Which rib??

weekend-warrior · 06 May 2014, 12:16

Hi guys,

New to this forum. I am looking for a rib with an inflatable hull. I would like it for spearfishing fishing and cruising. If I could use it to tow a waterskier that would be an added bonus. What ribs would people recommend? What engine?

Regards,

Joe

Mollers · 06 May 2014, 13:17

Hey Joe. What kinda of budget?

Pikey Dave · 06 May 2014, 13:18

Hi Joe & welcome to the forum, what you're describing is a SIB not a RIB, a RIB is a Rigid Inflatable Boat, i.e. Rigid hulled, usually GRP or Ally.

Scent from my iBone sow iguana any typos whore bed spillings

weekend-warrior · 06 May 2014, 13:51

I guess im looking for a SIB then! between £500 and £3500

Landlockedpirate · 06 May 2014, 13:57

Its a healthy budget, you will have a good choice of boats.

How do you intend to store and transport it ? Trailer, boot, roof etc.
How many people will you be carrying, any equipment ?
Do you want new or used ?
What performance are you looking for, displacement (less than 7mph) or planing (Over 10mph) speeds.

bartiny · 06 May 2014, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekend-warrior

Hi guys,

New to this forum. I am looking for a rib with an inflatable hull. I would like it for spearfishing fishing and cruising. If I could use it to tow a waterskier that would be an added bonus. What ribs would people recommend? What engine?

Regards,

Joe

Hi Joe, and welcome,
To be honest it is the waterskiing bit that (for me) throws a bit of a spanner in the works regarding a SIB as the engine size to be able to "comfortably" tow a skier I think would mean that it would have to be kept on a trailer as the engine would be too heavy to man handle. And if you are going to trailer it then with your budget a SR4 with say a 40/50hp might be more user friendly.
But it does depend on your circumstances regarding launch/recovery/storage

Just my opinion, others with more experience will probably know more

Mollers · 06 May 2014, 18:58

You'll need 50 gee gees minimum to ski, unless you're pulling out small kids. 50hp puts you out of sibs and into a small rib.

As stated, an SR4 would be the way to go.

henryfreston · 06 May 2014, 19:32

SR4.........

you could get a really nice one for £3.5k

weekend-warrior · 07 May 2014, 16:19

What sort of power would I need for a sib . I'm thinking of a futura . Any good?

henryfreston · 07 May 2014, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekend-warrior

What sort of power would I need for a sib . I'm thinking of a futura . Any good?

why do you want a sib and not a rib? There is no real benefit to having a sib if you are keeping it trailered constantly.

You will get a much better performing boat if you went with a rib like an sr4 rather than a sib.

weekend-warrior · 07 May 2014, 16:28

Not keeping it trailered

John Kennett · 07 May 2014, 17:22

Then unless you're an Olympic weightlifter you're unlikely to want anything bigger than a 25hp 2-stroke.

Unfortunately fold up boats and waterskiing are pretty much mutually exclusive.

The most recommended boat for performance and packability is a Bombard Aerotec 380 with a 15 or 25hp 2-stroke.

Landlockedpirate · 07 May 2014, 17:28

You can ski behind a Futura, I had a 4.6m Sport with a 50hp Yamaha that easily pulled my lardy arse out of the water. It was also quick enough for mono skiing (just).

But mine had an alloy floor and jockey console and although you could break it down it was much easier to trail it.

If you want to rig each time you will want an airfloor like the Futura Mk3 FR but the engine is still going to be a massive weight. Best option would be a 40hp 2 stroke, but it will still need 2 of you to carry it. A 40hp will ski most normal sized adults. Tiller steer is easier to set up, the Zodiac Futura steering system works well but its a big faff to rig for a day out.

As Henry said, rough water handling wont be a patch on a Searider, but it calmer conditions you will leave it for dead

You are going to need a very big car to get all this gear in, think Range Rover size boot, and it will soon become a big pain to use for a day out. The poster above is right, 3.8m airfloor is the biggest you want for a day sailor, Bombard 380 or Zodiac Futura Mk2C FR both work well as fast day boats with 25hp.

henryfreston · 07 May 2014, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

You can ski behind a Futura, I had a 4.6m Sport with a 50hp Yamaha that easily pulled my lardy arse out of the water. It was also quick enough for mono skiing (just).

But mine had an alloy floor and jockey console and although you could break it down it was much easier to trail it.

If you want to rig each time you will want an airfloor like the Futura Mk3 FR but the engine is still going to be a massive weight. Best option would be a 40hp 2 stroke, but it will still need 2 of you to carry it. A 40hp will ski most normal sized adults. Tiller steer is easier to set up, the Zodiac Futura steering system works well but its a big faff to rig for a day out.

As Henry said, rough water handling wont be a patch on a Searider, but it calmer conditions you will leave it for dead

You are going to need a very big car to get all this gear in, think Range Rover size boot, and it will soon become a big pain to use for a day out. The poster above is right, 3.8m airfloor is the biggest you want for a day sailor, Bombard 380 or Zodiac Futura Mk2C FR both work well as fast day boats with 25hp.

what were you getting WOT with the 4.6 and 50hp?

Landlockedpirate · 07 May 2014, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryfreston

what were you getting WOT with the 4.6 and 50hp?

We used it as a test bed for a friend who had MGA Marine,tried a couple of rather special props, no weight on board and a heavy right hand it would top out just below 50mph.

Conditions needed to be perfect, calm water with slight popple was the best.

henryfreston · 07 May 2014, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

We used it as a test bed for a friend who had MGA Marine,tried a couple of rather special props, no weight on board and a heavy right hand it would top out just below 50mph.

Conditions needed to be perfect, calm water with slight popple was the best.

Nos was saying he clocked his sr4 at 44mph, not too far off

Nos4r2 · 07 May 2014, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryfreston

Nos was saying he clocked his sr4 at 44mph, not too far off

Yeah, but I needed a long lie down after... 44mph in an SR4 when the chinewalk started 5 knots earlier is quite ...exhilarating

Landlockedpirate · 07 May 2014, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Yeah, but I needed a long lie down after... 44mph in an SR4 when the chinewalk started 5 knots earlier is quite ...exhilarating

You have bigger ones than me

I wimped out a long way before 40 in a chine walking SR4

weekend-warrior · 08 May 2014, 08:34

Is the aluminium floor in the futura that hard to break down in a day trip then?

Landlockedpirate · 08 May 2014, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekend-warrior

Is the aluminium floor in the futura that hard to break down in a day trip then?

Nope, its all quite easy with practice. Its just takes time and effort to get on the water, after a while it becomes the reason you dont use the boat.

From arriving at the lake to setting off takes about 15 mins for a Bombard 380 Aerodeck and a 2 stroke 25hp using an electric pump. The whole thing can be done by 1 person and doesnt take a lot of effort. A 4m+ hard floor boat is a lot more work, it really needs 2 people and the time involved is doubled. Add on a steering system and a 40hp motor and you are looking at a minimum of an hour and a lot of sweat to set up.

People do use bigger sibs like this and I have no doubt that with practice you can get the set up time reduced, but most people give up way before this and buy a trailer.

I did exactly the same with a Honwave T40, fantastic boat, huge space, great speed, pulled my son wakeboarding and it all went in the back of a Range Rover (just). I used it like this twice before buying a trailer.