Sports Boat July Preview

EXCLUSIVE DOUBLE TEST

RIB TEST

THE DUEL RACE AND LEISURE BEAST

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THE RACY RANIERI DESIGNED TO BLOW YOUR MIND ON BOARD RANIERI’S VOYAGER 19S

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SIX OF THE B APPLICATIONEST SMARTPHONE S REVIEWED

DO IT YOURSELF SPECIAL: THE PRO’S GUIDE TO PATCHING UP YOUR RIB

JULY 2011

CONTENTS REGULARS

10 16 28

WORD FROM THE WATER

86

RYA

A very deserving man gets an MBE

WORD FROM THE CIRCUIT Severe gales blow a track off course

WORD FROM THE WEB Our talented forumites show you how to beach your boat the safe way

The RYA tells us how to go about a group voyage

ON TEST

38

RANIERI VOYAGER 19S

50

PANTHER DOUBLE TEST

58

This blisteringly beautiful boat packs quite a punch

This 65 knot race boat is also available to buy as a day boat. So we’ve tested it twice.

PIRANHA 5.8 Affordable family fun from Piranha

32 8 I SB&RIB

BEST ACCESSORIES

OUR PICK OF THE LATEST BOATING GADGETS

44

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO P1 SUPERSOCK

P1 HAVE REWRITTEN THE RULEBOOK. IT’S TIME TO GET ON BOARD.

58

PIRANHA 5.8 “EVEN A COMPLETE NOVICE WOULD FIND THE HELMING EXPERIENCE VERY PLEASANT INDEED”

INSIDE

THIS ISSUE

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BOAT

TEST

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T BOA NEW ND BRA

THE UK’S HARDEST HITTING

TESTING FANTAS THE NEW TIC FLYE R

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WAKE SCHOOL

PART

BE THE ONE OF IN CRO OUR ESSE BEST BOA PLUS: ATIA: COULD NTIAL IS ORLAN TING SPO WAKEBO THIS T ON EAR TUTORIA ARDING DO THE TH? L ULTIMA TE WA TERSPO RTS HO LIDAY VEN UE?

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12/05/20

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FEATURES

20

SPORTS BOAT AND RIB SHOW REVIEW

44

THE ULTIMATE P1 GUIDE

64 70

DIY: TEARDROPPING

THE HIGHS, LOWS, THRILLS AND CHILLS FROM THE MOST HANDS ON BOAT SHOW IN THE UK

76

SMARTPHONE SAILING

RANIERI VOYAGER 19S

82

SIX OF THE BEST

96

MASTER OF THE WAKE: THE BASICS PART TWO

20

SPORTS BOAT AND RIB SHOW REVIEW

RANIERI’S NEW VOYAGER, MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE

The highlights from the boating bonanza that is our show

We give you everything you’ll ever need to know about P1 on a silver platter

Why a leaky tube is nothing to cry over

HONDA VISIT Simon Everett takes a trip behind the scenes and tests out some of their new toys

Why your phone could be much more handy than you think

From entire chartplotters to tide table applications, we give you the six best smartphone apps going.

Wakeboard legend Matt Crowhurst

90

38

SESITEC CHALLENGE

THE EDITOR SEES A MAN ABOUT A GAUNTLET

SB&RIB I 9

WORD

FROM THE WATER l JULY 2011

mbe

When asked what his most memorable event from the last forty years was, Paul answered “we were out looking for a father, son and their dog who’d gone out fishing overnight.

Somehow they’d capsized their boat six miles off the coast. After 17 hours we’d all but given up hope, then one of the crew spotted what looked like a dan buoy – but it was actually the father, he’d managed to get some air into his chest waders and stay afloat! The elation we got from finding him after so long was extraordinary, but sadly, he was the only survivor.”

The age limit for working on the water is 60, but Paul is determined to make the most of it. “People have asked me how I keep doing it,” remarked Paul “it’s just the satisfaction of the job”.

