RIB or 'Fixed' - Boat for the Solent
Discussion
Am in the process of looking for a boat - hired a 6,5m rib from http://www.rib-it.com at the weekend.
Friend and I want to go halves - budgets about £14k.
He wants a rib like the one we hired - but just wanted an opinion on how a rib would compare to a fixed sports boat inboard or outboard. We are on the Solent, would have it dry stored at Ocean Village or on the Hamble.
Friend and I want to go halves - budgets about £14k.
He wants a rib like the one we hired - but just wanted an opinion on how a rib would compare to a fixed sports boat inboard or outboard. We are on the Solent, would have it dry stored at Ocean Village or on the Hamble.
Big Al. said:
What would be the reason for the boat fishing, water sports, pleasure cruising?
Do you want cover or open top?
Fast/Cruising - trips to Isle of Wight.Do you want cover or open top?
No Fishing.
The rib was open as per the website (scorpion) as long as it has seating... no need for cabin.
I just really want to know how a 6,5m rib differ from a rigid 6m boat and from a 6m sport boat with inboard engine/s
I have a 6M Hardy outboard fishing boat, out of Chichester.
It planes at around 20ish knots get me where I want to go and if it starts to rain I can keep most of the rain off, whether at anchor or motoring.
I wave been on a few ribs over the years and they are great fun and get you where you want to go fast! However you are open a lot of weather and sea.
I have thought about changing to a rib and it would be a pleasure to get out to a spot in a two thirds of the time but at a cost, I would be against the weather if it blew up rough.
The Sports cruiser is another option about 20 years ago a friend owned a 28 ft Sunseeker sports (gin palace) cruiser, bit of an all rounder really, pop over to the island for the weekend do a bit of fishing and stay on board overnight. Likened it to a floating caravan.
It planes at around 20ish knots get me where I want to go and if it starts to rain I can keep most of the rain off, whether at anchor or motoring.
I wave been on a few ribs over the years and they are great fun and get you where you want to go fast! However you are open a lot of weather and sea.
I have thought about changing to a rib and it would be a pleasure to get out to a spot in a two thirds of the time but at a cost, I would be against the weather if it blew up rough.
The Sports cruiser is another option about 20 years ago a friend owned a 28 ft Sunseeker sports (gin palace) cruiser, bit of an all rounder really, pop over to the island for the weekend do a bit of fishing and stay on board overnight. Likened it to a floating caravan.
dtmpower said:
Big Al. said:
What would be the reason for the boat fishing, water sports, pleasure cruising?
Do you want cover or open top?
Fast/Cruising - trips to Isle of Wight.Do you want cover or open top?
No Fishing.
The rib was open as per the website (scorpion) as long as it has seating... no need for cabin.
I just really want to know how a 6,5m rib differ from a rigid 6m boat and from a 6m sport boat with inboard engine/s
Something like this is well within your budget and probably looks like more for your money than a RIB:
http://www.easier.com/view/Watercraft/Power_Boats/...
I've had 6-7m sports boats and cuddies before on the English Channel. I found that this size boat was too small for the chop (I was much more comfortable at 26'+) I tried out a 6.5m rib on the Solent which was fantastic and one day will be my next boat.
Lighter, faster, more economical, more fun when the chop gets up, easier for towing to different parts of the country (and possible with a normal car). Possible to store in a long lock-up garage; easier to sell on too I reckon.
4x4 of the sea. But yes, choose your hull carefully. rib.net is informative. 6.5m is the optimum/most popular rib size.
In my opinion, the only benefit of a rigid boat is the option of accommodation. Which you don't need. And if you don't need it, there's no point in paying £££'s in fuel hauling it all around.
Lighter, faster, more economical, more fun when the chop gets up, easier for towing to different parts of the country (and possible with a normal car). Possible to store in a long lock-up garage; easier to sell on too I reckon.
4x4 of the sea. But yes, choose your hull carefully. rib.net is informative. 6.5m is the optimum/most popular rib size.
In my opinion, the only benefit of a rigid boat is the option of accommodation. Which you don't need. And if you don't need it, there's no point in paying £££'s in fuel hauling it all around.
Some of the postings on here aren't 100% true....
RIBs can be pretty heavy when compared with a fibreglass hull boat, but this all depends on the type of hull. They are also not necessarily faster. My experience is with the smaller sized stuff (5-6m) - I used to run a 5m fibreglass hull sports boat with an 85hp Yamaha 2-stroke, which admittedly was a very light boat. My friend ran a 5.5m (I think!) Avon Searider with a 100hp Yamaha V4. The Avon was considerably more expensive, but mine was a little faster, pulled skiers out just as well, and was just as much fun on the go. This was also in the Solent - place called Mudeford just next to Christchurch.
