Which option should I choose?

Joejayc · 09 September 2015, 19:02

Hi All, I'm looking to buy my first rib and trying to shortlist down from the current ones on offer around the £7-10k mark. Just need a bit of advice really or people's opinions on which way to go! Tohatsu, tornado or Shakespeare for the hull and Mercury 115, optimax 150 or Suzuki 140 four stroke. After something reliable for coastal cruising with a bit of umphh but not to scary or the wife will get stroppy with me! Cheers.

Last Tango · 09 September 2015, 19:26

Your not going to get a straight answer to this just lots of opinions.
Not enough info. First rib or first boat?...size, tow-car, coastal where, moored or trailed?
Maybe some specific examples of outfits you're looking at?

matt h · 09 September 2015, 20:25

Welcome.. thats a strange first for those three Ribs ... best have a really good look around and do bear in mind, you do have the Uk's leading Rib Manufacturer (Ribcraft,Yeovil )only 20 ish miles from Taunton.

Leave the wife a home to do the washing and Ironing!!

Joejayc · 09 September 2015, 21:28

Yeah sorry about the vague first post I was trying to multitask while cooking dinner (must be going wrong somewhere) have been looking at a tohatsu 6m with a optimax 150 and a Shakespeare 6.2m with a Suzuki 140 4s. I've been on the water for years and had all sorts of boats but never had a proper rib. I can tow 2 ton on the van and will be using mainly out of Exmouth. I'm at the stage of seriously buying now so I guess I was looking for a bit of reassurance that I was going down the right lines with you experienced folks.

spartacus · 09 September 2015, 22:46

So 6m and up to 150hp.

What's your total budget? I mean everything, hull, engine, trailer, even down to the bottle of bubbly to toast. I take it we're talking second hand if £7-10k?

Nick Hearne · 09 September 2015, 22:53

Come on you have to give us more to go on, post a link to the actual boats!
But with out seeing them I would be going Shakespeare & Suzy

Pikey Dave · 09 September 2015, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joejayc

.....but never had a proper rib.....

And with that short list, not much will change (IMHO)

I didn't know that Shakespeare & Tohatsu made RIBS until I Googled them. If not scaring the wife is part of the spec, I'd avoid the Shakespeare, it's got slammer writ all over it. The Tohatsu doesn't look bad on paper, but never having seen one in the flesh, I can't comment further. The Tornado could go either way depending on era & flavour, they tend not to age well.
You have a reasonable budget, you can cast your net much wider than you have done. Don't be seduced into parting with your money, it's a buyers market at the moment (I should know, I'm trying to sell one

)

Joejayc · 10 September 2015, 06:34

10k all in is the top of my budget,having said that and ignoring the scaring the wife comment- what do you reckon to this tohatsu with the Honda? ( hopefully I've done the link thingy right)Really interesting point pikey Dave about the slammer hull- I don't fancy that type of ride myself!

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...obalID=EBAY-GB

Maximus · 10 September 2015, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joejayc

10k all in is the top of my budget,having said that and ignoring the scaring the wife comment- what do you reckon to this tohatsu with the Honda? ( hopefully I've done the link thingy right)Really interesting point pikey Dave about the slammer hull- I don't fancy that type of ride myself!

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...obalID=EBAY-GB

Doesn't look too Bad...if you can live with the livery!

(although I don't know much about the Marque..I'm sure people on here will!)..but not a lot of info in the add...and it's often hard to tell from photos.
You need to know things like Age..Engine Hours...Service History...owners..maintenance...any bills,invoices...issues ect...if it's been kept on the water or dry stacked/stored.
Condition/maintenance of trailer..ect
I would also recommend if you do view it taking someone with you with some experience of RIBs and doing a thorough Sea trial too

I'm not too far from you and if you pm me we can have a chat.

Pikey Dave · 10 September 2015, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joejayc

10k all in is the top of my budget,having said that and ignoring the scaring the wife comment- what do you reckon to this tohatsu with the Honda? ( hopefully I've done the link thingy right)Really interesting point pikey Dave about the slammer hull- I don't fancy that type of ride myself!

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...obalID=EBAY-GB

That actually looks a lot of boat for the money, which immediately puts me on my guard. It also looks very similar to the Shakespeare, they aren't the same boat re-badged are they? As Maxi says, you'd want:-to see full engine details, age, service history, hull condition & a sea trial. Don't take it for a trial on a nice calm sunny day, that won't tell you anything apart from the engine runs & you can do that on muffs.

Some Shaky info here

Nick Hearne · 10 September 2015, 09:37

The Tohatsu ribs are the same hull as the (now gone!) solent ribs, so if you want more info on the hull look up the solent rib too

Slim, fast hulls they are!

Joejayc · 11 September 2015, 14:35

The guys got back saying the boats a 2001 and the engine is 2008 with 558 hours on it and he has some paperwork, I've asked him the other questions you've suggested and will update when he replies. Am I losing my way a bit here? Is a 225 a bit over the top for general cruising etc. anyone seen the tohatsu advert on page two of ribs for sale with the evinrude 150 for 10k? Looks shiny shiny!