The team at Sports Boat would like to pass on our congratulations to Paul for his selfless dedication. An MBE truly deserved. www.rnli.org.uk

Photos: RNLI, Angle and Robin Goodlad

Paul Frost, a man who has been volunteering for the RNLI for fortythree years will receive an MBE later this year. Having retired a couple of years ago from his job at British Telecom, Paul is now a full time RNLI volunteer and has recently qualified as a coxswain, in spite of only having three years left in which he can serve on the water. Despite being on holiday in Malaga, Paul kindly took a little time to talk to SB. “A colleague and I started at 14” [in 1968] started Paul, “we weren’t really meant to start until we were 17, but we were allowed to help out with the shore crew until we were allowed to ‘officially’ join. Health and safety wasn’t like it’s now” he chuckles. Paul worked on inshore lifeboats until 1983, before progressing to offshore boats, working then as second mechanic and then radio operator.

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racing report

BANANASHARK MISSES THE BOAT

Sadly, due to unforeseen (and personally frustrating) circumstances, my new wave thrashing, competitor bashing BananaShark boat wasn’t ready in time. (I hope the other chaps were relieved…) But we look forward to taking part in the next race with our new monster.

THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A MUCH SHORTER COURSE, BUT 100 NAUTICAL MILES IN 30 KNOT WINDS IS A VERY LONG WAY..

OFF SHORE RACES COMING UP: LITTLE HAMPTON AND PLYMOUTH P1 SUPERSTOCK / AQUAX, JULY 16 - 17 HULL P1 SUPERSTOCK / AQUAX, JULY 30 - 31 DEN HELDER HOLLAND GRAND PRIX OF THE SEA, AUGUST 5 – 7 COWES RB12 CLASSIC AND COWES TORQUAY RACE, AUGUST 24 – 28 TORQUAY CLASS III B WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, SEPTEMBER 1 – 4 GUERNSEY OFFSHORE RACE, SEPTEMBER 8 – 11 Above: The winds and the racing were equally fierce

16 I SB&RIB

OFFSHORE GALE GALA

T

he first of the five Marathon class races took place over the last weekend of May. The race course should have seen the drivers plummeting South for Guernsey on the Saturday and racing back for the glory on Sunday, but due to some meteorological setbacks, a quick revision was made and the course took a lap of Eddystone lighthouse off Plymouth instead. This may sound like a much shorter course, but believe me when I say 100 nautical miles in 30 knot winds is a very long way.

EDDIES ON THE WAY TO EDDYSTONE

There may have only been nine entries for this first race of the season, but the class is always growing and I’m confident we’ll be well into the double figures for the next outing to Cowes in August.

In this first race was Vee Gangavian, who brought his fearsome US built full canopy Phantom named Fury. Vee was vying for the lead in the first small lap around Torbay before heading West, his competitor was Dean Gibbs who fought well in his 1400hp Fountain. Crowd pleasing Marcus Hendricks was of

LIFESTYLE I SHOW REVIEW

SPONSORED BY

SHOW REVIEW

2011 The seventh Sports Boat and RIB show has come and gone in a blaze of boating brilliance.

Adrian Porter was there running around like a madman, and barely at the bar at all… honest.

I

n the week prior to the show, the excitement here in SB&RIB HQ was palpable. Exhibitors were continuing to come in, the last spaces were being filled and to boot, the meteorological soothsayer had forecast a marvellous ‘less than iffy’ for the weekend.

So when Neil Holmes, seven times offshore powerboat champion, officially opened the show at 10:30 on Saturday morning, expectations were high. Happily for us, visitors were pouring in, the marina was chock full of boats and people were already throwing manners to the wind as they clambered over each other to get out on Suzuki’s free RIB experience. Yes, we’re biased. But it was a top weekend for mariners and boat-curious fellows to kick a few tyres, gawp at the demonstrations and step aboard the latest boats.

For those unable to make it, here is the highlights of what you missed...

SB&RIB I 21

WWW.SUZUKI-MARINE.CO.UK

PROFILES BAYLINER 180

Bayliner, being one of the most accessible brands on the water has a special place in our hearts. Producing excellent all round craft, they are responsible for bringing more people to the water than most. Here at the show, they had their new 180 on the water, packaged with a 115HP Mercury outboard. The crowds were evidently impressed as not only was there a lot of interest – but dealer Bates Wharf sold three of these boats over the two days.

