Can someone please explain the advantage of a RIB over a conventional boat.

[capntroy]

zip - what are you going to be doing with the new boat? How and where will you use it?

I agree about the safety redundancies that are inherent to the RIB design, but if you're not out in force 5 conditions trying to come alongside another vessel, you can probably save yourself quite a bit of money and get into a used Parker or Mako or Radoncraft, which will give you the same ride as a RIB and be plenty safe for just about any conditions you will encounter out here.

Also, to answer at least part of your question, the tubes on my larger RIB's (28', 34' 36') do not touch the water while at rest and only the rear bottoms get a bit of spray at plane, this reduces wetted surface and helps with the top end speed, the tubes are really just there for cushioning impact and emergency flotation, not primary flotation.

[zip]

I will mostly be using boat for going out in the ocean, all year around.
I travel to Catalina Island a lot, and usually take a lot of gear.
Scuba, bike, kayak, SUP board, cooler, camping gear.
I like to anchor around the island, and sleep on boat too.
Here is my 14 footer partially loaded with my bike and scuba gear, headed to Catalina.
Definitely need something bigger.

[kerny]

Where do you sit zip ??

[zip]

Ha Ha! That's funny.

If I am in the bay or harbor, I can sit.
When I am out in the ocean, and if it's real calm, I can sit.
Most of the time though, I am standing.

[capntroy]

Originally Posted by zip

I will mostly be using boat for going out in the ocean, all year around.
I travel to Catalina Island a lot, and usually take a lot of gear.
Scuba, bike, kayak, SUP board, cooler, camping gear.
I like to anchor around the island, and sleep on boat too.
Here is my 14 footer partially loaded with my bike and scuba gear, headed to Catalina.
Definitely need something bigger.

Yeah, sounds like a 22' Radoncraft with a big hard top & cuddy would be about perfect for what you're doing...a 26' Radoncraft would be ideal too, but they get pricey...

Cool thing about that is you could drag your 14' inflatable with you for beach excursions... :-)

[zip]

Unfortunately I am one of those kind of people that is foolish enough to be a multi boat owner.
Besides my three inflatables, I own a 36' sloop, and 23' pilot house.

The 23 is a powerboat with a 5.7 IO. It has a table, head, fridge, stove, and a V berth.
It should be perfect for my application, but for some reason I prefer my little 14. Maybe it is the air in my face, or the simplicity of just a hull, tubes, steering wheel, and engine. I don't know, but it still looks like the bigger rib is the way to go for me.

Thanks for the input.

[capntroy]

Well, there is the fun aspect to consider also, good luck on your search...

[ncp]

I guess you've got the pilot house covered but for anyone else needing ideas for a small pilot house, Anderson is making a 17. This thread has great pictures for ideas:
http://spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=129110
82 pages of pictures and comments!

Edit: Somewhere in the middle of that thread is some pictures of the 5.4 Searider with the mini pilot house.

[zip]

NCP,

thanks for posting the link.

this Protector on Yachtworld is for sale locally.

2001 Protector 28 Targa Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

i don't know anything about these boats, but seems a little high on the price.
i was also a little surprised to see the smaller motors too. i was kind of under the impression that most boats this size would have the twin 150s, but what do i know?

[ncp]

Originally Posted by zip

NCP,

thanks for posting the link.

this Protector on Yachtworld is for sale locally.

2001 Protector 28 Targa Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

i don't know anything about these boats, but seems a little high on the price.
i was also a little surprised to see the smaller motors too. i was kind of under the impression that most boats this size would have the twin 150s, but what do i know?

That's cheap. There was a twin diesel Protector on ebay last week (it may still be active) for $350k.

[zip]

^^^^

Yep, I saw that one too.

WHOA!

[ncp]

Sorry, $375,000!
Protector 35 Targa RIB in Other Boats | eBay Motors

I'm not really into the Euro/Med thing but I like this one:
Pirelli inflatable rigid hull boat in Other Boats | eBay Motors

[capntroy]

The Protector RIB's have a decent ride and with that horsepower, you will probably top out at 25kts or so, and those 115's are pretty fuel efficient.

What concerns me is the hours on the motors, if those motors haven't lost a lower unit lately, they're probably getting close. I'd have the motors checked out at someplace like West Coast Marine Service in Newport Beach before committing...

[MtStPipier]

I've got a Targa 28 with twin 225s and love it. Have driven twin 150s and that'll work just fine. 115s do seem quite small, but at that price, I don't think you are paying much for them.

[zip]

You must scoot along pretty nicely.

Don't know much about Protectors, but they seem mighty pricey.

[MtStPipier]

She'll do 49 knots. Cruises very nicely at 38 kts. Not cheap to buy or on gas, but when you want to go whale watching with the kids 40 miles out, it's the way to go. I would agree new prices are quite high, but you can find some decent used ones.

[Bigtalljv]

i think we need to get back on topic here because I need the answer now too!! I have 2 RIBs (or at least all the parts to make a second and will eventually sell the first) and a buddy just got a beautiful used 21' Parker for less that what I am going to build my 733 for...

So like mountains, "because it's there" better be a good enough answer...

[Al Baker]

In my opinion the main advantage of ribs is being able to bang them into anything and bounce off without causing serious hull damage. Really handy for coming alongside vessels underway and they also provide extra buoyancy, much harder to sink in heavy conditions.

[ssobol]

My 16' Zodiac RIB is rated to carry more than 2x the load of my 22' FG boat with about 2/3 the HP.

My Zodiac will cruise 60 miles at ~18mph on 6 gallons of gas. My 22' will need ~15 gallons to go the same distance at the same speed. And my 22' is considered to be very fuel efficient.

[ncp]

Originally Posted by ssobol

My 16' Zodiac RIB is rated to carry more than 2x the load of my 22' FG boat with about 2/3 the HP.

True, people laugh when I tell them that my 7m is rated for 18 people.