Bill's boating paradox...
Discussion
I have a 4.7m plate alloy boat with a 75 HP etec, that I use for fishing & towing toys.
No cuddy, but dry storage under the foredeck, a windscreen & bimini.
It tows happily behind my '98 Subaru Outback, although I haven't taken it through the mountains.
Top speed 30 kt with the bimini down, but it's got to be pretty flat because she slams in a short chop.
The windshield & bimini keep the wind off you & the front seats dry if it rains - important for me for fishing.
I've never tried to tow a skier.
So that's a RIB alternative, but that kind of boat seems rare in the UK, although they're fairly common here in Aus.
No cuddy, but dry storage under the foredeck, a windscreen & bimini.
It tows happily behind my '98 Subaru Outback, although I haven't taken it through the mountains.
Top speed 30 kt with the bimini down, but it's got to be pretty flat because she slams in a short chop.
The windshield & bimini keep the wind off you & the front seats dry if it rains - important for me for fishing.
I've never tried to tow a skier.
So that's a RIB alternative, but that kind of boat seems rare in the UK, although they're fairly common here in Aus.
Not many alloy boats in the UK, but plenty of GRP dory types, RIBs and various open GRP boats with fair sized outboards.
All these genres of power boat cover a multitude of hull shapes.
There are RIBs like Avon and Humber with deep V hulls which give a good (relatively!!) ride in rougher water.
There are other makes of RIB with wider, flatter hulls. More space. Less nice in the rough.
Possibly faster/more economical/doesn't need such a big engine?
Also RIBs range from 4m to 8m commonly, with some handy little boats smaller and some monsta tripper boats etc bigger.
Likewise dory types vary from 13ft up wards and include fair weather boats up to pretty serious capable commercial craft.
A RIB is a good choice, but selecting the right one for what you want matters.
Some RIBs are VERY heavy compared to alternatives.
All these genres of power boat cover a multitude of hull shapes.
There are RIBs like Avon and Humber with deep V hulls which give a good (relatively!!) ride in rougher water.
There are other makes of RIB with wider, flatter hulls. More space. Less nice in the rough.
Possibly faster/more economical/doesn't need such a big engine?
Also RIBs range from 4m to 8m commonly, with some handy little boats smaller and some monsta tripper boats etc bigger.
Likewise dory types vary from 13ft up wards and include fair weather boats up to pretty serious capable commercial craft.
A RIB is a good choice, but selecting the right one for what you want matters.
Some RIBs are VERY heavy compared to alternatives.
OutInTheShed said:
There are RIBs like Avon and Humber with deep V hulls which give a good (relatively!!) ride in rougher water.
There are other makes of RIB with wider, flatter hulls. More space. Less nice in the rough.
Possibly faster/more economical/doesn't need such a big engine?
Also RIBs range from 4m to 8m commonly, with some handy little boats smaller and some monsta tripper boats etc bigger.
A RIB is a good choice, but selecting the right one for what you want matters.
Some RIBs are VERY heavy compared to alternatives.
Told you looking at a RIB would be a minefieldThere are other makes of RIB with wider, flatter hulls. More space. Less nice in the rough.
Possibly faster/more economical/doesn't need such a big engine?
Also RIBs range from 4m to 8m commonly, with some handy little boats smaller and some monsta tripper boats etc bigger.
A RIB is a good choice, but selecting the right one for what you want matters.
Some RIBs are VERY heavy compared to alternatives.
OutInTheShed said:
Not many alloy boats in the UK, but plenty of GRP dory types, RIBs and various open GRP boats with fair sized outboards.
All these genres of power boat cover a multitude of hull shapes.
There are RIBs like Avon and Humber with deep V hulls which give a good (relatively!!) ride in rougher water.
There are other makes of RIB with wider, flatter hulls. More space. Less nice in the rough.
Possibly faster/more economical/doesn't need such a big engine?
Also RIBs range from 4m to 8m commonly, with some handy little boats smaller and some monsta tripper boats etc bigger.
Likewise dory types vary from 13ft up wards and include fair weather boats up to pretty serious capable commercial craft.
A RIB is a good choice, but selecting the right one for what you want matters.
Some RIBs are VERY heavy compared to alternatives.
I assume non-RIB would be lighter for the same size?All these genres of power boat cover a multitude of hull shapes.
