Swapping RIB to JetRIB?
Discussion
Afternoon All,
We have a little Avon 3.4 with a Mariner 25hp on, been a cracking little RIB and a great learner for my kids.
Took the cover off and de-winterised her last weekend and just thought she's starting to look tired despite being a little belter mechanically and in every other way.
I've been offered a Zodiac with a Yam 700 jet for the right money and just wondered what peoples thoughts are?
For me the pluses are - Safe for the kids (no prop), swim platform on the back makes it very useable, fun.
It's not our main boat and we also have use of a jetski so pretty well covered all round.
Just wondered what possible pitfalls people thought there could be? Will I soon get tired of it and wish I had an outboard on the back again?
We have a little Avon 3.4 with a Mariner 25hp on, been a cracking little RIB and a great learner for my kids.
Took the cover off and de-winterised her last weekend and just thought she's starting to look tired despite being a little belter mechanically and in every other way.
I've been offered a Zodiac with a Yam 700 jet for the right money and just wondered what peoples thoughts are?
For me the pluses are - Safe for the kids (no prop), swim platform on the back makes it very useable, fun.
It's not our main boat and we also have use of a jetski so pretty well covered all round.
Just wondered what possible pitfalls people thought there could be? Will I soon get tired of it and wish I had an outboard on the back again?
It's not the boat I have for sale is it? 1998 Projet 350 from BHG Marine?
They have their advantages and disadvantages. What will you be using it for and where? They're great for high speed work, but very difficult to work at slow speeds. No steering on a jet at slow speeds and no real neutral so to speak, so difficult for children to operate safely, or to operate in marinas.
The engines also don't like to run at slow speeds, they oil up due to the nature of the oil injection system. They need to be run at higher revs, which rules out continued use on rivers and harbours. They're also pretty loud. You also can't leave them in the water for long periods due to corrosion in the jet housing and impeller. You will need to flush them with fresh water and keep their tiny battery on a trickle charger. They're not like your outboard where you can forget it over the winter.
If you can live with all the above, then they're great fun little boats. Really quick and chuckable, they handle fantastically. Awesome fun at high speed. Great as a tender, providing you can keep on top of maintenance and learn to handle them in marinas. I personally wouldn't recommend one as a primary boat, as you're really restricted with where and how you can use them.
Let me know if you need anymore info.
Dan
They have their advantages and disadvantages. What will you be using it for and where? They're great for high speed work, but very difficult to work at slow speeds. No steering on a jet at slow speeds and no real neutral so to speak, so difficult for children to operate safely, or to operate in marinas.
The engines also don't like to run at slow speeds, they oil up due to the nature of the oil injection system. They need to be run at higher revs, which rules out continued use on rivers and harbours. They're also pretty loud. You also can't leave them in the water for long periods due to corrosion in the jet housing and impeller. You will need to flush them with fresh water and keep their tiny battery on a trickle charger. They're not like your outboard where you can forget it over the winter.
If you can live with all the above, then they're great fun little boats. Really quick and chuckable, they handle fantastically. Awesome fun at high speed. Great as a tender, providing you can keep on top of maintenance and learn to handle them in marinas. I personally wouldn't recommend one as a primary boat, as you're really restricted with where and how you can use them.
Let me know if you need anymore info.
Dan
My experience comes from a 20' Boston Whaler with 225hp outboard and a 21' Castoldi Jet
Given the choice in all but the roughest runs I'd have the jet, if you're used to ourboards it'll take a while to get used to manoeuvring a jet, but once you do you won't want to take an outboard into tight quarters again
The Boston was a little quicker flat out, that's about it...
Given the choice in all but the roughest runs I'd have the jet, if you're used to ourboards it'll take a while to get used to manoeuvring a jet, but once you do you won't want to take an outboard into tight quarters again
The Boston was a little quicker flat out, that's about it...
the_lone_wolf said:
My experience comes from a 20' Boston Whaler with 225hp outboard and a 21' Castoldi Jet
Given the choice in all but the roughest runs I'd have the jet, if you're used to ourboards it'll take a while to get used to manoeuvring a jet, but once you do you won't want to take an outboard into tight quarters again
The Boston was a little quicker flat out, that's about it...
Mine has been a variety of diesel powered NORSAFE FRC's. Lovely machines. Agree about tight quarters. I would still take the jet boat in rough seas, (and have done many times in the past). Given the choice in all but the roughest runs I'd have the jet, if you're used to ourboards it'll take a while to get used to manoeuvring a jet, but once you do you won't want to take an outboard into tight quarters again
The Boston was a little quicker flat out, that's about it...
TheHeretic said:
Mine has been a variety of diesel powered NORSAFE FRC's. Lovely machines. Agree about tight quarters. I would still take the jet boat in rough seas, (and have done many times in the past).
Should have said the Castoldi was a flat bottomed skimming stone compared to the Boston we had on board, nothing to do with the different engine typesThe OP wanted a tender to do tendering things. All close quarter use with the jetskis and stuff. Jets just don't have the pin-point control of an O/B, they drift under slower maneuvers unlike an outboard. I've had Bostons of 13, 15, 17, 18 and 25, they all do what they're told. RIBs are the same.
Just better for the job.
Just better for the job.
