6-6.5 RIB advice please - Page 2

BrAinZ · 31 July 2009, 21:32

It is tricky choosing a rib, as stated, eveyone believes theirs is the best brand.

We spent about a year and a half trying to choose the right one, testing as many as possible. Ribex in Cowes and the Southampton Boat shows were excellent for that.

In the end we bought a new Ribeye S650 and so far are really pleased with it.

gotchiguy · 01 August 2009, 09:56

Many thanks for all your helpful points!
I think I may have accidentally been a bit misleading by saying tht I have 35k to spend. I thought you would all be saying "if you gave an extra 5k you could get this etc" but I have been pleasantly surprised. Thruth be told I would be much more comfortable spending sub 30k. There are some tidy second owner ribeye and ballistic (all I have looked at so far) for circa 28k already fully rigged.

re Tino-yes I have had a look at Redbay but they seem such good boats that no one sells! Hence on their website the Used rib section is practically empty!! I have just glanced at their (2008) price list and it appears to be circa 32k for a suzu df225?! I think that if buying a redbay I would consider a diesel - economy, and the fact Im not hugely interested at speed but would the 5k premium over the outboard be worth it?

re trickdog - no I have never really heard of a Northcraft, from your other post it looks very tidy. how much further forward could you have moved the console, if at all? I think theat I may like an outhill style movable backrest between the serious ribbers seats! and the rear bench?

re spartacus - good to know that Im not alone! haha Im not exactly rushing to spend aton of dosh on a summerplaytime thing either but I swear Im going to do myself an injury when my sons driving - all the crashing up and down - going to break my back one day!!! And yes Im currently looking into the destroyer! Ocean pro is 8m+ and too expensive!!

AllenF - Oh no haha it started alot earlier for us! I'd say 10 is when it starts!

Polwart - thank you for the summary of builders - yes I suppose I do want a slightly pretty boat, but not at the detriment of sea keeping abilities! As I mentioned earlier in the post, 35k is absolute tops, I would be much happier spending sub 30! I dont especially want a custom rib - I just like the basic set up of the ribeye, and the armstrong bracket looks good? I am looking at going to the Humber dealer in Nantes to see the destroyer!

Mollers - I have had a look at Osprey and would love to build it myself but would not be vv confident, no experience with fiberglass or mounting engines, or infact anything that would be remotly of use! Ribcraft, yes looking at the 6.4. Scorp love them but the 6.5 wont be on the second hand market yet!?

Rogue Wave - great seakeeping not mad about speed, but preferably cruise 30-35knts

Brainz - have been to london boatshow every year other than the one where am looking to buy a rib! Will try to get to RIBEX have been there last few years also!

Many thanks to one and all who have posted! Sorry I write such long posts in reply but Im trying to get as much info as poss. A little idea of mine to get around the weight limit would be to buy the boat ex trailer and cross the channel in it, put it on our mooring (which dries of 20% of the time btw) than get a trailer over here which until I have the cash to upgrade the car is towed by the my freind from the local boat yard with his van twice a year for winter storage in his yard. By how much does the antifouling reduce speed?
Ta very much
Gotchiguy

Chris · 01 August 2009, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Mollers - I have had a look at Osprey and would love to build it myself but would not be vv confident, no experience with fiberglass or mounting engines, or infact anything that would be remotly of use! Ribcraft, yes looking at the 6.4. Scorp love them but the 6.5 wont be on the second hand market yet!?

Ospreys are not normally build it yourself. Its just a fw of us on here have chosen to do it.

Speak to Roy at Osprey on 01902 491919 www.ospreyribs.co.uk

If you can afford a 2nd hand scorpion you can get a new Osprey

I imagine Roy could also arrange delivery to you.

gotchiguy · 01 August 2009, 10:27

Thanks for the correction, I said that thinking about HighTowers build last year which I loved reading about. Do Osprey have a dealer where I could try out and look over the boats?

willk · 01 August 2009, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

re Tino-yes I have had a look at Redbay but they seem such good boats that no one sells! Hence on their website the Used rib section is practically empty!! I have just glanced at their (2008) price list and it appears to be circa 32k for a suzu df225?! I think that if buying a redbay I would consider a diesel - economy, and the fact Im not hugely interested at speed but would the 5k premium over the outboard be worth it?

These boats (650 etc) are well above your weight limits - the Redbays are heavy, beamy ribs (2.77m min.) They don't bother putting much used stuff on their website as the smaller trade-in boats tend to be snapped up by people in the know. This 2yr old 650 with a df200 is about £25500, fully rigged. http://inflatables.apolloduck.ie/fea...html?id=118008 I'd imagine at this time of the year, in the current climate, they'd take less.

