Rib for use West coast Scotland

[rodger.ostara]

Hi folks, I am not new to boating! used to sail but times change. I am not too familiar with Ribs. I will be using this to travel from Kintyre across to my daughters house on the Isle of Gigha. Had a look at one yesterday almost new condition but its just under 4m long. Great engine and trailer. I will be launching off a sandy beach which does have matting down probably on my own so size matters. My first thought was i should be looking for something about 5m to cross this stretch of water. Of course it will be weather dependant but some advice on handling characteristics would be very welcome.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by rodger.ostara

Hi folks, I am not new to boating! used to sail but times change. I am not too familiar with Ribs. I will be using this to travel from Kintyre across to my daughters house on the Isle of Gigha. Had a look at one yesterday almost new condition but its just under 4m long. Great engine and trailer. I will be launching off a sandy beach which does have matting down probably on my own so size matters. My first thought was i should be looking for something about 5m to cross this stretch of water. Of course it will be weather dependant but some advice on handling characteristics would be very welcome.

It’s only just over a couple of miles, depending on where you’re landing on Gigha. Any RIB in the 4-5m class will be fine. TBF, if the weather is too bad to make the crossing in a 4m boat, chances are it’ll be too rough for a 5m boat too. I’d concentrate on a decent (I.e reliable) engine, rather than sweating too much over the RIB.
I’d be happy to make that crossing in a decent SIB tbh.

[Fenlander]

>>be happy to make that crossing in a decent SIB tbh

That was rather my thinking, be happy to do that in our 3.8 SIB.

Mind you an old Searider with decent engine would be fun.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

…
Mind you an old Searider with decent engine would be fun.

Good shout[emoji106]

[Steve509926]

Hi Rodger and welcome to the forum.

Is that the only thing you will be doing with your "craft"? or do you have other uses in mind? Fishing, touring, taking on holiday elsewhere?

[rodger.ostara]

Basically yes, our daughter stays on the island and we have bought a holiday home in Argyll. My pal on Gigha has two very solid boats for fishing trips. Maybe nip over to Islay and Jura but dont want fish guts in my Rib ������

[mhill]

What’s your budget is probably a better way to look at it.

[Steve509926]

A <4m sib can sometimes handle chop and waves better than a <4m rib.
I was recently coming back from Lismore to Benderloch (similar distance, very similar wind direction) wind over tide, and my 3.6 mtr sib handled it much better than the 3.8 Highfield I was travelling with. I managed to stay on the plane and was relatively comfortable, whilst the Highfield had to drop to displacement speed as they were being bounced all over the place.
I think, if at all possible, I'd want to have a sea trial in any used rib preferably in choppy conditions.
I wouldn't discount a decent sib, they do have a lot of things going for them.

[beamishken]

Personally I'd look for the biggest boat you can comfortably manage to launch & recover on your own. There will be days when you could cross in a bathtub but there will also be days when you want to take items or passengers with you & bigger is usually better, not very often your out & think 'I wish I had a smaller boat' although if you go too large you might be thinking that when your fighting to get it on the trailer or off the beach. 4-5m would be a sensible option imho