got a Nimbus 3003 berthed in Weymouth for the Winter. I've got some figures noted down but whether they'll help with a 280, I wouldn't know.
I was a member of the owners club, but not anymore. It's a shame you have to pay to seek purchasing advice, theyre missing a trick there I think.
 
To add to the above, there's a Facebook group for the 3003 which id a wealth of information. It's on Swedish mainly but google translate normally gets you through, but if I ask or answer I do so in English and it's never been a problem
 
ashtead said:
Surely 12 knots indicates an underengined mobo ? I have been looking at Nimbus on and off at larger size but don’t think 12 kn would be that attractive surely ? I guess you need to make a few offers and draw some owners into dialogue ?
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It depends on the boat and hull design. Our Hardy will do 18 knots max and cruise feels about right at around 12 knots - it is a heavy semi-displacement hull so speed is a choice whatever the conditions as it will push through pretty much anything and is a far better seaboat than any of our other boats, perhaps with the exception of our Broom 41. I guess it depends what is important to each owner. To us, now, speed isn’t as important as it might have been previously and other attributes of the boat score higher on the priority scale.
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I liked the Nimbus 280 it was on my shortlist to replace my sports cruiser; but…. A couple of things have sown seeds of doubt recently. It would be interesting to hear other 280 owners’ points of view.
Firstly… how do they handle in a bit of a chop… they seem to be quite light in fact over 30% lighter than a similar sized sports cruiser; admittedly twin engine. Apparently they roll a bit!
Past threads have commented on poorer than expected fuel consumption and with a smallish fuel tank (240l) the range is not good at 2 to 2.25 litres per nautical mile.
Average speeds seem to be around 12 to 16 knots with a cruising speed of 10 to12 knots with the 150 hp.
It is really only a 2 + 1 berth - boat.
 
Hi Farmer Piles, You may have phoned me a few months' ago re an Aquador 25 I was selling. Sold it and been searching ever since. Looked at Nimbus but thought they where a bit dated inside. Expensive too. The fact that the Owners Club want you to part with your hard earned before they will help out says a lot about Nimbus owners imho. The 310 + 320's are quite nice but see above. The 280's are cheaper - but for a reason. My Aquador was 25 ft and had a VP Kad 32 chucking out 170 hp, the 28ft Nimbus has a 150 hp engine..... My Aquador whizzed along with its tongue hanging out at 18 kts+ absolutely loving it, me thinks the Nimbus would be using a lot more fuel and be a lot less comfortable in the same seaway to produce a similar performance. With a clean hull I could exceed 25 kts, which would probably leave the Nimbus rolling in my wake. I'm after a Benny Antares 30 but they are like Rocking Horse poo atm. Best of luck.
 
aquadorman said:
Hi Farmer Piles, You may have phoned me a few months' ago re an Aquador 25 I was selling. Sold it and been searching ever since. Looked at Nimbus but thought they where a bit dated inside. Expensive too. The fact that the Owners Club want you to part with your hard earned before they will help out says a lot about Nimbus owners imho. The 310 + 320's are quite nice but see above. The 280's are cheaper - but for a reason. My Aquador was 25 ft and had a VP Kad 32 chucking out 170 hp, the 28ft Nimbus has a 150 hp engine..... My Aquador whizzed along with its tongue hanging out at 18 kts+ absolutely loving it, me thinks the Nimbus would be using a lot more fuel and be a lot less comfortable in the same seaway to produce a similar performance. With a clean hull I could exceed 25 kts, which would probably leave the Nimbus rolling in my wake. I'm after a Benny Antares 30 but they are like Rocking Horse poo atm. Best of luck.
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Yes I think we did chat a few months back. Falmouth Harbour Master being one of the main topics as I recall.
You are really echoing my sentiments, one of my absolute pet hates is an underpowered anything. As you say, they are a bit dated and pricey but then you can flip that and say that they hold their value. We looked at a late model 310 in Chichester last week but it was the top side of our budget and needed some odds and sods doing to make it as we want so we left it there. We have a nice boat, Yamarin 59HT with a 115 Yamaha. so we are not desperate. as long as its seaworthy,, can cruise at 15kts or so then that will do. The new boat that is
 
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