Price: 21,609 www.bateswharf.co.uk

SEA CHAMPION

Having only ever raised its skirt once to astound the select crowds at the Jersey event, the new Sea Champion was proudly making its UK mainland debut at the SB&RIB show. This new 18’ British boat is being sold by MRL Marine and looks to be a hardy fishing craft, also suited for families, with a good amount of power on the transom. The boat is capable of taking four adults, a 100hp engine and 50 kilos of luggage. The show boat had a Suzuki DF90 on the back and was available with a trailer for £22,500 – though even cheaper deals are available.

Packages from £19,000 www.mrl-uk.com 023 8033 5333

COBALT A25

Now in the trusty hands of Gibbs Marine, Cobalt graced the SB&RIB show with their new A25 bow rider. A thing of loveliness, the new A25 has the high quality styling you’d associate with the American boat; a macho beefy exterior, hand stitched seats and a real wood dash.

It’s the boat a suave version of Jack Bauer would drive, if he weren’t so busy being constantly intense and gruff. Look out for a test of this boat in an upcoming issue of Sports Boat and RIB. From £72,000 www.gibbsmarine.co.uk

HUNTON HYDROMAX

Hydromax are a new name in British waters, having only been around since November of last year. The RIB they had on offer at the SB&RIB show was their 7.5m Sport RIB - a slim, slinky number, that looks like it can cut through chop like a hot cleaver through wet sushi. The boat can take up to 300hp on the transom and is available with a standard spec from £25,836 inc VAT – but without an engine. The show version had a very high spec fit, boasting such luxuries like a Lowrance chartplotter, deck lights, flyby-wire controls, performance propeller and a Mercury 300 Verado, and all for less than £50,000. £49,550 inc VAT (show boat) 02380 982027

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There are not enough words to describe the lavish, sumptuous panache of Blighty’s boat builder Hunton. Called the ‘Aston Martin of the sea’ and quite rightly so, just seeing their boats is enough to force even the most scruffy of boater to don a tux, shake up a martini and perform their best Sean Connery impression. At the show with their XRS 43 and RS 43 Grand Tourers, these boats are capable of speeds of over 60 knots whilst at the same time giving you an under deck space that will make most high class hotels blush. The RS 43 even has both a fore and aft cabin.

Not a bad way to spend half a million pounds.

Price: POA www.hunton.co.uk 01794 515236

NEWS I FORUM

In association with Wakeboard Towers UK

CARDIFF BAY

READERS BOAT OF THE MONTH

RINKER

A couple of pictures from a couple of years ago before adding a windscreen and some other updates.

KWIL

For those of you who like to trail to new grounds Cardiff Bay is worth a visit. There is an excellent slipway at Channel View Leisure Centre at Jim Driscoll Way, which is owned by the City council, where launching and parking cost £11 (including a £5 deposit.

T 15

Going to Cardiff Bay again in August for the classic speedboat rally, think it’s a great location. This year, the main rally event for the public will be on Sunday 14th based around Mermaid Quay.

…and a couple of pictures from a recent trip out showing how the boat has changed over the last couple of years.

Photos courtesy of Wavelength.

CAP’N JACK

Spot the difference eh? Aerial/Radar tower added, windscreen, engine cover, new wet weather gear, chart plotter, GPS… and you’ve lost yer hat. Did I miss one or two?

DRILLING INTO MY BOAT CEM

I need to drill some holes in my beloved boat.

Only screw/bolts in the gunwale to mount some rail star ports for fishing rod holders (unless someone can come up with a suggestion of one which needs no holes drilled anywhere?)

I have drilled my fair share of holes in wood and metal but rarely in GRP - what should I be looking for in terms of pilot hole? Very small? Just makes me nervous when drilling into the boat!

BRIT RIDER

I guess I’m as qualified as most to help on this as I do it most days!

The size of hole will dictate your drilling method: if it’s over 10mm you’ll want to go with a 2mm pilot hole (drilled any which way), and then move to the required size hole saw. Start the hole saw in reverse until you’re through the gel, once you’ve got through that, you can flick to forward and finish the cut.

