5.5m or larger Rib options on a budget....

[r1rocket]

Hi all,

I am looking to upgrade my 3.2m SIB with a family sized rib. I have looked around, and for my budget of around £18k I have narrowed down the choice to either a 3d Tender X-pro 590 with a Suzuki 90 or a Brig Falcon 570 with an Evinrude 90.
Has anyone got any opinions on either of these options or any other suggestions that I haven't looked at?
In my opinion, the Brig looks better finished, but the X-pro looks to have so much more space... I did look at the smaller (535) X-pro but with a narrower beam it was too small (I found the same with the Falcon 500) - both the Falcon 570 and the X-pro 590 seem up to the job size wise.
I want the boat for family use - coast hopping and day trips and also some ringo towing etc.

Any responses are appreciated.

Andy

[ashbypower]

You have a PM

[Mollers]

Rocket, I'd forget that lot.

Your budget is good, you can pick from the best manufacturers not the overseas, mass produced gear.

The Ribcraft 585 and the Osprey Vipermax 5.8 are probably the front runners. Having had a fair bit to do with both boats, I reckon the Vipermax edges the 585 for sea keeping. Ribcraft boats are very well put together.

[woody73]

I'd go for exactly what mollers said. Had a Ribcraft 585 absolutely stunning boat that will always get you home safe but quite commercial looking which I like anyway.
The vipermax probably looks slightly more leisure orientated though an encredibly good hull.

[Nick Hearne]

If you want something more leisure/family friendly with your budget you could get a nice Ribeye too, I have had an Osprey Viper 5.75 which was great but not the best set up for a family as it was a single jockey console!
I did look at both the Viper Max & the Ribcraft 5.8 but most come with a max of 4 jockey seats & as we are a family of 5 rules them out. I went for the Ribeye 6m in the end with jockeys for 4 + bench seat for 3 we have good seating for 7 before we use the suicide seat in the front of the console or the one in the bow. It also has lots of good storage too, but they are not much loved on here!

[spartacus]

Nice Pro Open 550 here with Suzuki DF100 (only 30 hours). Has bolster seat and seating behind too, perfect for leisure set-up. Better layout compared to earlier Zodiac models of this design that had fixed captains chairs which were no use to man nor beast. John Bridger Marine

No idea what the hull is like on the 550, but a lot of the smaller Pros can slap in the rough stuff.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by woody73

The vipermax probably looks slightly more leisure orientated though an encredibly good hull.

Not with the 'correct' colour scheme.

Personally, I'm not drawn towards "Rastafarian" ribs either, eh Dave?

[Pikey Dave]

Ribcraft do a "sport" range as well as the rufty tufty stuff

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Ribcraft do a "sport" range as well as the rufty tufty stuff

Yep new price is over budget & never seen one second hand Osprey do one too.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Yep new price is over budget

It's only money

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by ashbypower

You have a PM

If Brian has a suggestion or a possible - I'd listen hard ...he knows a good boat & how to put them together .

[r1rocket]

Thanks for all of the advice guys, had a look at a few of the other options but still think I want to go new and most of the seating arrangements in the second hand (mainly 4 x jockey) are not really suitable for the family - new prices are well over my budget on the other options!. Still looking at the Brig 5.7 as the best option for a combination of seating arrangements and deck space.

[BumbleAbout]

Have a quick (well ok, maybe long) read through the forums - you will find that for the majority of users across the hundreds of combined years of experience on here, the jockey seats are FAR more comfortable than bench seats (easier to support yourself/ less back pain etc) on any sea state apart from glassy flat calm.

You may have already done this, but if you do the RYA Powerboat level 2 course then you will usually handle a range of boats and be able to decide through experience and discussions with your instructor which layouts and hull shapes would be suitable for you.

Lastly, the wisdom of a second hand hull but a new outboard is solidly based on what you need to work to get home when something breaks. If you still want a new hull, then at least ensure that you go out with a new (lower hp) auxiliary outboard which can get you home slowly.