The diesel boats are expensive and in the 6.5, have very little usable deck space.

Mollers · 01 August 2009, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

These boats (650 etc) are well above your weight limits - the Redbays are heavy, beamy ribs (2.77m min.) They don't bother putting much used stuff on their website as the smaller trade-in boats tend to be snapped up by people in the know. This 2yr old 650 with a df200 is about £25500, fully rigged. http://inflatables.apolloduck.ie/fea...html?id=118008 I'd imagine at this time of the year, in the current climate, they'd take less.

The diesel boats are expensive and in the 6.5, have very little usable deck space.

Hang on, I've just read the weight issue. You're not going to get any 6.5 on a trailer coming in at less than 1300kg. DHD's 5.8 Vmax weighed over 1500kg when he stuck it on a bridge.

gotchiguy · 01 August 2009, 11:12

Willk Thank you for pointing this out. I will look further at Redbay and all the other makes Polwart mentioned. That 650 looks quite nice! Vis a vis weight limit,
Mollrs I think I have already given up hoping to tow with the scenic and will cross the channel in it delivering it to myself! I will use the boat yard van to tow it until I have the cash to upgrade the car to something more suitable

Out of interest, since my suzu has conked out on me twice in the last week, is an aux worth purchasing (i have an old merc 3.3 but this would fall foul of your 1hp/m rule ?

willk · 01 August 2009, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Willk Thank you for pointing this out. I will look further at Redbay and all the other makes Polwart mentioned. That 650 looks quite nice!

It does, and there is a "huge" deck space behind that odd compact Redbay console. If you have any difficulty lifting your foot higher than your thigh (with all weather gear on) then this console is not for you! Having gawked at it some more, and it's hard to tell from the camera angles, but the transom seems a bit low... did someone do the bad thing and put a less than XL shaft donkey on there - I can't tell!

Rogue Wave · 01 August 2009, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Rogue Wave - great seakeeping not mad about speed, but preferably cruise 30-35knts

Gotchiguy

Osprey would be my call I've never owned one and I'm not likely too. but the build quality has always impressed me and the seakeeping is superb. ribcrafts are good too. BTW dark toobs are a lot easier too keep looking good than light ones

gotchiguy · 01 August 2009, 11:26

agreed, osprey do look very nice I will try and visit a dealer or the factory at some stage

Mollers · 01 August 2009, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

agreed, osprey do look very nice I will try and visit a dealer or the factory at some stage

Show up when Bedajim, DHDai and I are out on the water together and you'll have most of the Vipermax range to demo.

Poly · 01 August 2009, 13:07

Diesel - IMHO the only real reason to get (i.e. pay the extra for) a diesel RIB for general leisure use is if petrol is difficult to get where you use the boat.

Speed - almost all 6-6.5m ribs will be able to cruise in reasonable conditions at >30 knots unless they have either a small engine or some diesels. So that means speed is no longer really a useful shortlisting criteria!

Sea Keeping - the vast majority of 6-6.5m ribs will be more comfortable in rough stuff than your current 4.5m (ish?) boat. I'm not sure that this is actually going to help you shortlist much either. If it did the two boats you have been leaning towards so far - might well be 'eliminated'.

I missed a possible manufacturer off your shortlist - Shakespeare (stevetheboat on here). I would have thought something along the lines of iandl's boat might tick your boxes? Don't recall seeing a review - but sure there are people here who could comment. I think they are at the cheaper end of the spectrum, and I am sure Steve is happy to sell either finished or part completed boats.

Price - You possibly need to decide if you want new or 2nd hand, that will help you cut down the list. We can only say what we would do - if I had that sort of money to spend on a boat I wouldn't be buying a 2nd hand Ribeye or Ballistic, even if some outside influence was driving me towards a "pretty" boat.

Hightower · 01 August 2009, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Thanks for the correction, I said that thinking about HighTowers build last year which I loved reading about. Do Osprey have a dealer where I could try out and look over the boats?

Although my build thread looks technical, it was a really easy build and the worst thing after choosing the hull was finding reliable people to buy and rig the engine, make the upholstery and all the 101 other things that need fitment.

I found out the hard way that boat building in the UK is like house builders etc....You get good ones and bad.

I can assure you that Osprey were excellent as were Ocean that supplied the console. The engine supplier and fitter was a different story and I had all sorts for communication problems with them, I also had a technical problem with the engine that took a while to sort out, with BRP sending a man over to get it running right because the dealer didn't seem to have a clue. Just to point out it was a used engine.

What I'm saying is:

Osprey will build a complete RIB for you to your exact specs to include engine.