There are RIBs like Avon and Humber with deep V hulls which give a good (relatively!!) ride in rougher water.
There are other makes of RIB with wider, flatter hulls. More space. Less nice in the rough.
Possibly faster/more economical/doesn't need such a big engine?
Also RIBs range from 4m to 8m commonly, with some handy little boats smaller and some monsta tripper boats etc bigger.
Likewise dory types vary from 13ft up wards and include fair weather boats up to pretty serious capable commercial craft.
A RIB is a good choice, but selecting the right one for what you want matters.
Some RIBs are VERY heavy compared to alternatives.
One reason I mentioned my boat is that the foredeck / windscreen / bimini gives you a dry / sheltered area, although not a cuddy cabin.
All the RIBs I've seen appear to be basically open.
A few years ago, after learning to sail dinghys and, whilst looking for a dinghy to buy, I ended up with a speedboat..In fact I first bought a Fletcher with 70hp 2-T engine. Only the transom was rotten and I ended up giving it back, but keeping the engine...
I then bought a similar sized Simms Super-V with the same 70hp 2-T Mercury on the back...
It looked a little less then sparkly, shall we say, but was water tight (mostly), and went well...teething problems related to the electrics aside...
Overall, it was great value and, in hindsight, very cheap to own and run. It lived on it's trailer outside my garage and got use mostly in the Solent, launching from Hamble Point.
However, in anything other than calm conditions it is (was) a bumpy, wet ride and the Solent chop didn't agree with either my son or my partner...
So a couple of years ago I decided to upgrade...As you can tell, I kinda like older craft, and bought a Fairey Huntress with a Perkins T6.354 inboard on shaft drive.
It isn't as fast (by a long way), but it does have a small cabin that keeps you (or your family) dry and provides a place to brew up, go to the toilet and, at a push, spend the night.
But the costs are a lot higher...There is moorings to pay for...I have a (cheap for the Solent) swinging mooring in Langstone Harbour, but that requires a dinghy trip to access the boat. Fuel is more, too...although overall the fuel cost isn't vastly important, it does add up...then there is (a lot more) maintenance to do...whereas the Simms only needed a few little odds and ends after sorting out the electrics, the Fairey has always got a list of jobs that are needed...Fine if you can do them yourself and have the time, but expensive if not.
For me, as the owner/skipper, the cabin doesn't make a lot of difference, but the dry cockpit with spray hood/dodger certainly does.
However, for a lot of the time you can find me zipping about Langstone and the immediate vicinity in my 12ft fibreglass dinghy with 4hp 2-T Evinrude...bought (with a trailer) very, very cheaply....Yes it did need a little work to boat, motor and trailer, but it gets almost as much time on the water as the Huntress does...
Fairey Huntress Hermes
Simms Super-V
Dinghy
I then bought a similar sized Simms Super-V with the same 70hp 2-T Mercury on the back...
It looked a little less then sparkly, shall we say, but was water tight (mostly), and went well...teething problems related to the electrics aside...
Overall, it was great value and, in hindsight, very cheap to own and run. It lived on it's trailer outside my garage and got use mostly in the Solent, launching from Hamble Point.
However, in anything other than calm conditions it is (was) a bumpy, wet ride and the Solent chop didn't agree with either my son or my partner...
So a couple of years ago I decided to upgrade...As you can tell, I kinda like older craft, and bought a Fairey Huntress with a Perkins T6.354 inboard on shaft drive.
It isn't as fast (by a long way), but it does have a small cabin that keeps you (or your family) dry and provides a place to brew up, go to the toilet and, at a push, spend the night.
But the costs are a lot higher...There is moorings to pay for...I have a (cheap for the Solent) swinging mooring in Langstone Harbour, but that requires a dinghy trip to access the boat. Fuel is more, too...although overall the fuel cost isn't vastly important, it does add up...then there is (a lot more) maintenance to do...whereas the Simms only needed a few little odds and ends after sorting out the electrics, the Fairey has always got a list of jobs that are needed...Fine if you can do them yourself and have the time, but expensive if not.
For me, as the owner/skipper, the cabin doesn't make a lot of difference, but the dry cockpit with spray hood/dodger certainly does.