I take the FRC in amongst seismic gun arrays being towed behind a vessel at lowish speed. I'll take the jet. Fishtigua said:
Jets just don't have the pin-point control of an O/B
Not in my experience at all, Jet was vastly more capable of close quarters manoeuvring...Castoldi was easy to maintain position in all conditions - in neutral the drift was totally insignificant, if you really had to have no motion whatsoever just disengage the clutch...
Wouldn't dream of trying to spin the Boston round in a gap no more than half a metre longer than the tender itself, became a daily occurrence during busy events like the Monaco GP and Yacht Show, not to mention getting in and out of St Tropez on a Friday night...
As Fish say's a outboard still acts as rudder with water flow even in neutral unlike a small jet RIB for tight quarters. The Jet versions also tend to be heavy, less reliable, poor internal volume for size and expensive. However in some sistuations with dinghy garages on motor yachts it is the only option given there low overall height.
Certainly not my first choice RIB.
Certainly not my first choice RIB.
Thanks everyone for your advice!
I was waiting for your ten penneth worth RumRummer as the rib is intended for use from The Warren beach so not too much close quarters work or marina navigation.
Current owner has paid for the carbs to be stripped and serviced and they are going to water test it again today.
For what i'd get for my old 3.4m I might keep that aswell maybe?
I was waiting for your ten penneth worth RumRummer as the rib is intended for use from The Warren beach so not too much close quarters work or marina navigation.
Current owner has paid for the carbs to be stripped and serviced and they are going to water test it again today.
For what i'd get for my old 3.4m I might keep that aswell maybe?
zed4 said:
It's not the boat I have for sale is it? 1998 Projet 350 from BHG Marine?
They have their advantages and disadvantages. What will you be using it for and where? They're great for high speed work, but very difficult to work at slow speeds. No steering on a jet at slow speeds and no real neutral so to speak, so difficult for children to operate safely, or to operate in marinas.
Dan
BallcocksThey have their advantages and disadvantages. What will you be using it for and where? They're great for high speed work, but very difficult to work at slow speeds. No steering on a jet at slow speeds and no real neutral so to speak, so difficult for children to operate safely, or to operate in marinas.
Dan
A jet boat with a separate throttle and bucket control can do things that no outboard boat could ever do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBEVU9mRATE
McWigglebum4th said:
Ballcocks
A jet boat with a separate throttle and bucket control can do things that no outboard boat could ever do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBEVU9mRATE
Oh dear. Do you realise the sA jet boat with a separate throttle and bucket control can do things that no outboard boat could ever do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBEVU9mRATE
tstorm that is about to fall on this thread? 
McWigglebum4th said:
Ballcocks
A jet boat with a separate throttle and bucket control can do things that no outboard boat could ever do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBEVU9mRATE
This was my experience completelyA jet boat with a separate throttle and bucket control can do things that no outboard boat could ever do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBEVU9mRATE
Even twin outboards didn't have the manuveurability of the CastoldiJet we were using...
Guys, there seems to be some confusion on this thread.
The OP is talking about a Zodiac jet tender. These don't have a 'proper' jet, it's a jet ski jet, unlike a Castoldi or Hamilton.
I have quite a bit of experience with Castoldi and Hamilton jets, as I maintained and operated them as the "Tender engineer" on an 80 meter yacht for over 6 years. They are fantastic! You can put a jet boat anywhere.
These little jet tenders however, are crap!
I now run a 27 meter gin palace, and the owner has had literaly dozens of the things. To be fair the family are the most mechanicaly unsimpathetic people I hae ever had the misfortune to meet, but, they are poorly built, and they do not manouver like a proper jet, in fact they don't go backwards very well at all.
But on a positive note, the older ones with the Yamaha two stroke motor are the best of a bad bunch. Do not go near the four stroke Avons! (Which I believe are now owned by Zodiac)
If you do buy one, make sure the stainless wear ring isn't corroded and catching the impeller. You'll hear it if it is. IIRC these are several hundred pounds to replace.
Don't leave it in the water, and make sure you give the motor a thorough flushing, and wash the jet unit with copious amounts of fresh water after use.
Personaly I would stick with the outboard, put a prop guard on, and teach your kids to respect it.
The OP is talking about a Zodiac jet tender. These don't have a 'proper' jet, it's a jet ski jet, unlike a Castoldi or Hamilton.
I have quite a bit of experience with Castoldi and Hamilton jets, as I maintained and operated them as the "Tender engineer" on an 80 meter yacht for over 6 years. They are fantastic! You can put a jet boat anywhere.
These little jet tenders however, are crap!
I now run a 27 meter gin palace, and the owner has had literaly dozens of the things. To be fair the family are the most mechanicaly unsimpathetic people I hae ever had the misfortune to meet, but, they are poorly built, and they do not manouver like a proper jet, in fact they don't go backwards very well at all.
But on a positive note, the older ones with the Yamaha two stroke motor are the best of a bad bunch. Do not go near the four stroke Avons! (Which I believe are now owned by Zodiac)
If you do buy one, make sure the stainless wear ring isn't corroded and catching the impeller. You'll hear it if it is. IIRC these are several hundred pounds to replace.
Don't leave it in the water, and make sure you give the motor a thorough flushing, and wash the jet unit with copious amounts of fresh water after use.
Personaly I would stick with the outboard, put a prop guard on, and teach your kids to respect it.
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