Having received delivery of the new RackRider 3.7 from our Melbourne factory, we went about testing the boat with different engine configurations and weight distribution. This adventure craft can accommodate a 6hp engine and get up to planing speed with two sizeable adults on-board. And to top it off, at just 43kgs it’s designed to be easily transported on the roof of your car.
RACKRIDER
3.7M - 43KG
The new RackRider 3.7 is currently in stock and ready for delivery. Robust and weighing in at just 43Kgs, they're easy to load on to your roof rack and can be configured with several outboard engine sizes to reach planing speeds of up to 35kmh.
The RackRider 3.7 is priced at just $7,800 including GST. Be in the first five to order these impressive adventure craft and you'll receive a 10% discount off the purchase price.
SOME BASIC STATS
LENGTH M
WEIGHT KGS
MAX LOAD KGS
MAX SPEED KM/H
PRICE ($AUD INC GST)
ON THE WATER WITH THE NEW RACKRIDER 3.7
ABOUT THE RACKRIDER 3.7
The RackRider 3.7 is engineered and constructed using resin infused, foam core construction techniques. All the materials that are used to make up the hull are laid inside a mould. These are gel coat, fibreglass matting, foam core and then more fibreglass matting. When the materials are in the mould, they are covered with a sealed plastic bag. Feed lines for the resin are also also set up under the bag. At this stage a vacuum is pulled on the bag and the resin is sucked through all of the materials in the mould and infuses them completely. When the resin infusion process is complete the boat is left to cure before the bag is removed. The hull is then removed from the mould. This process produces a very robust, rigid and lightweight boat. The seats are made in the same manner to remove every last kilogram that we could from the boat.
At just 43Kgs, the RackRider 3.7 is highly portable:
- Hull weight – 43 kilograms.
- Engine weight – 27 kilograms.
- With a bit of forethought, the boat can be loaded and unloaded on your car roof by one person.
- Easily transportable from car to water with a trolley by one person.
- The hull can be easily carried by two people if you do not have a trolley.
Compared to some alternative vessels, the initial purchase of the RackRider 3.7 may costs a little more, but consider these additional factors;
- Cheap engines. 4 to 6 horsepower engines only cost around $2000 to purchase.
- No trailer. Avoid the cost of purchasing, registering and maintaining a trailer.
- Due to its light weight, the boat can be carried on standard roof racks. No need for expensive, complicated and heavy boat loading systems on top of your 4WD.
- Super cheap running costs. The four to six horsepower engines are simple, single cylinder engines that are very cheap to maintain and are astonishingly economical to run. Expect fuel economy of well over 10 km/L.
The team at RackRider have tested many engines and accessories as part of the development process. Please visit the Engines & Accessories page on this website for our recommendations.
When people set up a rig to travel around Australia two of the main considerations are weight and space. There is a very finite amount of both to be had. If you wish to travel with a boat as well as your caravan, then the rack rider is the obvious choice. With a bare boat weight of around 43 kg, a motor weight of around 27 kg and very little fuel required due to the extraordinary fuel efficiency, our RackRider adventure craft is hands down the lightest, simplest and smallest solution when designing your around Australia rig. The boat was designed to go on and off your roof without the requirement of a rooftop boat loading system which saves you a lot of additional weight and complexity. Much of the pleasure that a rooftop boat will bring you on your travels will be derived from a rig that is not overloaded, handles well and a boat that is lightweight, simple and easy to use. At RackRider that is what we hope to give you as a traveller.
All RackRider adventure craft are designed, engineered and built in Australia;
- 100% Australian owned company.
- All design and testing conducted in Australia.
- The boats are built by JPM shipwrights in Melbourne.
RackRider Adventure Craft have also been designed with storage in mind. Leave it on the roof of your vehicle, or store it wherever you have space;
- Without the need for a trailer the hull can be stored in very little space.
- The small outboard takes up very little room in the corner of your garage or shed.
- The engine ‘s incredible frugality means very little fuel needs to be stored (an 11 litre tank should give over 120 kilometres of range.
All boats are a compromise. No boat can be all things to all people. The key to being happy with the boat that you purchase is to choose the boat that makes the right compromises for your intended usage. At RackRider we have designed a boat that optimises light weight, ease of use, simplicity, frugality and long range.
Here are some of the compromises that you may wish to consider before you purchase:
- Load carrying capacity. The RackRider 3.7 is rated to carry 295 kg not including the motor and 11 litre fuel tank. It is also rated for two people. In performance terms if you choose a 6 hp engine (recommended) then the performance declines with loads over 180 kg (not including the motor and 11 litre fuel tank). If you want to carry more than two people or more than 180 kg this may not be the boat for you.
- Weather limitations. The RackRider 3.7 is a small boat and as such is pretty much a fair-weather boat. It has a fairly narrow beam and low freeboard. In good conditions the RackRider 3.7 rides beautifully. Seaworthiness is pretty much a function of boat size. If you want to be on the water in rough conditions then I would suggest you buy a bigger, heavier boat.
- Fit out limitations. There are all sorts of accessories available for RackRider boats, but I would caution against going overboard. This boat is designed to be small, simple and above all lightweight and person portable. If you intend to add a live bait tank, a bow mounted trolling motor etc etc etc, to turn it into the ultimate fishing platform then this is not the boat for you. Try to keep it personal portable. We recommend the use of Railblaza Starports that allow accessories to be attached and detached quickly and simply from the boat so that only the bare basic boat is being lifted on and off the roof.
