Message 16 of 17
Posted by member Peterboo on Tuesday 28 December 2010

dominic and nicola here is a picture of you coming towards me on that day http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae160/peterboo2/DCP_0068.jpg

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Message 14 of 17
Posted by member Fred Hughes on Thursday 9 December 2010

What are the advantages if any of say 105HP Volvo inboard diesel engine against the conventional outboard petrol engine on Hardy Pilot 20 ie weight ratio,resale value, does the difference in fuel used warrant the inital extra outlay for diesel over petrol engine say 60hp bearing in mind the craft would only be used for pleasure only.

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Message 12 of 17
Posted by member Damian White on Friday 12 January 2007

Nigel, if your dad hasn't removed the bathing platform yet he can buy a platform mounted outboard bracket from these people:- Watercraft Services tel 01872 863777 for £40. Marine grade stainless steel sides and a thick marine mahogany mounting plate. Measures 290mm across x 195mm high and will take up to a 9 hp outboard. Very helpful people. I bought one for a Shetland I own and it is a good piece of kit. I can keep a 3.5 Tohatsu short shaft on it and still tilt it clear of the water.

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Message 10 of 17
Posted by member Damian on Thursday 7 September 2006

Nigel I think a 4 hp would suit your needs perfectly considering cost and weight. Everyone raves about the Suzuki 6hp fourstroke longshaft and I bought one when I owned the Family Pilot.However I found that on the outboard bracket the prop and skeg dragged in the water even when tilted and the only place the engine would lay was on the floor of the cabin which defeated the whole purpose of storage,etc. I took it off and on the River Pilot I use an old 4hp Mariner two stroke short shaft which sits comfortably on the bracket out of the water and when lowered is deep enough for the skeg and prop to go below the chine of the hull. It's also light enough to throw around without catching someones shins/scoring the brightwork.

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Message 8 of 17
Posted by member Damian White on Sunday 20 August 2006

Hello Nigel, Your dad is to be congratulated on his choice.I own a 1987 Riverpilot powered by a 40hp Mercury four stroke and having previously owned a Family Pilot am of the opinion that Hardy utilised the best possible use of space in their 20ft hull with the design of the Riverpilot. There has been some space taken up on this forum discussing the merits/differences between the 2 designs of pilot in relation to the bulkheads and structural integrity. The main difference I can see is that on the Riverpilot where the sink worktop meets the port berth there is no bulkhead as it continues on into the accommodation. This is not so on the Family Pilot because at that position there is a strong bulkhead running across the beam where the windows of the wheelhouse meet the coachroof.I have taken cushions out on both boats to see if there are any other differences in the design and can say that both hulls appear to have the same strengthening bonded in to the interior. I believe that Hardy recommend a 40hp maximum on the Riverpilot. I get approximately 9 knots on mine. Going through a wave at 17 or 18 knots in a Riverpilot without that midships bulkhead may put a lot of stress on the hull- you'll know that if the side windows pop out and the lifting roof lid ejects! Having said that I use mine in Strangford Lough and prior to that,on Belfast Lough where I've been out in force 4 with waves crashing over the wheelhouse but I would not push her beyond that. I think the boat is fine for use at sea in sensible conditions but keep the speed down to displacement or semi displacement mode,ie.less than 12 knots. I cannot see any difference in the thickness of the transom and I think the keel is about 2-3 inches deeper than that of the Family Pilot. I would get rid of the portside swimming platform and put on an outboard bracket- I don't know of anyone who makes a bolt-on aux.bracket for a platform and if you get one,do you really want to be messing around trying to put a 4 or 6 hp engine on it when you really need it? Can't give much advise on the rope- apparently the swans in the Norfolk Broads had mine chewed away within two years! A phone call to Hardy in relation to engine size/sea state may prove useful.

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Message 6 of 17
Posted by member Kim Maclean on Monday 22 May 2006

Hi, we have just returned from a short trip on our boat and got caught in a F5 and can report that the pilot coped very well. Not an experience i would like encounter on every trip but reasuring to know the boat can cope even in its present set up (Johnson 60 two stroke). hope it helps and that you get many calm days....

