1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

[Pack Rat]

Here's the lift table and the OB in it's cradle lowered onto the SIB sitting on top of the dollies. The OB rode in back of truck in cradle lashed down and never moved an inch in 220 miles.

The SIB rolled down the ramp perfect, but I found a couple uneven concrete lips coming up that required me lifting the stern/OB over them. I need bigger wheels.

Off we go for the day sight seeing. The first day had 2 footers but the 2nd day was flat as a pancake as you'll see.

We had to take the buddies girlfriend back to the marina (to shower) due a seagull made a direct hit on her head with poop.

Here's a youtube video of the SIB in action. The 25hp 4 stroke EFI was very quiet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7C1CB_5Tv0

I had no air leak and very little water leakage/splashed in at the end of the weekend.

The only question I have is regarding WOT. During the second hour of engine break in they wanted 1 min of WOT every 5 mins and after about 30 seconds the boat would ALWAYS begin to feel like it was like a little bronco with a left/right sensation and the floor boards would begin creaking loudly. It definitely felt like it could suddenly view left or right quite quickly. I simply backed off to 3/4 throttle and it stopped the effect. Any comments about that? What is it?

 

[Pack Rat]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

Here's two more video. 1st one shows WOT and a Minnesota State Park (Palisade Head) in background. You can see we're moving along nicely. We wave to the tourists. The cliff has quite the view of Lake Superior, and surprsingly no barricades...WATCH LITTLE CHILDREN!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGlNOcsi7V8

2nd video show the "arch" I mention seeing in the 1st video. It was very cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb-HysM5KhM

 

[azzurro]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

Lovely videos and brilliant solutions...congratulations!

 

[jondavies]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

Cool videos! Congratulations on getting the boat set up so nicely.

Those gulls were evil . Perhaps it was nesting season.

How is the motor set up for steering? I see it has a tiller but in the video it appears that it has remote steering. Is it set up for both?

 

[Pack Rat]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

Strictly a tiller. Here's a few more pic's of the area we hit and the video of the seagull poop seconds after it hit. I heard the "plop" and looked over...OH MY!

Note the poop on her nose when video starts!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnYRY7QbsBU

The cave didn't look like much but we were surprised. We actually spun the boat around inside.

 

[ZIZON]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

Congratulation with your successful first trip on new boat. The boat looks great, the lake and landscapes very beautiful. I wish I could be there for boating.

 

[lncoop]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

Wow, can birds see color? Maybe they were zeroing in on that beautiful red hair! Cool videos of some beautiful country. Thanks for sharing. Looks like that little rig will scoot with that 25.

 

[Pack Rat]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

It seemed plenty fast to me, in fact I was hoping someone would comment about it (see beginning of post) and the wide open throttle effect I noticed. After it reached top speed at WOT it seemed to be starting to buck like a little bronco left and right. I defintely felt if it hit a wave just right it would have turned violently left or right.

I don't remember the Zodiac doing that and it was the same size boat with a Mariner 28hp on it.

And again a few more pictures from the weekend. I'm into photography guys so I like to post pics with my posts in case you haven't noticed.

Going to come back and snorkle this wall. It went down 30 feet at least. Lake Superior is cold but very clear as you can see.

Here's the best pic I got of the Pack Rat next to my buddies boat.

 

[JosephBrown.]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

Looks like a nice SIB! + Looks like you had a brilliant time!
Nice pictures.. (their very clear!) and it looks a beautiful place you went to.

I also have a 4 stroke yamyam and their EXTREMILY quite.. no fumes or smoke either, i was very impressed the first time i heard one!

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

If the engine is resting directly on the transom it needs to be raised between 3/4" and 1".

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

Propably you have a 38 cm height middle cut transom and some water splash issues at back, if so, will need to fill middle transom cut to raise it to 40 cm ir order to have a straight transom (raise the engine) to perform as expected at wot.

Happy Boating

 

[Pack Rat]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

Crap...didn't want to hear that. Was hoping it was a minor adjustment on engine. I'm probably going to run the motor at 3/4 throttle most of the time to conserve fuel so I guess I can live with it, I'll research the archives to see how much work is involved.

Put 38 river miles (Mississippi/St Croix) on it yesterday, used about 3.3 gallons of fuel with the Mercury 25hp EFI 4 stroke averaging around 12-14 knots according to the GPS handheld. I did get it up to 18 knots and think if the conditions were flat, no gear, and one person, it could have done 20 knots wide open throttle.

The set up/tear down is fast becoming a pain. I see a trailer in the very near future. VERY NEAR FUTURE!!!!

 

[Hammer66]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

LOL!!!! I too got tired of it and bought a trailer.
Verify your motor height issue first before you start adding un-needed things. Even if you need to shim your motor half an inch I am not sure the benefits outweigh adding more stuff to your boat. Should you require slightly raising your motor I have seen a neat trick posted somewhere else.
http://www.my-inflatable-boat.com/inflatable-boat-motor-mount.html
Cut your spacer to fill in the dropped center transom and secure the spacer to the transom with velcro. It provides enough holding power to keep the spacer aligned while you secure motor. Just make sure your motor clamps are clamped on the transom and not the spacer.
Good luck!

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: 1st launch for my SIB was fantastic...(pictures)

What Hammer 66 recommends is the easiest way to go, definitely you have a 38 height transom, you need to be 40 cm, would recommend to glue the shim once set in middle transom, screw at least 2 large screws to middle side shim and 1 in middle deep enough into transom.

This modification needs to be very strong (just in case, motors are costly) you could raise the interior & exterior plates to be even with horizontal shim height, will have engine clamps at a better height position matching middle metal plate and better engine rest against rear plate. Once engine height is corrected will have better speed once on plane with no water drag against tail that slows down nor transom splash issues whatsoever. Zodiac have 40 cm height built transoms

You have gone through a full engine/sib launge/retrieval experimentation curb to find that a trailer is the best to have in the "very near inmediate " future, a trailer was the way to start and live happily from the very beginning Welcome Experimentation, the mother of all inventions!!

To take the nail out about transom heights and water flow issues, check (4th post down)
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=488425

Happy Boating