Help in choosing a new RIB/Inflatable

[ukkid76]

Hi all I am very new to this forum but have been reading some posts in the past few weeks, I am very interested in purchasing an inflatable boat,
I have a limited budget of around £1000 for boat only, I can add accessories to it at a later date,
I already have a 9.9 4 stroke Johnson short shaft outboard motor for my new purchase, and a trailer,

I've been searching the internet for a suitable RIB these are what I've come up with,

Firstly what I would like is a 3.8m ally deck, all these listed below offer that but as they are dotted all over the UK it’s very difficult for me to pick one I can rely on.......
Can anyone here help with my decision, these are the RIB’s I’ve identified so far:

Before you look,

You can bare in mind that I live near Naples Italy I’m here in the UK working at the moment and will transport whatever I buy down there, I don't have anywhere to keep a ridged boat so I need something that can be rolled up and put in the corner of a garage, I want something that would cruise the Med with upto 4 adults, so I thought if I purchased one which would take 5+ there would be enough room for me and my friends,

o stated above I can’t touch and feel or even look at most of these so if anyone knows anything please pass your information on I don’t want to make a silly mistake and buy something that looks good in a picture and believe everything the seller tells me......

So gere goes

Ecxel Vanguard 380S this is the web site Excel XHD385 Inflatable Boat.

Or this one

ProWave, This is their web site PROWAVE INFLATABLES

Or Perhaps this one

Honwave except they only do a 3.5 or a 4.2 in the ally floor the 3.5 may be a little to small and the 4.2 would be a little to big for my little outboard but they do supply a 3.8 in an air deck, but I have been told that the air deck wouldn’t be the right choice for me, this was by a Honwave salesman…..

Or then there’s this one

Seapro, This is their web site Inflatable Boat | Inflatable Boat for Sale - billhigham.co.uk

Then there is the

Bison, apparently they make good wellington boots or waders you can see it here on ebay BISON MARINE OLIVE GREEN INFLATABLE FISHING SPORTS AIR RIB BOAT 13ft | eBay

Another one is the

SUNSPORT AL 390, again see it here on ebay SUNSPORT AL 390 Inflatable SPORTS BOAT ONLY Rib Ally Deck Aluminium Floor | eBay

C pro 3.8 again see it here on ebay c pro 3.8 4.2m inflatable boat dinghy tender rib dive fishing dingy alloy deck | eBay

Europa again on ebay NEW Europa Sport 3.8m Aluminium Floor Inflatable Boat | eBay

And finally the trusty Zodiac again see it here on ebay NEW ZODIAC BOMBARD Typhoon 420 SOLID Deck Boat Inflatable Rib Sports Max 25 hp | eBay
Now I know this RIB is a good example but like the Honwave they don’t do exactly what I want but I could always change my mind on some advice,

Thanks for your/any help
Ukkid76

[lockieboi]

Hi there,


Well the C-Pro, Prowave, and the Europa are all (as far as I'm aware) made in China and are all pretty much identical so if you want one of the above got for the cheapest/best deal you can get.

I've got the 3.8 meter Ali deck Prowave and I like it and can't fault it.

The general reply on here will be keep an eye on eBay as used ones pop up a lot.

Good luck with the search.

[Locozodiac]

A 9.9 HP is a very poor performer for any 380 size sib, will achieve non planing performance, engine is good for pottering around at just displacement speed with intended 4-5 passengers needs. Optimizing prop pitch could render better end performance results...

If buying any of those mentioned brands buy one that has a tech support in Italy too, just in case. A 420 size besides having more lenght compared to a 380, has more width and much more diam tubes including overall weight.

A 380 is generally rated for 18/25 HP engines as best performers. All of the brands mentioned is same Chinese lady with different skirt.

Happy Boating

[ukkid76]

Originally Posted by lockieboi

Hi there,


Well the C-Pro, Prowave, and the Europa are all (as far as I'm aware) made in China and are all pretty much identical so if you want one of the above got for the cheapest/best deal you can get.

I've got the 3.8 meter Ali deck Prowave and I like it and can't fault it.

The general reply on here will be keep an eye on eBay as used ones pop up a lot.

Good luck with the search.

So you like your Prowave is it a good/solid construction? does it feel sturdy and safe? is the material used as good as they say?

Ukkid76

[ukkid76]

Originally Posted by Locozodiac

A 9.9 HP is a very poor performer for any 380 size sib, will achieve non planing performance, engine is good for pottering around at just displacement speed with intended 4-5 passengers needs. Optimizing prop pitch could render better end performance results...

Buy any of the above mentioned brands that has a tech support in Italy too, just in case. A 420 size appart having more lenght compared to a 380, has more width and much more diam tubes including overall weight.

A 380 is generally rated for 18/25 HP engines as best performers.

Happy Boating

Unfortunately I know your right I may sell the Johnson 9.9 and get a 15hp motor I need a 4 stroke because of fuel consumption, I could go for bigger but as I will be putting this RIB together myself I can't go for anything thats too heavy, It's something I will bare in mind.
Thanks
Ukkid76

[lockieboi]

Originally Posted by ukkid76

So you like your Prowave is it a good/solid construction? does it feel sturdy and safe? is the material used as good as they say?

Ukkid76

Yes I like it, it's serving me well.

It does feel sturdy and safe.

With regard to the material I don't know how good they say it is, it's PVC as apposed to Hypalon which is the poorer of the 2 materials but I've not punctured it or damaged it in the 2 years I've had it.

There's some pictures of mine on my profile.

[willk]

Locozodiac - priceless post, I nearly died laughing! You should have kept it

[Locozodiac]

Wilk, it's good to laugh, that's the spirit of the forums. BTW, don't have any issues against Asian sibs, some brands are better than others.

Ukkid 76, a 380 size wooden or alum panel sib of your brand prefference with a 15 HP would be minimum to have in mind, generally speaking a 9.9 and 15 HP weights exactly same, being the 9.9 the detuned version of the 15 HP. Check 4 strokes 15 HP Tohatu, will save some $$$ with respect to other brand same HP.

If you already have a 9.9, assuming it's a non electronic carbed 9.9 engine, you could pass it to 15 for peanuts cost intead of buying a new 15. Just a matter to check both model parts and see which one differs from the other, generally carb..

Happy Boating

[ukkid76]

Originally Posted by Locozodiac

Wilk, it's good to laugh, that's the spirit of the forums. BTW, don't have any issues against Asian sibs, some brands are better than others.

Ukkid 76, a 380 size wooden or alum panel sib of your brand prefference with a 15 HP would be minimum to have in mind, generally speaking a 9.9 and 15 HP weights exactly same, being the 9.9 the detuned version of the 15 HP. Check 4 strokes 15 HP Tohatu, will save some $$$ with respect to other brand same HP.

If you already have a 9.9, assuming it's a non electronic carbed 9.9 engine, you could pass it to 15 for peanuts cost intead of buying a new 15. Just a matter to check both model parts and see which one differs from the other, generally carb..

Happy Boating

That's interesting what you say about my engine, It's a 9.9 Johnson 2005 4 stroke carb model, I have been told it's a suzuki in disguise, do you know who I could get in touch to sort this out for me? or would it be possible to do it myself?

[Locozodiac]

Try to find a on line parts manual to compare both engines blocks, probably same. Don't know for sure if it's a rebadged Suzuki model. Post some interior pics of engine for someone who might have a Suzuki engine to corroborate being same clones.

Happy Boating