When drilling GRP always let the drill bit do the work... barely any pressure is required.

If the hole is smaller than 10mm then just go with 2-3 steps of drill size to get you to the final hole diameter. Always drill gel in reverse.

IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT TO MAKE, WE WANT TO HEAR IT – THE BEST PLACE IS OF COURSE THE FORUM (WWW.SPORTSBOAT.CO.UK/FORUM) BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEND THEM STRAIGHT TO THE EDITOR AT ADRIAN@SPORTSBOAT.CO.UK

SB&RIB I 29

NEWS I BOAT ACCESSORIES

TRI A ED TES ND TED

GILL HURAKAN STEAMER If you’re going to go in the water, it’s always nice not to get wet. To that end I recently tested Gill’s new wetsuit, the ‘Hurakan Steamer’ (as ‘modeled’ in the Sesitec Challenge article, page 90).

THEY SAY

The wetsuit is 3/2mm thick and boasts a number of high detailed specs including: flatlock construction, comfortable collar, TPM gravel skin on upper arms for durability and reduced wind-chill, glideskin collar, cuff and ankle seals, X4 Flex panels, di-guard seat, knees and shins for added protection, an inside key pocket and more.

OUR OPINION

Though all Gill wetsuits are designed specifically for dinghy sailing, we thought we’d test it from a leisure/watersports perspective. All the technology they put into this suit makes it comfortable, flexible and tough, and fared very well whilst I flailed and flopped from the end of a towrope at high speeds (page 90). Thanks to the TPM (Thermal Protection Material neoprene), the suit kept me warm through the many inevitable dunkings in cold water, and continued to keep me snug in the bracing breeze once back on top the board. The secure cuffs and collars work well and the aesthetics aren’t too bad either. I would not hesitate to recommend this suit to everybody, though I’d be wary of telling friends “My steamer is awesome, want to try?”. Great stuff from Gill. £100.00 (short arm, long leg) (prices vary for ‘shorti’ and full length versions) www.gillmarine.com

SEASTART AUTOTETHER

The good people at SeaStart, aka ‘the AA of the Sea’, have started promoting and selling the Autotether. In a nutshell, it’s a wireless kill cord and alarm device that replaces the typical red stringy bit of cord. Simply connect the main unit in place of your kill cord (it comes with all attachments possibly needed) and attach the small lanyard to yourself. Now, if the skipper is coaxed into the wet stuff, the motor is automatically shut off and an alarm will sound, alerting the crew. Three extra lanyards can also be purchased that you can fit to your crew, and should they go overboard the engine will not cut out, but the same alarm will sound to make you aware.

Each additional lanyard can be manually upgraded to skipper (engine will cut out) or left as crew (just alarm will sound). The system will not let you drive the boat if the batteries are down and after thorough testing at the Sports Boat and RIB show, we think this is a great bit of kit. It allows the skipper much more freedom without tempting you to unhook yourself from the kill cord thinking that you are ‘safe’ – because you are not. A bit pricey, but we think it’s worth every penny. £189.00 (main unit and skipper lanyard) £49.00 per additional lanyard 023 8045 8000 www.seastart.co.uk

COMPETITION

Were you impressed with the Autotether?

Smitten by Cooper’s lovely anchor? Well now you have a chance to win both in our fantastic competition.

To be in with a chance of being the proud new owner of kit worth £250, answer the following question correctly:

What is the Autotether?

A wireless kill cord system An automatic dog walker Retractable rope

TRI AN ED TES D TED

To enter, visit the website or alternatively email your answers to: competitions@cslpublishing.com or visit sportsboat.co.uk

SB&RIB I 35

THIS IS THE BOAT BILLED AS THE ONE TO CHANGE THE SPORT FOR 2011.

THAT IS A BIG CLAIM.

50 I SB&RIB

ON THE WATER I PANTHER

THE YEAR OF THE

PANTHER Not only are P1 launching a new race series, but they’re bringing with it the ‘Panther’, a veritable racing demon that doubles as a day boat for time away from the track. A boat with a dual identity needs two testers, and that is exactly what we have for you. John Cooke will be pushing the Panther to its racing potential, whilst Simon Everett will be using it as a day boat.

