C_Playa
regular
Reged: 14/06/2007
Posts: 847
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A friend's Avon 2 stroke has pissed him off for the last time.
2 very small girls and plenty of to-ing and fro-ing from the beach. Launched off a hi-lo platform.
Any recommendations most gratefully received.
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"You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted" - Ruth E. Renkl
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Magnum
regular
Reged: 14/01/2004
Posts: 1820
Loc: Switzerland
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Avon. The Williams is fundamentally flawed in design due to the driver having to sit so far astern. 1-up it's terrible off the plane.
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C_Playa
regular
Reged: 14/06/2007
Posts: 847
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Thanks for the quick reply.
What will you be putting on the back of your 72? Reason I ask is that the Avon to be replaced is currently on the back of a 56 Manhattan and will soon(ish) be on the back of a 70 Manhattan, so similar to your available space (I am guessing).
Does the Williams sink at the stern because it's less flat? You're by all (including yours!) accounts a tall man. Would a mere 6 footer fare any better?
My friend is all for a 4-stroke Avon. I'm happy to quash any thoughts of a Williams if that's the advice. Wish I knew more.
Thanks again!
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"You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted" - Ruth E. Renkl
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Hurricane
regular
Reged: 11/11/2005
Posts: 1606
Loc: Sant Carles de la Rąpita
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We had an Avon 320 JetRib
I managed to get it reliable but it was VERY hard work.
We've decided to ditch the idea of a JetRib and go for a conventional RIB (well nearly anyway).
It is soon to be delivered - Walker Bay Genisis with a 40hp Yamaha - I'm seeing it properly tomorrow so I'll post some pics if anyone's interested.
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Magnum
regular
Reged: 14/01/2004
Posts: 1820
Loc: Switzerland
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We've ordered a new 4-stroke Avon. The engine is good and delivers plenty of poke. It's the same engine Williams use. But I had one of the first 325 Williams in 2005 and I wasn't impressed. The development work wasn't finished so lots of QC issues with my example, but that wasn't the main concern.
A jetrib is made to go quickly for sure, but much of the time you are off the plane and the weight distribution on the Williams with the driver as far astern as is physically possible causes big problems. The bow is so high you almost have to stand to see where you are going although things do get a bit better 2 or 3 up.
The jetbike layout of the Avon suits us lanky buggers just fine and gives a pseudo jetski feel to the whole experience.
Anyway, jfm gets his first although non-jetski layout. He'll be blatting around like the Stig on crystal meth any day soon. I'm sure he'll be all too happy to give you a first-hand report.
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houghn
regular
Reged: 20/04/2004
Posts: 2824
Loc: Birmingham-sur-Mer
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Quote:
A friend's Avon 2 stroke has pissed him off for the last time
Says it all.
Great fun at speed when they're working, but the most unreliable thing i've ever owned, and I've had every toy going. They're also noisy, smelly, smokey, and wet.
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C_Playa
regular
Reged: 14/06/2007
Posts: 847
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Thank you all for the advice.
I had recommended a Walker Bay from Hurricane's tender search a while back, but as the person in question tried to spray me with a jet ski 15 years ago while I was in a tender and then fell off and popped up inches from my still-turning prop, I'm heavily biased towards a jet.
Thanks again.
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"You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted" - Ruth E. Renkl
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jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7487
Loc: London/Antibes
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I've just spent the weekend (and under - will explain later) on the Avon 4 stroke, steering wheel version, not motorbike style. Loved it! will post more later, gotta run to a meeting now
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Magnum
regular
Reged: 14/01/2004
Posts: 1820
Loc: Switzerland
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Quote:
I've just spent the weekend (and under - will explain later) on the Avon 4 stroke, steering wheel version, not motorbike style. Loved it! will post more later, gotta run to a meeting now
Looking forward to this. Loads of pics please and at least 1000 words.
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jfm
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 7487
Loc: London/Antibes
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As you know, the engine is same in Williams and Avon (excluding the special detuned version in the Williams 285). Very nice unit. Turbo, wastegate, seawater intercooling, freshwater in the block, EFI. Very torquey nice engine, and makes for a white knuckle ride in the boat.
Just imho, I dont like the Williams design. I dont like the fact the helmsman sits alone. Lots of friends/guests/kids "want a go" and you need to sit next to them when they lose control. you can do that with the Avon, not the Williams. That's my main complaint against Williams. There are other factors like the weight distribution thing too
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