RIBs in the Pacific Ocean

PacificNWrib · 09 November 2007, 21:07

Question for all those RIB owners. What is the minimum size RIB be for going out in the Pacific Ocean? I am thinking about 10-15 miles offshore during the summer months.

Biggles · 10 November 2007, 00:23

Whats wrong with the one you have. 4 Meter would be good for just about anything on a nice sunny day.

Take a radio and another boat and you should be okay for doing what you intend.

Bigger just makes it easier. 4 Meter on your own is plenty enough as long as it doesn't get too rough.

Divingthedream · 10 November 2007, 00:25

Down here in Southern California, I find my 6.6m boat to be more than adequate for all of the conditions I have encountered so far. I have seen many smaller RIBs (4-5m) out at our local islands (10-20 miles offshore) on calm days, but the idea of being caught out in one of these makes that extra size somewhat reassuring.

Mollers · 10 November 2007, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Whats wrong with the one you have. 4 Meter would be good for just about anything on a nice sunny day.

Take a radio and another boat and you should be okay for doing what you intend.

Bigger just makes it easier. 4 Meter on your own is plenty enough as long as it doesn't get too rough.

The slightest build in the sea and you're gonna find it very hardwork. I wouldn't go 15m offshore in a 4m rib unless the conditions were perfect. 5.5-6m would be hugely more able.

Biggles · 10 November 2007, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

The slightest build in the sea and you're gonna find it very hardwork. I wouldn't go 15m offshore in a 4m rib unless the conditions were perfect. 5.5-6m would be hugely more able.

I think he's talking about perfect conditions though.

Bigger is always better in the RIB world but what he's got should be adequate if he's careful. A 6 meter boat can also struggle when the sea picks up.

If he wanted to be really safe he could get a 9 Meter boat.

enwulff · 13 November 2007, 03:01

Anything less than 22' and you will be hating life in large swell. Even small chop is a pain with less than a 22'.

jyasaki · 13 November 2007, 17:07

Interesting outlook. Why is 22' the magic number?

I've done pretty long runs in my 18'-ish RIB in less than ideal weather (read: scared the crap out of myself a couple of times.) It was a bit of work, yes, but it was still better than sitting on the sofa channel surfing.

jky

Biggles · 13 November 2007, 18:14

I'm with jky on this one. No reason why a little RIB can't have some fun. Just takes a little longer to get anywhere. And of course your sea skills will be honed quicker.
Obviously no boat can go out in everything, but by my reckoning if a 6 meter boat can do it a 4 meter one should be able to make a good account of its self.

Downhilldai · 13 November 2007, 21:00

Silly answers to a silly question.

How long was that piece of string?

Bigger is obviously better, but to get back to the original point, there probably is no 'minimum size', as it would always depend on the conditions. Try it in the 4m and see how you get on. If it's too small, turn back and buy a bigger one

Mollers · 13 November 2007, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

I
If he wanted to be really safe he could get a 9 Meter boat.

So, is he happy to be a little unsafe in a 4m boat?

Biggles · 13 November 2007, 22:00

For what its worth and PacificNWrib has to decide for himself what he wants to do, I would quite happily go 15 mile offshore in his 4 meter RIB with the 50 HP on the back.

I'd make sure its a nice day and check the forecast first.

Indeed its something I used to do quite happily in my Searider when the conditions were right.

Now if the question is "What size RIB do I need to go 15 miles off shore in any conditions". Then I'm afraid I can't answer that. It would probably need to be a ship for that sort of thing.

Now where is that piece of string

PacificNWrib · 13 November 2007, 22:46

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Yes, I am talking about ideal conditions. I would definitely not go out alone. Weather permitting I would like to give it a try.

Or find a big lake and give it a go in some rough weather.

enwulff · 14 November 2007, 01:07

The 22' size is the mimimum size most coast guard and military boats I have seen are that are used to go off shore. Probably has to do with the size of the wave heights so that the boat doesn't get up ended in hi surf condititions and that it has enough mass to be stable in a variety of sea states. The good news is that the 4m boat wont sink because it is a Rib.

I think the general rule is always be prepared when it comes to mother nature. You might expect the weather to be good, but it might turn or you face a breakdown which leaves you stranded and then the weather turns. Up on the great lakes you can get perfect conditions one hour, and the next a storm will role in and you get big waves and dangerous conditioins. 15 miles offshore puts you in a situation where help is going to be difficult to find you should you have a breakdown and you might be stuck out there for a while until help arrives. This is where the issue of the boat size really comes into play.

jyasaki · 15 November 2007, 02:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by enwulff

The 22' size is the mimimum size most coast guard and military boats I have seen are that are used to go off shore.

The obvious difference here is that when they go, they *have* to go.

For us civilian types, it's a pick and choose when it comes to weather and a trip.

jky

captnjack · 15 November 2007, 19:14

15miles is starting to get outside the range of VHF (assuming your antenna on the 4m boat isn't 6m tall). In my 4.7m AL hulled RIB I stick to 10miles from shore. Partly this is due to the lack of a kicker/redundant propulsion. Partly because I have pounded the crap out of myself even close in.

I would be leaving the weather channel on scan and heading in from 10miles asap if its even remotely marginal. 15miles, I probably would not do since there's nothing 5miles further out there that I'm interested in.

Richard (in Seattle)

FedRich · 16 November 2007, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

The obvious difference here is that when they go, they *have* to go.

Yep, the Coast Guard saying goes "You have to go out but you don't have to come back".

Though the implementation of Rescue 21 nationwide *should* increase the range of USCG VHF coverage, offshore communications in any type of vessel is critical.

At least on the east coast off of Florida, I have yet to see anything less than a 20' C/C out past fifteen miles. Our communication and nav equipment requirements increase beyond 20 miles. 20 miles is considered the limit by policy for the 733 I run.

jyasaki · 16 November 2007, 17:04

A friend of mine was doing some fishing out of Santa Cruz, trolling for albacore about 5 miles out, when he came across an older Asian gentleman fishing from a float tube. The guy declined a ride back in (and seemed miffed that my friend had interrupted his fishing.)

jky