4.8M to 5M rib

septicsac · 31 January 2014, 06:15

Currently have a Honwave 4m Sib with Honda 20hp, but considering upgrading to something a little bigger, in the 4.8M to 5M range, with an engine no bigger than 50hp.
What are my options , what to avoid, do I go with a proper rib and if so will I still be able to tow and launch with the Ford focus 1.8 Diesel(imagine I would anyway).
IMO going over the 4m mark has me leaning toward a rib rather than a sib ?
I also would prefer a 4 stroke motor, with electric start. It will be mainly used for fishing , so something with strong tubes is a must.
Fancy seats are not a necessity, especially if they take up too much room , nor is crazy speeds, around the 22kts would be more than enough for me.
Have been browsing the usual sites, but there are so many makes and models its hard to know whats what (Honwave was my 1st sib/rib after yrs of other boats).
Any info insight much appreciated

spartacus · 31 January 2014, 07:37

Budget?

chris.moody · 31 January 2014, 08:29

Zodiac fc470 sounds like it would fit the requirements.

Chris

septicsac · 31 January 2014, 18:31

Budget - £5500, would go more for the right one.

Must check out the Zodiac fc470

Colin D · 31 January 2014, 19:03

You cant go wrong with a Ribcraft 4.8 .I have one for 3 years and fish the south west coast of Ireland.Superb build quality and dry ride

chris.moody · 31 January 2014, 19:11

Ribcraft 4.8 or Avon Searider 4.7 are both fantastic small ribs.

Boatnomad · 31 January 2014, 19:23

Ribcraft 4.8 - Avon Searider 4.7 are the perennial classics at that size.
No bother for the Ford 1800

spartacus · 31 January 2014, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.moody

Ribcraft 4.8 or Avon Searider 4.7 are both fantastic small ribs.

+1

Might be an issue staying within budget with a 4-stroke. In addition both RIBs will thank you for 60 horses.

chris.moody · 31 January 2014, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacus

+1

Might be an issue staying within budget with a 4-stroke. In addition both RIBs will thank you for 60 horses.

Buy a good boat with an older 2 stroke engine, then upgrade the engine when funds allow.

septicsac · 31 January 2014, 22:02

Cheers for the info, just started looking and in no hurry. Prepared to wait for the right rib. Any other alternatives to the 2 mentioned or are they the leaders in the market at this size.

septicsac · 31 January 2014, 22:17

Tornado's , Lencraft's, Grand's - do any of these compare to the afore mentioned or are the just slightly inferior or a lot inferior ? ? ?

willk · 31 January 2014, 22:29

Evenin' fella. I've been browsing through Apolloduck.ie for you and I see what you're looking at. The Lennie "looks" like a good prospect. I HATE them but I'm extremely biased. They were a bit roughly slapped together at times, but if the hull, tubes and motor are sound, it might be worth a punt. Divers use them a lot, so they can't be that bad. The Tornado is a different beast entirely. The Viking was THE Divemobile back in the day. It's a small craft for the length and IIRC, the tubes are made from PU. It's probably oldish and PU is a PITA to mend. Old PU is not a great thing to be buying into... But good hulls both, I would venture

There is a myriad of baylounger RIBS on the market, used and new. I'll not name brands as it riles the members, but avoid anything with Med or Adventure in the name. They're fairweather toys and tenders and you REALLY don't want one off the SW coast.

Post up any ads you like the look of and we'll comment. Feel free to PM me if I can assist in any way. I'm sure the Cork lads will help out too. It's early days yet for the used stuff to appear, there's a lot of old tat lying on the Sale Ads. March and April get lively, May and June are Expensive

septicsac · 31 January 2014, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Evenin' fella. I've been browsing through Apolloduck.ie for you and I see what you're looking at. The Lennie "looks" like a good prospect. I HATE them but I'm extremely biased. They were a bit roughly slapped together at times, but if the hull, tubes and motor are sound, it might be worth a punt. Divers use them a lot, so they can't be that bad. The Tornado is a different beast entirely. The Viking was THE Divemobile back in the day. It's a small craft for the length and IIRC, the tubes are made from PU. It's probably oldish and PU is a PITA to mend. Old PU is not a great thing to be buying into... But good hulls both, I would venture

There is a myriad of baylounger RIBS on the market, used and new. I'll not name brands as it riles the members, but avoid anything with Med or Adventure in the name. They're fairweather toys and tenders and you REALLY don't want one off the SW coast.

Post up any ads you like the look of and we'll comment. Feel free to PM me if I can assist in any way. I'm sure the Cork lads will help out too. It's early days yet for the used stuff to appear, there's a lot of old tat lying on the Sale Ads. March and April get lively, May and June are Expensive

Aye been on the browse alright, nothing sticks out as yet. There was one, but fecked if I can find the advert

So better to go for hyperlon rather than the PU, like the Honda has ? ?
So rule out Avon adventures etc

willk · 31 January 2014, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by septicsac

So better to go for hyperlon rather than the PU, like the Honda has ? ?

Oooooh - a cans of worms! Let me open it....

I think that the general feeling about PU is that it's fine until the seams start to go, and ultimately, they do. You could be lucky and at 5k, it's work a look....

Hypalon has it's problems too, but I think that overall it tends to have a smoother aging curve. It's certainly easier to mend.

willk · 31 January 2014, 23:00

Rib Ribcraft 4.8m For Sale in Cork : â‚¬6,900 - DoneDeal.ie

septicsac · 31 January 2014, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Rib Ribcraft 4.8m For Sale in Cork : â‚¬6,900 - DoneDeal.ie

Not over enamoured with Mercury or mariner engines, would like a Honda/Suki or Yam if possible. Age of engine would be a worry on this one for me.

lakelandterrier · 31 January 2014, 23:43

You can always swap out he engine at a later date....In your specified size I'd choose the hull / configuration you need and live with the initial engine. You might wait for perfection and it never arrives - or not at the budget price.

septicsac · 01 February 2014, 00:04

Few out there, just none ideal one way or the other :

Lencraft 5.5 RIB + Suzuki 70hp 4-stroke For Sale in Dublin : â‚¬7,500 - DoneDeal.ie Bit more money than planned and bit bigger than planned, but if could negotiate few quid off might be tempted. What these like ?

Lencraft 58 For Sale in Claddagh, Galway from Simps85 Similar again, bit bigger than planned, slightly older engine methinks, but had a 10yr old Suki 70 b4 and she was a dream

Inflatable Dinghy for sale , Avon Adventure 5.6 Rigid Inflatable 90Hp... - Boats And Outboards Again bigger than planned, but has that word adventure in it ? ?

rib | Dunmurry | Gumtree Like this one, especially if i could get price down a little

BOAT in Dublin â€“ BuyandSell.ie Againa bit bigger than planned and whats the story with the price, seems a it cheaper that expected ??

chris.moody · 01 February 2014, 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

You can always swap out he engine at a later date....In your specified size I'd choose the hull / configuration you need and live with the initial engine. You might wait for perfection and it never arrives - or not at the budget price.

I agree. It's important to get a boat with good tubes and a sound hull as those bits are expensive to fix. Trailers and outboards can be sold on and replaced with new when more funds allow.

Chris

spartacus · 01 February 2014, 09:02

I'll throw this into the mix... retire a safe distance and let the feeding frenzy begin.

Delta Rib 5.5m | RIB Boat and Engine Sales | Galloway Marine Northern Ireland