Let the testing commence…

SB&RIB I 51

THE COMPANY’S CLAIM TO PROVIDE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET OUT ON THE WATER IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST AN IDLE BOAST.

58 I SB&RIB

ON THE WATER I PIRANHA 5.8

O

ur experience of Piranha RIBs began at the 2010 Sports Boat and RIB Show, when Nick Edgington turned up with a pair of boats that were remarkable for at least three very good reasons. Firstly, at a time when economic difficulties were seeing plenty of established boat brands abandoning the bottom end of the market in pursuit of higher profit margins, these new Piranha boats were relatively small. Secondly, in stark contrast to the almost pervasive malaise of an industry that seemed to be struggling to sell boats at the time, Nick himself came across as effervescent, approachable and optimistic. And thirdly, the prices of his new boats (even by entry-level standards) were deliberately, uncompromisingly accessible. In short, even then, we knew that this was a company well placed to carve out a very prominent niche for itself.

PIRANHA

5.8 With an expanding fleet, Piranha is fast becoming a big predator in UK waters. Alex Smith heads for Hayling Island for a look at the company’s new 5.8-metre RIB.

SB&RIB I 59

PRACTICAL I TEARDROP REPAIRS

I WAS NATURALLY RATHER DISTRESSED TO HEAR THAT OMINOUS SOUND OF A BUBBLING WET FART ESCAPING FROM HER STERN TEARDROP The term comes from the vaguely teardrop shaped patches that are applied to the tubes, a shape optimised over the years by experienced RIB repairers to not present too much of a liftable flap to the oncoming water stream.

1

2

3

THE PROBLEM

A convenient probing finger shows the lifting, leaking seam. Eagle eyed readers will spot at this point the excess glue from a previous slightly botched teardropping attempt… by me. I suppose in the face of this outrageous photographic evidence I’ll have to put my hands up and admit that I first tried to do it myself with a DIY kit from RIBShop. My patches started lifting on the first outing, so I went back to RIB Shop to get it done professionally. According to Kieron, it’s a common scenario.

1

With the tubes inflated just enough to hold their shape without drooping off the hull, the hypalon teardrops are cut to size. If your boat has PVC tubes, you’ll need PVC patches and different glues, ring RIB Shop for further advice (details at end). You can use the topside of the RIB tube to offer up your patch and get the size and shape right. Note the gradual teardrop curve shape to the front part of the patchfundamental to a successful repair.

2

Abrade the mating surfaces of patch and area where the patch will go on the boat, to create a good habitat for the glue. It is best to offer the patch up dry, draw round it on the boat, then mask the area before sanding, then clean both surfaces with toluene based Hypalon thinners.

3

Using a heat gun, ensure the areas to be glued are completely dry. Pay particular attention to the inner parts of any lifted seams, as Kieron is doing here. My boat was problematic as there was some water inside the tube that had to be released first... with some gentle persuasion of a sharp screwdriver thrust tenderly into the seam.

4

Apply the correctly mixed two pack glue to both surfaces. You’re trying to get it even, but thinly applied all over. Don’t try to chuck it on too thick, and don’t panic time wise, you now have up to several hours to mate the two surfaces. Time enough to have a cup of tea, do the crossword or read the first two pages of Finnegan’s Wake.

4 SB&RIB I 65

SIX OF THE BEST I PHONE APPS

four best alarm clock The BEST ALARM CLOCK + WEATHER is more than a morning reveille. It has been featured in Apple iTunes ‘What’s Hot’ because of its novelty and multi function.

Basically, you can set as many alarms as you wish for any hour of any day of the week. When the app triggers, you are alerted by whatever music you have selected from what you have already installed on your phone or pad and given a synopsis of the weather and temperature.

I LIKE the function of having an alarm to remind

me to write up the hourly log, or to listen to the weather forecast. I can also change the colours of

the display graphics according to how important the event is to me. The music is also a ‘one touch’ task to alter.