However, for a lot of the time you can find me zipping about Langstone and the immediate vicinity in my 12ft fibreglass dinghy with 4hp 2-T Evinrude...bought (with a trailer) very, very cheaply....Yes it did need a little work to boat, motor and trailer, but it gets almost as much time on the water as the Huntress does...
Fairey Huntress Hermes
Simms Super-V
Dinghy
AW111 said:
I assume non-RIB would be lighter for the same size?
One reason I mentioned my boat is that the foredeck / windscreen / bimini gives you a dry / sheltered area, although not a cuddy cabin.
All the RIBs I've seen appear to be basically open.
There's a few RIBs about with little windscreens and some big ribs with little cabins, even a few with wheelhouses.One reason I mentioned my boat is that the foredeck / windscreen / bimini gives you a dry / sheltered area, although not a cuddy cabin.
All the RIBs I've seen appear to be basically open.
The vast majority of medium sized RIBs are open, with maybe a little sprayshield on the front of a console.
Shelter comes from being behind the helmsman.
But in sensible weather they are often fairly dry in terms of spray.
Non-RIBs would generally be lighter, but I guess there will be exceptions!
Cheers, I'll have a look.
Right, bearing in mind the planned usage, what are people's thoughts on what sort of thing to look at? There's 5 of us, but we'd want to be able to take 4 more on occasion. We don't need to be able to tow a water-skier with 9 on board but getting places in good conditions. We want to be able to explore further afield so up to Portland/IoW.
£15k budget.
Or am I back to moon on a stick again?
Right, bearing in mind the planned usage, what are people's thoughts on what sort of thing to look at? There's 5 of us, but we'd want to be able to take 4 more on occasion. We don't need to be able to tow a water-skier with 9 on board but getting places in good conditions. We want to be able to explore further afield so up to Portland/IoW.
£15k budget.
Or am I back to moon on a stick again?
https://commercial.apolloduck.com/boat/commercial-...
and claim a bounty from Priti for any asylum seekers you pick up to offset running costs
Not helping, am I?
Wow. So you want to be able to comfortable carry 9, but still make a bit of a turn of speed?
Certainly doable. But for context, my 28' hardboat is designed around a max of 5 - albeit I have an enclosed deck & therefore cabin to overnight in.
So to carry 9, you'll likely be looking at an open deck rib with 2x on the console, and then maybe 4x double jockey seats behind, or 2x double seats behind and also seats in front of the console too.
That's gonna be at least an 8M rib and to carry that load and I wouldn't consider less then 225 horsepower to be able to plane well enough fully loaded.
Managing 9 people on board also needs consideration - the less experienced your passengers, the more experienced you should be.
Your requirements seem to be quite variable. I'd suggest get yourself booked on a PB2 course with Steve Gravells @ TecRec coaching, based in Southampton. In addition to this giving you some training & experience, the RIB you'd do the course with him on is a pretty close match to what you're now asking for.
Personally if wanted to accomodate 9 people I'd persuade one of my mates buy a boat too so we can go out as a group, together.
Either way, I'm seeing enough variation in your requirements that I think you've not got a massive amount of hands on experience and a PB2 with Steve @ TecRec would probably be well founded before considering buying stuff. Apologies if this is not the case, I don't mean to offend.
(For context, I have a degree in marine engineering, have been on boats & water all my life from yachts to dinghy racing to powerboat racing, to power boat pleasure boating, water skiing, rescue boat helm & crew and lots of general messing around. Along with having rebuilt or built from scratch a few boats too. I don't say that for the purposes of willy waving - I know many other posters on this thread have similar or more experience. But I call it out from the perspective of saying "learn from my mistakes", of which I have made many)
Certainly doable. But for context, my 28' hardboat is designed around a max of 5 - albeit I have an enclosed deck & therefore cabin to overnight in.
So to carry 9, you'll likely be looking at an open deck rib with 2x on the console, and then maybe 4x double jockey seats behind, or 2x double seats behind and also seats in front of the console too.
That's gonna be at least an 8M rib and to carry that load and I wouldn't consider less then 225 horsepower to be able to plane well enough fully loaded.
Managing 9 people on board also needs consideration - the less experienced your passengers, the more experienced you should be.
