Nautica RIB 25 Cat information

[LenTaft]

Last year I purchased a 2005 Nautica RIB 25 Cat (a 23.5' catamaran with hydraulic bow landing ramp and huge Bimini top). I love this boat, but at 11 years old, she is in need of much restoration. Unfortunately, Nautica is out of business, so I am having difficulty getting any accurate information or specifications. I really need to replace the tubes. Does anyone have any information that may help me? Novurania puts out a RIB 24 Cat that looks VERY much like Nautica's. Did they buy the molds and patterns during Nautica's bankruptcy auction? Any help is greatly appreciated, as my tubes are on their last legs. Thank you.

[office888]

How are you planning to install the tubes?

[sailrib]

Originally Posted by LenTaft

I really need to replace the tubes. Does anyone have any information that may help me? Any help is greatly appreciated, as my tubes are on their last legs. Thank you.

You should contact Wings, they will sort you out and can make new ones without much problem. They have made replacement tubes for everyone.

Sponsons Replacement Tubes and Rib Fenders | Wing Inflatables

Having said that and now seeing your located in the St Thomas, USVI. I strongly recommend Hypalon over PVC tubes due to how much heat and sun your boat will be exposed to. Always choose Hypalon whenever possible and price permitting.

Hypalon seems to be the only fabric and glue that will endure the tropic heat and sun. The type of glue used for putting together PVC tubes does not do well with extended periods of heat and fails. The only problem is that hypalon is that it's much more expensive than PVC tubes.

There's also two re-tubers in FL which is much closer to you. So you may want to contact them

RIB Retubing - AI Boats

&

Ask for Mario
Inflatable Marlin Services L.L.C - Home

[jyasaki]

Wing uses Polyurethane for their tubes, unless they've added something else to their lineup in the last few years.

jky

[office888]

Originally Posted by sailrib

There's also two re-tubers in FL which is much closer to you. So you may want to contact them

RIB Retubing - AI Boats

&

Ask for Mario
Inflatable Marlin Services L.L.C - Home

There's also Jesus Quinores, "Custom Fenders & Tubes" in Vero Beach.

There's going to be about 20+ hours of labor, just to remove and mount the new tubes, in addition to constructing the new ones...

[sailrib]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Wing uses Polyurethane for their tubes, unless they've added something else to their lineup in the last few years.

jky

You are correct Wings only uses PU, not PVC nor Hypalon.
Wing does thermo-weld to their PU tubes which greatly extends their life in hot climate areas unlike glued PVC tubes. UV's are still an issue.

I still think Hypalon is best solution for his climate.

[jyasaki]

Not disagreeing with you, Sailrib.

Given that OP's in the Caribbean, I'm not sure a US west coast operation would be the best choice anyway.

jky

[sailrib]

One of the reasons for recommending Wings is that Nautica is out of business and since the boat is located in the caribbean whoever is going to make them is going to need a database of the templates for his boat to make the tubes and then send the tubes to the St Thomas, USVI. I'm not sure many can do that.

The other retuber that I know has a database for Nautica tubes is Henshaw's in the UK and they are the best. Tubes in the Uk are much cheaper so maybe that could also be an option. Most likely it will be the price of shipping that could be a deciding factor.
RIB tubes, RIB collars, yacht fenders and much more - Henshaw Inflatables Ltd

We never heard back from the OP so our discussion could be a mute point.