This app can be run in tandem with the iPhone’s inbuilt alarm, so I set them both to trigger within five minutes of each other, so that there is no danger of being later for my early morning train down to the boat.

The Advanced Settings include a flashlight (great on dark, fumbly mornings), plenty of formats and a battery saver mode.

I do not LIKE that the weather info is a bit ‘iffy’.

It sometimes shows the wrong location. However, the developers have promised to fix this bug, without raising the present £0.59 price tag.

available iPhone

five imray marine rules and signals The IMRAY MARINE RULES AND SIGNALS app is the ideal tool for everybody preparing for any of the many qualifications and certificates now deemed necessary by modern bureaucracy and increasingly favoured by insurance companies. Having swotted up on all the marine rules, regulations and signals for the exam and forgotten them next week, this very comprehensive app can be kept to hand for later revision, or as a ready reference. It is also good commuter train and evening recreation.

I LIKE the vast store of information, including graphically illustrated rules for boat handling, overtaking etc – lights and shapes – sound signals (great!) – buoy recognition – flags – radio procedure – SOLAS recommendations

and even how to make/respond to a Mayday call. Both as a tutor and as an entertainer this is £3.99 very well invested.

I do not LIKE the wide geographical/

linguistic coverage, but admit that this is a carping crit of a super app. I would like a self testing, question and answer function, but I realise that this would mean a price rise and occupation of more of my iPhone/iPad memory.

In summary, a must have app for new skippers, boaters with a fallible memory and gadget freaks like me. www.tucabo.com

available iPhone

(Android version in development)

six met office weather The MET OFFICE WEATHER app is one of half a dozen free weather forecast and information apps and is, arguably, the best of the bunch. But then from such a source with all the tax payer funded facilities, it ought to be.

I LIKE the very clear, well laid out

graphics and the comprehensive information which is displayed in sensible time slots. The five day forecast is a useful reference against the detailed day’s prognosis and the national and regional weather maps combine with these to give a good indication of what to expect. There is a dynamic UK rainfall radar and some pretty good satellite imagery. You can also

84 I SB&RIB

save and quickly relocate your favourite locations. There are other apps with more bells and whistles, but this one is free.

I do not LIKE the occasional problems

in logging this app onto the internet and that my GPS is occasionally ‘iffy’. The techies are working on this. It will get better.

There are two ‘bests’ here. If you want a paid app, also have a look at Weather Pro, which I also have and use. Information is power and two sources of forecasts can be very enlightening. www.metoffice.gov.uk

available iPhone

Do everything you have just done for the 90 degree butterslide, but continue rotating.

As you rotate, move the handle until it comes round in front of the ‘other’ hip.

Make sure your chest is up facing the boat, knees equally bent and weight even.

Mirror your normal neutral riding position.

riding switch

frontside 180º surface turn

Repeat

98 I SB&RIB

top tips

As with the butterslide, hold the switch riding position for short spells at first, rotating back to your comfortable foot forward in the same controlled way. Then repeat and lengthen as it becomes more comfortable.

wake jumps So, hang time is calling and you can of course go in gung-ho and charge at the wake and seeing what happens - most likely a large splash and possibly a belly flop. There are however, a few baby steps you can take in order to minimize damage to yourself and maximize your growth in confidence and skill. It’s all about jumping one wake, and then move on to jumping both wakes.

There should be no difference to the neutral riding position, whether your riding regular or switch.

As it will feel so strange, it’s especially important to focus on having your chest facing the boat, back straight with your weight even over both legs.

It’s quite common to lean away from the boat, all over your back leg and be broken at the waist when first attempting switch riding so work hard to get that position right.

one Wake Jump

The approach and technique for one wake jumps is exactly the same as with crossing the wakes.

Start your movement gradually and hold your edge/cut through the wake.

Instead of absorbing the wake, lock you legs and body firm off the top of the wake.

Absorb the landing on edge and continue moving in the same direction.

top tip

When doing single wake jumps coming back in, start your approach from around 10 feet wide of the wake and start your approach gradually, letting the boat initiate the movement.