Them Avons again

[Petercatterall]

Further to my previous post on Red starts, crests and shanks.
Thanks to your help, I thought that I had it sussed.. my tender was 2.8m long and therefore a Redcrest. Unfortunatly I just found the orginal bag and it is stencilled Redseal!! Any knowledge of this?? I guess that I will order a bracket for a red crest unless I hear to the contrary......What about engines? I know that there is a lot of debate, I guess that I need between 2 and 4 hp but what is the power/weight/fuel/cost trade off trade off, any lemons about??
Your advice will, as ever be greatly appreciated.


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[graham]

The redcrest is about 9 foot long.Im sure the redseal was bigger.

Tohatsu outboards seem to have a good name.Someone told me they use the same engine as Mariner and Mercury but are cheaper.

I have had 3 Yamaha outboards they all have done a lot of work with minimum problems. A bit dearer than other makes but high quality.

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[jerryat]

Hi Peter,

I agree with Graham. I prefer the Yamaha's of the small engines currently available (two-stroke that is) because, amongst other things, the paint process is reputedly much better. I got this info from an outboard repair guy many moons ago, and certainly my current 2hp hasn't a sign of corrosion on it despite being 7 years old and used for full time cruising. Tohatsu make the engines/blocks for a lot of the others, Mercury, Mariner, Yamaha etc etc, so if you did go this route most of the spares are interchangeable.

Like Graham, I too believe to Redseal was larger than the Redcrest. I think it went, Redstart, Redcrest (like mine) Redseal, in increasing order of size. But I
may be wrong!

Good sailing!




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[paulrossall]

From my Avon Owner's Manual I can confirm the following information.

REDSTART 8ft x 4ft 2/3persons max engine 3hp metric 2.45mx1.22m

REDCREST 9ft x 4ft 4inch 4/5 persons max.eng.4hp metric 2.75mx1.32m

REDSEAL 10ft x 4ft 8inch 5/6persons max.eng.4hp metric 3.06mx1.42m

REDSHANK 12ft x 4ft 10inch 6/7 persons max.eng.6hpmetric 3.66mx1.47m

Yours is a REDCREST if it is about 2.8m long. They handle much better with a wooden floor which is easy to make. The manual states "these craft are not designed to be speed boats but a light outboard of up to 3hp will, for instance, drive the REDSTART along happily at 5 or 6 knots. If floor-boards are used, these speeds can be exceeded."
Hope this is useful.
Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[Petercatterall]

Thanks guys for the info and especially for Pauls definative low down. Also the info that the redseal needs the same bracket as the red crest. Id better order this while the info is still in the brain. I guess that I should go for an engine at the higher end of the recommended range ie a 4hp short reach.
Thanks again

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[Goldie]

Hi Paul,

I had a Redseal years ago (30+!), but seem to remember that where as the Redcrest and Redstart have loops for fitting a rigid seat at the aft end only, the Redseal has them forward as well. If I'm correct - and I think I am, it's only a Redseal if it has those forward loops.



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[snowleopard]

too much!

i have a soft avon (the 10ft with 2 seats - don't know what it's called) i used a mariner 3.3 and couldn't go above half throttle because the engine just twisted the tube and the prop went right underneath. a waste of time using the much heavier 4hp as you won't be able to use it. incidentally the 3.3 at half throttle was enough to push us along with 7 aboard!

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[BrendanChandler]

Avon Bracket

I took my very old and sick bracket to a little man in a shed who made me a duplicate from Stainless at a very cheap price. Sorry that I cannot remember the price.

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http://hometown.aol.co.uk/brendanchandler/index.html

 

[Petercatterall]

Re: too much!

Seven aboard sounds fun! I guess then that even 2.5 would be enough?
Thanks...all good stuff

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[snowleopard]

Re: too much!

certainly cosy and not a few wet bums but it was flat water and it got us ashore in one trip instead of 2 in the more modern zodiac!

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[StephenW]

Hi Paul
Any idea how thick the ply flooring should be? Presumably this needs to be marine ply? Is it one pice or many section?

I have a Redseal and am thinking of either fitting a floor or selling

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[penfold]

the standard Avon floor in ours appears to be made of half inch ply.

cheers,
David

<hr width=100% size=1>What we are dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law....

 

[paulrossall]

Hi Stephen
I have only just got home and read your posting. I will measure the thickness later on (during Friday morning) and post the answer. I bought a proper Avon floor at a boat jumble which was for a Redshank and is 12ft long and 4ft 10ins wide with the idea of cutting it down for my Redstart. The floor looks like new and is well varnished and I could not bring myself to cut it up and I made a floor myself. The floor you want for your Redseal is 10ft long and 4ft 8ins wide which is much nearer the size of the floor I bought. I paid £40 for it and if you are interested you can have it for that provided you arrange carrage. I am at Newark and boat is near Ipswich. If you are interested send me a pm with a phone number. I will post the thickness of both floors shortly. Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[paulrossall]

The flloring on a 12ft Avon are 3/8inch. Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[StephenW]

Thanks for info and PM Paul
Stephen

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[Petercatterall]

Stephan,
I had an inflatable floor made for my Redseal (as I am now convinced that is what it is!)
It was made by Eurocraft from Leyland near Preston. Very good and only £100.
I am now told (after the event of course) that a wooden floor motors better but am still happy with it.

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[petermoo]

Hi there, just joined, did you find a redseal mount? If so where? how much
Cheers

 

[john_morris_uk]

Regarding outboards, if you are not going to get the boat on the plane, why go any bigger/heavier/expensive than you have to? We have a 2hp and a 3.3hp and either is adequate for any of the tenders we have used them on. Either pushes you along at a fair lick. When lifting them on and off the bracket on the pushpit, they still seem heavy and difficult enough at times. If you get a bigger o/b you will end up having to get a mini crane/hoist thing to get it onto the dinghy...

By the way, if the outboard pushes its prop under the boat I would wonder if I'd pumped the Avon up hard enough! A pet hate of mine is 'soft' inflatables - they should be reasonably taught when pumped up...