Your requirements seem to be quite variable. I'd suggest get yourself booked on a PB2 course with Steve Gravells @ TecRec coaching, based in Southampton. In addition to this giving you some training & experience, the RIB you'd do the course with him on is a pretty close match to what you're now asking for.
Personally if wanted to accomodate 9 people I'd persuade one of my mates buy a boat too so we can go out as a group, together.
Either way, I'm seeing enough variation in your requirements that I think you've not got a massive amount of hands on experience and a PB2 with Steve @ TecRec would probably be well founded before considering buying stuff. Apologies if this is not the case, I don't mean to offend.
(For context, I have a degree in marine engineering, have been on boats & water all my life from yachts to dinghy racing to powerboat racing, to power boat pleasure boating, water skiing, rescue boat helm & crew and lots of general messing around. Along with having rebuilt or built from scratch a few boats too. I don't say that for the purposes of willy waving - I know many other posters on this thread have similar or more experience. But I call it out from the perspective of saying "learn from my mistakes", of which I have made many)
Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Tuesday 17th May 09:20
Bill said:
Cheers, I'll have a look.
Right, bearing in mind the planned usage, what are people's thoughts on what sort of thing to look at? There's 5 of us, but we'd want to be able to take 4 more on occasion. We don't need to be able to tow a water-skier with 9 on board but getting places in good conditions. We want to be able to explore further afield so up to Portland/IoW.
£15k budget.
Or am I back to moon on a stick again?
Maybe I missed the bit in the thread, but are you intending to tow/launch the boat or keep afloat somewhere? Right, bearing in mind the planned usage, what are people's thoughts on what sort of thing to look at? There's 5 of us, but we'd want to be able to take 4 more on occasion. We don't need to be able to tow a water-skier with 9 on board but getting places in good conditions. We want to be able to explore further afield so up to Portland/IoW.
£15k budget.
Or am I back to moon on a stick again?
If you are going to keep afloat, then you will want a cabin deep-vee hard boat... You are unlikely to find a twin-engined inboard (or decent outboard) for that sort of money, so you will want something with a big enough engine to make some speed with 9 on board.
You will have to make a choice between petrol or diesel...Petrol is cheaper to buy and more expensive in fuel...
Depending on the size of the hull, you are going to want 150+hp motor to achieve a decent cruising speed with a full complement.
If on a trailer, either a Speedboat (probably a bowrider to get 9 people on board) or a big rib...These are not likely to come with a cabin for your budget...
Almost all at that price will be petrol and probably outboard.
I found this SeaRay 270
https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/boat/1987-sea-...
Twin engine (albeit petrol) on outdrives and within your budget...
Looks nice enough, but is in the Channel Islands...
I've had 8 people in a 6m RIB, for a low speed 'getting across the harbour' trip.
I don't think 9 people is compatible with a boat you tow behind a car.
some of the big dive RIBs carry those numbers, it's good to divide the fuel bill more ways.
Bear in mind that some 'front seats' are not usable at speed with the slightest ripple on the water, they will damage your back.
Personally I think small RIBs are more fun, 30knots in a 4m boat is FAST, in an 8m boat, it's like being on a bus.
You can beach a small RIB and shoe it back in if the tide drops a bit. A big RIB is heavy.
2 people can launch a small RIB from a beach.
6m RIB takes a gang of Brummy divers and a truck.
If doing a PB course, consider what size of boat. I did mine in a dive club's 5.5m RIB with 75HP, I think my wife did PB2 with about 180HP.
Which is all good fun, but driving the sailing club's 5m boat with 40HP is quite different.
I don't think 9 people is compatible with a boat you tow behind a car.
some of the big dive RIBs carry those numbers, it's good to divide the fuel bill more ways.
Bear in mind that some 'front seats' are not usable at speed with the slightest ripple on the water, they will damage your back.
Personally I think small RIBs are more fun, 30knots in a 4m boat is FAST, in an 8m boat, it's like being on a bus.
You can beach a small RIB and shoe it back in if the tide drops a bit. A big RIB is heavy.
2 people can launch a small RIB from a beach.
6m RIB takes a gang of Brummy divers and a truck.
If doing a PB course, consider what size of boat. I did mine in a dive club's 5.5m RIB with 75HP, I think my wife did PB2 with about 180HP.
Which is all good fun, but driving the sailing club's 5m boat with 40HP is quite different.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff