Thanks for all the input. Yes, there were many questions answered very kindly by all of you on Ribnet - thank you. There were many more asked of Lee and Kevin at Solent Ribs / Fairweather Marine.
I suppose I liken it to buying a sports car when the only standard item off the shelf is the bare chassis.... and you have just passed your driving test in an old mini. How anyone gets through this without help, I do not know.
There are just too many options!!!!
Dealing with the specifics:
"Why one elelphant's trunk" - Lee says it is a very dry boat and we can always fit another one if I find I need it
"You'll appreciate that tall console but side screens will make all the difference"
Didn't know there were such things! jwalker - can you please point me to a picture / website for their supply? The console is quite narrow - this rib is not terribly beamy - and I think they might feel constraining.
"The grey bow protection/anchor guide needs to go right down to the hull. That area is vulnerable when you are at a pontoon berth. It's just the right height to wear through the tube to hull joining strip."
While I do not expect to use the bow for embarking / exiting the boat, I I can see if the boat was moored so the nose was up against a pontoon there might be a rub risk. Could this not be handled simply by dropping a fender down the fairlead.
I attach a close up of the area.
How would you suggest this rub risk is removed. It is a bit late (I think) to remove the 'grey bow protection/anchor guide' (?fairlead?) and put a new one on - that would damage the tubes would it not? What could be done?
Any other thoughts?
Bruce