Now, I would prefer to have been in the RIB in the rougher waters as he had a deeper V, but mine handled moderate rough waters pretty well. A lot of space on a RIB is taken up with the tubes, but these also make comfy and convenient places to sit when at rest or motoring slowly. The RIB was also more steady when walking around the boat etc.
I think as an allrounder, you can't go wrong with a RIB, but you could probably get a lot more for your money with a solid hull boat.
RIBs can be pretty heavy when compared with a fibreglass hull boat, but this all depends on the type of hull. They are also not necessarily faster. My experience is with the smaller sized stuff (5-6m) - I used to run a 5m fibreglass hull sports boat with an 85hp Yamaha 2-stroke, which admittedly was a very light boat. My friend ran a 5.5m (I think!) Avon Searider with a 100hp Yamaha V4. The Avon was considerably more expensive, but mine was a little faster, pulled skiers out just as well, and was just as much fun on the go. This was also in the Solent - place called Mudeford just next to Christchurch.
Now, I would prefer to have been in the RIB in the rougher waters as he had a deeper V, but mine handled moderate rough waters pretty well. A lot of space on a RIB is taken up with the tubes, but these also make comfy and convenient places to sit when at rest or motoring slowly. The RIB was also more steady when walking around the boat etc.
I think as an allrounder, you can't go wrong with a RIB, but you could probably get a lot more for your money with a solid hull boat.
If a RIB is what you want then go for it, they are great.
Personally I get bored on them after about 40 minutes of staring at the back of someone elses head, sat in a line.
Just consider what you want to use it for. I use my 24ft sportscruiser for spending weekends on and going around the coast, with the wife.
As you and a mate are buying it, then you are prob more interested in speed and short term fun than spending the night.
I will be brave and raise the issue of RIB image !!!!!!!!!!
Alot of people are of the opinion that RIBs are driven by a certain type of person. My harbourmaster calls them Real Idiot Boaters as he spends most of his time clearing up their mistakes, fishing them out of the water & watching them crash into walls and pontoons. Not neccessarily my opinion.
Its a bit like driving a Ford Escort Cosworth, great car, just .....a bit essex.
Now that will get someone talking...
............bring it on
Personally I get bored on them after about 40 minutes of staring at the back of someone elses head, sat in a line.
Just consider what you want to use it for. I use my 24ft sportscruiser for spending weekends on and going around the coast, with the wife.
As you and a mate are buying it, then you are prob more interested in speed and short term fun than spending the night.
I will be brave and raise the issue of RIB image !!!!!!!!!!
Alot of people are of the opinion that RIBs are driven by a certain type of person. My harbourmaster calls them Real Idiot Boaters as he spends most of his time clearing up their mistakes, fishing them out of the water & watching them crash into walls and pontoons. Not neccessarily my opinion.
Its a bit like driving a Ford Escort Cosworth, great car, just .....a bit essex.
Now that will get someone talking...
............bring it on
I used to own a 2005 Fletcher 19GTS Sportscruiser, which I kept on the River Hamble. It's legendary deep V hull is superb, and more than coped with the Solent when we went out in her. It is more suited to the Solent then some of the American boats I've been in of the same size.
Did my RYA PB Level 2 in a rib - twas great fun, but coming out of Portsmouth harbour when it cut up rough was scary.
I was told, that with your average wave pattern, to be comfortable, you need a boat of 26ft plus.
Now have a Sealine S28, and the bigger boat is a diffent creature again, but so are the costs ........
Did my RYA PB Level 2 in a rib - twas great fun, but coming out of Portsmouth harbour when it cut up rough was scary.
I was told, that with your average wave pattern, to be comfortable, you need a boat of 26ft plus.
Now have a Sealine S28, and the bigger boat is a diffent creature again, but so are the costs ........
These are superb and selling well due to the last few summers http://northwales.boatshed.com/ocqueteau_615-boat-...
Good in the rough stuff, very capable and i drive most types of boat regularly
Good in the rough stuff, very capable and i drive most types of boat regularly
I have a ridiculously cheap brand new RIB for sale at the moment. I bought it brand new, but never got around to fitting it out.
It's one of these;
http://www.atomixboats.com/afawcs0140789/CATID=8/I...
Boat and trailer, but no engine. Never had an engine fitted, brand new, still in the box (as it were).
£5k cash and it's yours, I'll even deliver it....
We've got a yacht in Bucklers Hard, and are trading up next year to a larger cruiser, so this little RIB that I just bought for a bit of fun has to go now, even though it's never been used.
Give me a pm if you're interested.
It's one of these;
http://www.atomixboats.com/afawcs0140789/CATID=8/I...
Boat and trailer, but no engine. Never had an engine fitted, brand new, still in the box (as it were).
£5k cash and it's yours, I'll even deliver it....
We've got a yacht in Bucklers Hard, and are trading up next year to a larger cruiser, so this little RIB that I just bought for a bit of fun has to go now, even though it's never been used.
Give me a pm if you're interested.
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