Avon Redcrest Outboard Bracket

[berferd]

Hi,

I recently acquired an Avon Redcrest inflatable dinghy that is missing the outboard fibreglass bracket. I was able to find one place in the UK that apparently carries it, but wanted to check with the group here in the hope that some other Avon Redcrest owner knows of another source, preferably in North America. The bracket looks like this:



Thanks,
Jeff

[Triumphant]

Originally Posted by berferd

Hi,

I recently acquired an Avon Redcrest inflatable dinghy that is missing the outboard fibreglass bracket. I was able to find one place in the UK that apparently carries it, but wanted to check with the group here in the hope that some other Avon Redcrest owner knows of another source, preferably in North America. The bracket looks like this:



Thanks,
Jeff

The brackets on the older dinghies were metal covered in plastic which slotted into cylindrical tubes bonded onto the back of the boat. I cannot see from your picture how the plastic one attaches , might be worth posting a picture of the back of back of your boat so we can see the attachment points

I had a replacement made up in aluminium after the original one rusted out which I still have.

Another hint, they row really well if you use 7 foot oars as they come with proper oarlocks

[berferd]

Thanks for the reply Triumphant and the suggestion. Attached is a picture of the attachment points.

[Triumphant]

The attachments on the dinghy are different to the old type that I had so I would guess the plastic bracket would work, but this is only a guess!!

Good luck

[berferd]

Attached is a picture we found with the bracket attached.

[berferd]

No longer needed as I have found one.

[hamburking]

I had an avon redcrest for years...awesome little dinghy that will last forever! I used oars...worked great, no complaints, and good on fuel too (lol). Do yourself a favour, forget the outboard, the floor, and even the seat...and just row!

Stowed easily on a C&C25mk1 in the hanging locker below.

[berferd]

Thanks for the suggestion hamburking. The previous owner rowed also. Just because I'll have an outboard doesn't mean I always have to use it. There will be times I'm sure when I'll row versus using the engine. Looking at the Honda 2.3 due it's light weight and simple design, but there have been mixed reviews on that model.

[NewMoon]

Originally Posted by berferd

Attached is a picture we found with the bracket attached.

I've had the newer model Redcrest shown in your picture for 18 years. Bigger tubes than the older model shown in hamburking's post. We row a lot, with better oars than the Avon take-downs - Sawyer 6.5 footers. For longer excursions, we sometimes use a 22lb 2hp 2-stroke Mariner (Yamaha, really), with the fiberglass mount shown. If you can put up with a 2-stroke, that's as light as it gets. Our little motor is 28 years old and runs like a top.

If I were getting a new 4-stroke motor, I'd go with a Suzuki 2.5 (30lb). Much quieter than the air-cooled Honda, and has a neutral gear which my Mariner does not.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by NewMoon

I've had the newer model Redcrest shown in your picture for 18 years. Bigger tubes than the older model shown in hamburking's post. We row a lot, with better oars than the Avon take-downs - Sawyer 6.5 footers.

I used a pair of Canadian Tire, on sale, very cheap, wooden canoe paddles as oars. Worked great. And if my kids ever wanted to help, we could paddle instead of row...never happened.

Plastic oars break. Have you ever tried rowing with one oar?

And yes, bigger tubes are much better.

[LakeSuperior]

Our main dingy that we are currently using is an older model Redcrest purchased in 1972 by my father. I use it with a 3 hp motor. The motor mount is metal tubes and wood. The tubes slide into rubber guide holes. I have suspected for many years that this dingy may be immortal.

[phantomracer]

Love our redcrest (1978 model). Took FOREVER to find a good spare bracket. Found one local that was NEVER used. Still has the avon sticker on it. I am holding onto that baby for a long time

I use a 1968 Evinrude Mate 1.5 on it. More than powerful enough! Few times I almost flipped the dinghy over with it! Very light outboard. Love it

Always on the lookout for a newer/better condition Redcrest.. as this one has some hard miles on it by the previous owner.. but still NO holes in the tubes!

[sedentary]

Originally Posted by berferd

No longer needed as I have found one.

where did you find one?

[roverhi]

Have two boats and found 2 almost new old Redcrests, one for each, in there last year. Love the Redcrest. Rowed my first one all over French Polynesia. Had a ------- for it that was so unreliable only used it a few times and ended up rowing the dink for almost the entire cruise. The fore and aft flotation chambers were a real plus. With half of it inflated, it stowed aft of the mast. Made a great air mattress for hanging out on deck.

If anyone has a rear fiber glass seat to spare, I need one.