May 31st-June 15th 2026

Khalid and Kim

With the weather being inclement, I only managed to take the rib out for a short pootle up and down the river. My observations on the new engine and its associated instrumentation are:

The engine starts and runs like a nut.

The instrumentation is more intuitive and easy to interrogate.

Steerage seems to be better particularly at slow or even no revs.

There is plenty of power but judicious use of the trim tab is recommended, particularly in getting the rib up on the plane

When I topped up the tank it seemed to me fuel consumption is somewhat better than the old engine but perhaps that is wishful thinking.

There are still some hours to go before we can run it continuously at full chat. It should only be it at full throttle for a maximum of 5 minutes a time until we have logged 10 hours.

I have labelled  the bilge pump button - let's see how long the label stays stuck! The button has three positions:

Upper end of button pushed in: Full On  (manual) - it is worth using this and persisting when you first arrive at the boat to pump out residual water in the bilges. It has to be kept pressed as it will by default spring to inoperative when pressure is released.

Middle position - Auto - this is how the switch should be left when leaving the boat.  A float switch in the bilges will automatically activate the pump to ensure they don't fill with rain.

Off  - might want to use this position when you are on the water, but Auto would also be good.

The other switch is for the nav lights, which in my experience are never used as we tend not to use the boat at night.  I have not labelled this switch as the lights have to be plugged in on their lighting stalk before they work.

Thanks to Mark for sorting the the new engine.

8th June 2026

Piers (and Marianne)

A great 5 days at the house, last week of May, with 2 short trips in the RIB. New engine running very well, starts instantly and by the end of second trip up to 4.5 hrs of running of its 10hr running in period.

Not sure if it has moved this season, but now in berth 139. I gave her a little clean and have also put the table and post in the boat if anyone wants to use them.

filled up with petrol and isolater switch in the locker under the rear seat is turned off.

looking forward to some longer trips when we are back in August

21st April 2026

Mark Warren

New Yamaha humming along and guarantee registered by Bretagne Marine

It must have a service after 20 hours of running or 3 months from 17th April 2026 - launch date.

We did 1 1/2 hours of running over the weekend to keep track.

3th -18th Sep 2025

Anne and Huw

3 happy trips in the RIB up and down river. Remember to leave bung out when leaving as boat filled up with rain. Also using a Spring very important when leaving to stop bow hitting pontoon. Boat refuelled.

4th Aug -19th Aug 2025

Eileen and Tim Hoare and family

Oh dear.

First trip:

Engine started easily on choke, idled with choke off, cooling water coming out as it should - all looked good. After 5 minutes at low get out of port speed there was a warning buzz, "Automatic Winterization" (or something like that) appeared on the display, and the engine cut out completely a couple of minutes later leaving us drifting with the tide. Fortunately after waiting a couple of minutes the engine could be restarted, and continued to work normally for another 40 minutes till we were back in port.

Second trip:

Same story. Engine started ok then went into "Automatic Winterization" and stopped. Restarted OK after a couple of minutes and we went back to port (via the petrol pump to top up - 13.5 liters). Total trip time about 10 minutes.

Went to Trieux Marine and spoke to Madame. She suggested it might due to low oil level even though the oil reservoir was only a bit under half full.

Back to the RIB to top up from the 0.5 gallon cannister that was in the bilge. This was empty - used up previously but not replaced. Back to Trieux Marine, who only had a 2.5 gallon cannister (80 euros). Back to the RIB, oil reservoir filled to 3/4 full, old 0.5gallon cannister refilled and left in bilge. 2.5 gallon cannister with remaining oil brought home and put in sous sol.

Trieux engineers will look at the RIB when they return from holiday on about 10 September. I think Hugh will be in residence then.

Madame thought that we were living on borrowed time with the Evinrude. They aren't made any more, spares are difficult to get, etc etc.

Looking at the story of Evinrude and its demise on the internet was instructive. The engine is very technical. I have some doubts that Trieux have invested in the very specific and expensive equipment and specific specialist expertise to maintain it and diagnose any faults, and there may be a lot of guesswork in their servicing. Madam's suggestion that the current problem may be due to the oil reservoir being a bit under half full may fall into this category. Keeping Evinrude ETecs running is a niche business in the USA, and whether there is anywhere in Brittany which has the needful I do not know.

Dec 2024-May 2025

RIB Not used