Aluminium Hulls- Yes, No, Maybe?

[Pikey Dave]

Ribcraft do make ally ribs to order & they are a work of art, but you need deeeep pockets😳


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[MatFromPoland]

double deep than for Higfield the same size ?
I could not find any picture/movie of ALU RIBCRAFT

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I have found one:



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I have found RIBCRAFT PDF brochure:

Durability
Aluminium is a tough material, it will survive
hard impacts and has the ability to withstand
permanent deformation without rupture.
Aluminium boats are much easier to repair,
dents can often be simply hammered out.

Cost
Due to the material and manufacturing method
used to produce Aluminium hulls, the price is
approximately double that of its GRP equivalent.

So knowing that GRP Ribcraft are expensive I have to even multiply price for 2 ... really deep pockets are needed

http://www.vesterswatersport.nl/wp-c...chure_2014.pdf

[Chunk]

Hi Mat,
I wouldn't worry too much. Some love GRP for the ease of creating new hull designs and the smooth slick look, others like Alu regardless of the slightly rougher look. Some have brand loyalty to companies they know and love, others try new things. The world would be a dull place if we were all the same.
Humber, Ribcraft, Redbay, Osprey etc are all cracking brands with brilliant proven products. Highfield are a relative newcomer using a different material and producing greater volumes of products (and made in the Far East). They are always going to have doubters, don't sweat it. If you love your boat (and judging by your posts you do), that's all that matters.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Have one built!

Aluminum RIBS (Rigid Inflatable Boat) | Aluminum Boat Plans & Designs by Specmar

I think they've missed a zero off their prices😳


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[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Chunk

Hi Mat,
I wouldn't worry too much. Some love GRP for the ease of creating new hull designs and the smooth slick look, others like Alu regardless of the slightly rougher look. Some have brand loyalty to companies they know and love, others try new things. The world would be a dull place if we were all the same.
Humber, Ribcraft, Redbay, Osprey etc are all cracking brands with brilliant proven products. Highfield are a relative newcomer using a different material and producing greater volumes of products (and made in the Far East). They are always going to have doubters, don't sweat it. If you love your boat (and judging by your posts you do), that's all that matters.

I'd echo Chunk's sentiments Matt. You've done far more with your boat than half of the armchair boaters with shiny expensive boats parked on the drive. Your boat seems to suit your needs & you are using it to the full. Just enjoy it👍


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[MatFromPoland]

Do not worry. I'm OK
Just curious about other possibilities.

[sailrib]

Here you go, I think this will solve your problem. It's easy, Just get one of these like another member did and you'll be done.

http://www.rib.net/forum/f45/cruise-...tml#post729986

[MatFromPoland]

I have found also website about POLARIS boats

Polaris Inflatable Boats Europe | RIBS semi-rigid inflatable aluminum hull boats | neptune

Strange there are 2 sites (French and Canadian) but headquarters is in UK.
Not so many pictures or movies about these boats. Made in France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-psIFrx08vM#t=32

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36ljLKAjJgk

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by MatFromPoland

Do not worry. I'm OK
Just curious about other possibilities.

Not thinking about buying a second RIB are you Maciej ??! One left in Crete and the other for trailering to explore the fabulous bits of Greece & Croatia you keep finding
Flying to Crete would solve your winter break problem hahaha

[MatFromPoland]

I just want to see other ALU RIB manufactures. What they offer and for what price.
There are not any (cheap) fly during Winter from Warsaw to Crete

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by MatFromPoland

I have found also website about POLARIS boats

I have a Neptune 17.5'. I didn't know Guy had relocated. He used to be up near Vancouver Canada.

jky

[MatFromPoland]

Based on pictures Polaris Neptune and this Zodiac mentioned by @sailrib have tubes out of the water surface when boat stay.
Different than Highfield for example.
When you step on tubes does not your boat to be shaky

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Probably such boats are much faster because you do not drag tubes.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by MatFromPoland

Probably such boats are much faster because you do not drag tubes.

Mine isn't. I had it built to be as wide as possible but still legally trailerable.

Also, mine sits with tubes in the water at rest. All the Polaris boats I've seen do, but I haven't seen any recent ones (from less than, I'd guess at least 6 years.)

jky

[paulbrown22]

You have this at the extreme end of the range! : Air Ranger 1260 RIB Used Boat for Sale 2008 | TheYachtMarket

I've seen it a few times in Guernsey, and it does look incredibly solid. Has been on the market a long time though...

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by paulbrown22

You have this at the extreme end of the range! : Air Ranger 1260 RIB Used Boat for Sale 2008 | TheYachtMarket

I've seen it a few times in Guernsey, and it does look incredibly solid. Has been on the market a long time though...

I wouldn't want to be footing the fuel bill 😳


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[paulbrown22]

Quite, or the service costs of quadruple engines!

[MatFromPoland]

Back to cheaper solution. I can not judge movie. I'm not boat builder.
I'm IT person but found clip "how to" about Highfield boats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syr3...ature=youtu.be

I was hoping for full automation production line with many robots
But generally it is something like production line.

A little sorry that nobody invest to build such factory in EU, especially in Poland.
GRP in Poland is still manual work, time consuming and not good for lugs I think. When I visited my friend who make boats I always have cough.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Ribcraft do make ally ribs to order & they are a work of art, but you need deeeep pockets��


Lions led by donkeys

Yeah they are a bit special!..real hand built masterpieces of construction which match exactly the shape of the normal well proven Hull designs!...
speed wise the 6.8 Alloy outperforms the Fibreglass Hull by quite some distance!
As said Noise is greatly increased too...not of tooo much of a consideration when it's a military remote controlled Drone with a .40 cal chain gun on it!

[MatFromPoland]

@Maximus, do you have any links to pictures/movies of ALU leisure Ribcraft ?
Or they made only commercial/RNLI versions or military ?

If ALU version costs 2 times more than GRP and GRP is more expensive than similar other boats made in UK I wonder how they look and perform.
Did RIBCRAFT show the ALU leisure version of any boat -show ever ?

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I saw only these 3 pictures over internet (the same you can find in RIBCRAFT PDF for 2014)


http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2010...9#.V_U-NfmDyM8

[Maximus]

Sorry Matt I don't...
I saw one under construction once and it was VERY impressive..thier fabricator had CONDTRUCTED ...Hand built!..a Dolly/Frame enabling him to fabricate the exact same dimensions of Hull shape...Deadrise...Chines ect as the ordinary version... A real piece of precision engineering in itself!!..that's before you start adding the Alloy!
I think they work out around "double bubble" price wise.
If you are interested why not contact them direct for some more info/ pictures.