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Message 4 of 17
Posted by member Dominic And Nicola Gribbin on Saturday 20 May 2006

Yes to trim tabs! Def. a must as far as I am concerned, especially if doing longer passages, but for a full cross section of opinion on this, browse the many threads on this matter on the HOC forum. Its been talked about ad infinitum for years now. Ref. bigger outboard engines, well yet again we are in very personal/subjective waters. Everybody has their favourite but looking at a broad cross section of Pilots with big outboards, they on average consist of either, the well proven Honda 75 or 90hp 4 stroke, Mariner/Mercury 75 4 stroke, Mariner 60 hp 'Big Foot', or the newer and highly rated Yamaha 80 4/stroke, aswell as a host of various older models of o/b's including some 2 strokes. All are great engines. I personally favour Honda. Although a fraction heavier than the rest they are very quiet and very, very reliable. However, don't listen to me, ask around. You'll find the same thing said about Mariners and Yamahas and others! There is a lot of conservatism about o/b's amoungst owners. Ref. E-Tec Evinrudes, I have heard good and bad. My friend had a brand new 90 version on a RIB and it was a nightmare! (overheating and oil consumption), as were Evinrude themselves who did not play ball on the guarantee, apparently! Remember 75hp is the maximum recommended power of outboard that Hardy suggest on a Pilot so, exceeding this may have insurance ramifications. However it should be said, since then engines have got a lot lighter so some people have opted for say the Honda 90 over the 75. Exactly the same weight but a beefier carb and fuel delivery set up. Don't know how they have dealt with the teoretical insurance issues but, once again ask around. I have found the Honda 75 very adaequate in most conditions except when under very heavy loading eg. 4 heavy adults and lots of kit on board. With us the Honda 75 gives (with trim tabs deployed, 2 adults and 1 child) a very comfortable cruising speed (planing) of 12 to 16 knots. Flat out in good seas max. 23 knots. Get good advice on the prop...its critical to maximise performance!!! We have a prop that gives a fairly torque-y set up rather than flat out top end speed, that gives us greater manouevrability and power when under full load. Hope this helps and report back on your progress Dominic.

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Message 2 of 17
Posted by member Dominic And Nicola Gribbin on Thursday 18 May 2006

HI Glyn. I can only speak for the other side of the Irish Sea from Pembrokeshire to the East Coast of Eire northwards but, the answer is yes, the Pilot is man enough for what you intend.....but..... Never forget that fundamantaly the Pilot is a fair weather craft, at least when compared to its larger counterparts and tends to get a bit 'demanding' in anything force 4/5 above, especially if loaded up with 4 persons aboard. In fact frankly that is really a safe absolute limit. Even so, it is still a very seaworthy pocket cruiser and will take a lot with amazingly reassuring sea handling. I feel I can say this with some authority as we have been through many varied, sometimes challenging conditions conditions in our 1993 Family Pilot over the years. From my experience of talking to fellow Pilot owners, few willingly or regularly take their vessels out to sea in above force 3/4. Bar stories of genuine coastal ventures in this 4 plus realm are mainly when the individual was caught out. I am a stalwart believer in these rugged little boats and know them to be very competent little coastal cruisers even long distance ones, but they have their limits. It all hinges on judging the weather safely. If you get it right you can coastal hop ad-infinitum in these lovely boats. If not, you can get caught out. In our experience the thing that gives the Pilot the edge in not getting caught out is speed. Speed equals safety, especially when outrunning impending weather changes. This allowed us on our curcum-navigation of GB to take on narrower fair weather windows with a degree of confidence that we could make it, over say our slower and larger, more seaworthy counterparts. If you are cruising in the stretch you describe, personally I would say it would be wise for you to upgrade your engine to a 75 (maybe even a 90, insurance allowing). 50hp is frankly underpowered. 75 hp upwards will give you the power and confidence to carry the load you envisage and run for cover when needed. Fleetwood to Angelsey is a highly tidal area often with little all-tidal landfall, extensive shoals and sandbanks, lots of commercial traffic and at times the neccessity to be some distance offhore. Hope this isn't teaching you to suck eggs. Go for it, you won't be dissappointed, if you cruise within the boat's limits. Dominic.

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