Zodiac Pro 420 Rib Rigid Inflatable Boat With 40 Hp Mariner Outboard

Zodiac Pro 420 4.2 metre RIB (rigid inflatable boat) with 40 HP 2-stroke Mariner outboard. Offered for sale is my Zodiac Pro 420 RIB, fitted with a 40 HP electric start Mariner 40 outboard, sitting on a galvanised steel road trailer, complete with starting battery, electric bilge pump, anchor, oars, cover, inflating bellows, fuel tank and lighting board. I bought this boat and trailer 4 years ago without an engine, and initially fitted it with a Yamaha 20 outboard which I already had from a previous boat, but I discovered that the 20 was felt a bit under-powered for this Zodiac especially with 3 people and fishing gear aboard. So I bought the Mariner 40, which is an Ex-RNLI flood rescue engine, serviced regularly and in excellent condition. 40hp is the maximum permitted for this boat, and now it performs very well.

It gets up on the plane quickly and can achieve almost 30MPH lightly loaded. It cruises at around 20 MPH. Sorry, I have no idea what age the boat is, but I estimate it to be around 15 years old. The engine is a 2003. This little boat is a bit tatty looking, but is well maintained, is in regular use and is totally reliable.

I use it for fishing with my daughters in Cardigan Bay, and are often out all day. The boat and engine are flushed after every use, and the engine is serviced professionally. The tops of the tubes are showing signs of degradation/fading by sunlight but overall the tubes are still in reasonable condition and are airtight. There are three chambers, which can go weeks without requiring top up. There are two small repair patches on the starboard side, and a few scuff marks on the tubes.

Being a genuine Zodiac, new collar (tubes) are available and can be easily replaced without special knowledge should the need arise in future. The engine is in excellent condition, and is fitted with electric start, which makes operating the boat from the double console convenient. You have to tilt or trim the engine by hand but the gas strut makes this easier. And being a 2-stroke of an early design, you have to pre-mix the fuel with 50-1. These tough versatile boats are used as support and rescue craft by sailing clubs all over the world.

The 420 is easily towed by car, can be launched and recovered single-handed. The 420 will fit inside a domestic garage and has relatively low running costs. Ready for the water and the road, this would perhaps suit someone looking for their first RIB. Collect in person only, or can deliver by arrangement. The reason for sale; new boat on order.

(A new Zodiac 420 on a road trailer would cost over £17,000)