Looking to pull the trigger on a great deal down this way on a Caprice 20, built by Riviera Fiber Corp ? Not a very well known brand, I know, but they've been in business for 40 years and the boat below, which I examined this morning, looks well built and extremely solid. Rode like a tank on rails, to be honest. I was most impressed. Anyone got anything good or bad to say ?
Any comments apart from the obvious need for a bow-rail ? It has a very clean layout, including a wet locker amidships, huge bimini, a full transom and a very tidy slim-line console. It's a very clean boat. Hull bottom is 1" solid glass (the wet locker has a drain so I can verify that), bracket is aluminum, finish under-deck and in lockers looks bullet-proof.
Power is a 140 Suzuki ; boat, trailer and engine are all 2006. Use will be mostly inter-coastal and near-shore on nice days.
“I was most impressed.” I’d say if you were impressed, then that is a very nice little boat. I’d also say that a builder does not have to be well known in order to be a good builder. “…….they've been in business for 40 years”….says a lot. To survive in good and bad times and still be in business, I’d say the builder has something going for him. Maybe have a visit with the builder. “Any comments apart from the obvious need for a bow-rail ?” Riggers, chair, tubes…..HaHaHa, just kiddin’. Zat a recessed rod holder at the port side bow area? Those recessed cleats I see?
All kidding aside, you know your boats and know the important stuff. I just wanna know what you’re gonna name her. Lookin’ good. HAPPY HOLIDAYS and smooth sailing.
Bob, recessed thingy is a fuel fill. Cleats are all pop-ups. Funny you should mention a chair as I probably will put something on the bow for the kids, both to fish from if we find some tarpon or cobia, and also just for leaning against.
As for the builder, I've had a chat with him already and he definitely seems to know what he is doing. He's built over 10,000 hulls the past 40 years - four models of whaler-type skiffs and this one 20 centre-console. Most of the boats go to the Caribbean, central America and the Bahamas. I have a feeling that many, many of the "Whalers" I have seen on my travels in those places may well now not be "Whalers" at all...... I'll be visiting him soon, at his invitation, to see how he does things. There's a bunch of little touches on the boat that appeal to me....
Any suggestions on a mini-chair for the bow would be appreciated folks....
Oh, and if anyone is interested, that hull + 50 gallon aluminum fuel-tank + engine bracket + console, is just $10,400. That's a steal any which way I look at it.
As for names, I'll probably name it something in keeping.
Juggernaut and Dreadnought spring to mind. LOL Though knowing all the girls will be involved in the naming process it will end up as "Dora the Intercoastal Explorer" or some such......
Fuel fill in the bow....interesting. 10,000 boats and I've never heard of him, guess I'm not quite the boat guy I thought I was. Good you get to visit with him. Wonder if Scoop makes a small chair that would look good in the bow area? After this thread runs its due, maybe start a boat name thread. I'm thinking STEADFAST.
brokensheer - the sea-trial we did involved motoring around from Sandsprit out to the St Lucie inlet and then up the river. In the calm water the boat popped out the hole extremely quickly, which I'm told is the norm for that 140 engine as the crank ratio is 2.2. I was impressed with that for a start. There was no bow stall, and the boat felt good and level throughout a whole range of rpm's. It planed at about 12 knots or so, and we managed to get just a tad over 6000 rpm flat out. At that speed we were really shifting, somewhere in the high 30's I would think (no speed measuring equipment on the boat). Apparently the owner of the boat had told the dealer that the vessel topped out at 38 knots, and at some stage some calculations had been made that gave it a 280 mile range at some specific speed. If I buy the boat I'll work that out.
Even though there was little breeze, the inlet was a confused mess of small waves with some white water on the outgoing tide. It was the sort of water that a skiff would have pounded in (my first boat was a 14 Montauk, many moons ago, so I speak from chiropractic experience). The dealer said he had never run the hull before, so he was as interested in seeing what it did as I was. In the rough water the boat stayed level, even though we reduced speed to mid-20 knot cruise, never falling off any waves. She did not pound although there were a couple of thuds. I put this down to sufficient degrees of entry at the bow and the heavy lay-up. The hull did not creak or groan at all. The dealer and I were most impressed. There was no spray at all, which was a bonus too.
Running back in, the boat stayed level throughout the power cycle on the backside of the waves with aplomb, plenty of power to keep it there and overtake anything underneath. Over all, its stern-sea qualities were most impressive for a 20' boat. I saw enough to know that if I was outside and it blew up I'd be able to get home at some speed without beating myself to death or worrying unduly about the inlet.
At speed in the calm the boat flew, whether the bimini was up or down. It just felt right, balanced and in trim. I'm not sure how that will change with the addition of equipment and other weight, but I'm not that bothered anyway as I am not a speed demon. There is enough torque there in that engine to overcome a myriad of problems. Steering is hydraulic, so it was hard to sense the prop - it manage to overcome the throw of the prop and keep the boat straight without any worries.
Boat backed down well too, no digging in, and the bracket gave it a very good turning circle too.
I'm not interested in the boat's rough-water performance really, and didn't expect it to be but a bit better than a skiff's, as the whole intent is to use it inshore and up in the inter-coastal with the family. But, having said that, I was very surprised by the boat's performance and I think the whole package is a delight to operate. I think it's remarkable that there are not more of these about - apparently he's built 56 of this hull, and he scoffed with a grin at my suggestion of any structural problems. With a trailer, engine, steering and some knick-knacks I reckon someone could be on the water in a new one for under $25K, which is pretty competitive.
It's not in the same class as your rig, of course, so no worries there ! I'd classify it as a well-built step-up from a decent skiff, which will suit a lot of people and their budget. It's certainly better than a skiff in a seaway, but it has the same practical simple layout and plenty of stability.
If you want to sees some more photos of the bracket, let me know.
HTH.
Last edited by Roddy Hays; 12-21-2010 at 08:59 AM.
Nice looking no frills ride. Great for kids. Wash and wear so to speak. Recessed cleats, all the rage on smaller baots now, Billy Knowles will tell you he invented those, but failed to patent them. Looks like alot of childhood memories to be made right there.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
STEADFAST