You can supply your own fibreglass consoles seats etc and Osprey will mould these in the deck for you.

A bare boat package is available for you to finish off.

I built my RIB for under £20k 2 years ago (even with a new outboard it would have been low £20's) and have got exactly the RIB I want. And gives me a buzz everytime I go out in her.

I would recommend a chat with Roy, he's a very friendly gent that I'm sure will help you in any way he can.

If I can be any further help please don't hesitate to PM me.

Hightower · 01 August 2009, 13:29

One other thing.

Things I would have done slightly differently was to go for the 6.5 Vipermax with a 200 sitting on the back. But budget dictated my build and had to come in at a fixed price.

For something like an Osprey Vipermax with it's deep V hull, might I suggest you put the biggest HP outboard on that you can.

Mollers · 01 August 2009, 13:57

Mine took a week to put together.

Liverpool Powerboats supplied and rigged the engine and steering, they are very professional and helpfull. I'd sourced or had made every other componant required prior to the build commencing. Having a 6.5 Vipermax sitting in a shed meant that I had patterns for upholstery bases, all stainless items and the Screen.
DHD kindly came down and wired it in about 3 days, a mate and I bolted the rest together in as many days.

Here's the result. http://rib.net/forum/attachment.php?...4&d=1211993391

gotchiguy · 01 August 2009, 14:18

I will give Roy a ring sometime. From their website and your pictures Vipermaxs certainly loook very nice, I think that a 6.5 with a suzu, yam or etec (specialists round here) is becoming very tempting. What would you imagine the time from order to collection would be? 6 weeks conservativly? I would like to have it for beginning of easter holidays but would like to order it as late as possible - with regard to incentivising it for my son. As I mentioned earlier, I am not on the best terms with my suzu so is a twin engine set up or an aux possible/neccessary? Mollers yours viper looks very nice, however I think I would like a little more storage for kit, and preferably lockable. From the picture it doesnt look like you have much space for a couple of large dry bags of kit?! How much storage is there in your copnsole? And what sort of max hp can the 6.5 take? I think I would go etec route for lightness etc. you dont have to mix oil in the fuel or anything do you? a 225 6.5 would go like stink surely!!!!!

Chris · 01 August 2009, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

I will give Roy a ring sometime. From their website and your pictures Vipermaxs certainly loook very nice, I think that a 6.5 with a suzu, yam or etec (specialists round here) is becoming very tempting. What would you imagine the time from order to collection would be? 6 weeks conservativly? I would like to have it for beginning of easter holidays but would like to order it as late as possible - with regard to incentivising it for my son. As I mentioned earlier, I am not on the best terms with my suzu so is a twin engine set up or an aux possible/neccessary? Mollers yours viper looks very nice, however I think I would like a little more storage for kit, and preferably lockable. From the picture it doesnt look like you have much space for a couple of large dry bags of kit?! How much storage is there in your copnsole? And what sort of max hp can the 6.5 take? I think I would go etec route for lightness etc. you dont have to mix oil in the fuel or anything do you? a 225 6.5 would go like stink surely!!!!!

If you want Roy can arrange everything for you, you just spec it and he will source it.

He is an Evinrude dealer so can probably provide a good deal on the E-tec. And I think he favours either Raymarine or Lowrance Electronics however I am sure he will be happy to fit anything you ask for.

If you want to see some other pics there are some on my build thread here

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?...ht=time+bandit

Mollers · 01 August 2009, 15:56

200hp is the max design hp for a 6.5. Mine is set up with 6 seats by design, the options re. seating, consoles etc are endless. I have Osprey's Discovery console, personally, I think it's the best looking console for the hull. The Discovery has loads of storage inside, great ergonomics, but limited protection and you can't walk around it.

gotchiguy · 01 August 2009, 16:16

Thank you all very much! A most valuable insight into all your opinions, and alot of valuable lessons learnt. Judging by most peoples recommendation of Osprey I think I shall look most closely at a 6.5 vipermax! However I do have 2 final questions

What price did yours come out at in the end Chris? It looks awesome!

And what lenngth of time would you imagine it would take from order to delivery?

I cant wait to take to the water in a proper boat for a change!!

Chris · 01 August 2009, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Thank you all very much! A most valuable insight into all your opinions, and alot of valuable lessons learnt. Judging by most peoples recommendation of Osprey I think I shall look most closely at a 6.5 vipermax! However I do have 2 final questions

What price did yours come out at in the end Chris? It looks awesome!

And what lenngth of time would you imagine it would take from order to delivery?

I cant wait to take to the water in a proper boat for a change!!

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