Buying a rib got a quote dunno about boat though, Help !!

[dundeerib1994]

Boat is a XPRO Defender 535 RED ORCA HYPALON with a 70 hp suzuki DF70.

boats brand new and at a great price.
Comes with all the gadgets a man can ask for haha, what u guys think??

[dundeerib1994]

pics guys

[jyasaki]

Kind of tough to form a meaningful opinion without info like price, included equipment, etc.

jky

[ShinyShoe]

List is £14k for the basic rib with engine, £1200 for trailer, £1200 for VHF, GPS & Sonar, £800 for A frame with lights, £800 for seats. Thats £18k all in. So what have you talked them down to? And what extras have you got... Anchor, flares, fenders, cover etc. A frame seems over priced as does paying for a double console. And I reckon you are over paying for VHF etc... (VHF £200, Aeriel £100, Plotter £400, Fishfinder £200)

[Pikey Dave]

Where are they made?

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Where are they made?

I think they are Chinese imports Sea swift sell em..Seaswift Boats - Astonishing value on hard boats, RIBs, inflatables and tenders | 3D Tender X-Pro Defender RIB

[Pikey Dave]

IF they are chinese, I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole no matter how cheap it is. Just my opinion.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Thats £18k all in. So what have you talked them down to?

Thats roughly the same price as a Valiant D520 + Suzuki 70 package, Or a Humber Destroyer 5.5 with Mariner 75HP. Or an XS540 with 80HP Mercury...

No idea how big a deal there is to negotiate on any of them.

There could be a never ending debate on which is better. PERSONALLY having had no experience of XPRO and positive encounters with all the others I'd have been inclined to rate them more highly, but that is not to say the XPRO couldn't convince me otherwise - just that they'd have a harder starting point.

[ian parkes]

is it an alloy hull I looked at the alloy hull range earlier this year and was impressed with the features and quality of the boat for the price .
I ended up with a rib eye that appears to have the same hull , only because i got a really good deal on it and it was a little bit bigger . But the xpro tubes had more features and fittings .

As for the suzuki 70 i had one on a valliant 490 it was a really nice motor and very good on juice quiet , but a bit heavy for a boat under 5m , so may be great on the 535 . The x pro i would say is better built than my valliant was . The hull on my little 430 gives a great ride for such a small boat and handles far better than the valiant hull did . I would say it was quite a bit deeper V

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by ian parkes

is it an alloy hull I looked at the alloy hull range earlier this year

Don't think they do an alloy hull over 4.2m

[ian parkes]

the grey one in the picture is an alloy hull model , but not sure about the larger one

[ShinyShoe]

Without wanting to hijack someone elses thread what is the opinion of alloy hull rather than GRP.

[dundeerib1994]

yeh got the guy down to 16 k any other offers would be good but best equipped atm with :XPRO Defender 535 RED ORCA HYPALON with double rubbing strake

10 man

535cm long

212cm beam

Elephant trunk bailing

Family console with forward facing seat

2 x offshore jockey style seats in tandem with back rests and hand holds

Internal 65 litre fuel tank with gauge

Garmin 451s colour plotter fishfinder linked to Garmin 100i DSC VHF radio

Fusion Ipod dock with 2 speakers

Stainless steel A Frame with nav lights

Suzuki DF70 fuel injected engine

Extreme trailer

[ian parkes]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Without wanting to hijack someone elses thread what is the opinion of alloy hull rather than GRP.

very impressed with mine , its lighter than grp and for a small boat that gets beached regularly i no longer have to worry about damage .

I expected it to feel cold and be noisy in the water and engine vibes to get transmitted but its no difference from grp in that department .

I know there has been problems with galvanic corrosion on larger boats but on a small boat with no electrics etc its not an issue .

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by dundeerib1994

10 man

At least you won't be cold

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

IF they are chinese, I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole no matter how cheap it is. Just my opinion.

I would agree with Pikey,Chinese RIB's I've SEEN have been very low Quality,and for 18K there are some great options second hand,which may well serve you better in the long run. Especialy with VAT at 20%(On new) and alot of people not doing many hours in thier boats.
Either way I'd advise you take your time and have a good look at alot of different makes... there are plenty out there with a Proven track record.

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Maximus

I would agree with Pikey,Chinese RIB's I've SEEN have been very low Quality,and for 18K there are some great options second hand,which may well serve you better in the long run. Especialy with VAT at 20%(On new) and alot of people not doing many hours in thier boats.
Either way I'd advise you take your time and have a good look at alot of different makes... there are plenty out there with a Proven track record.

I agree with the above,

after having owned a Chinese made rib mine in particular was not up to the job, but I must say that the X-pro does look well built and stylish, but for 18 k you would bag a nice s/h British built rib, take your time and have a good look round for what is on offer. If you want a brand new rib take a look at the Liverpool power boats link below there prices a very similar to what you are wanting to pay for a Chinese import.

[PeterM]

I'm going to be controversial .....so hang on ....

I'm not sure that the 'tag' of 'cheap & low quality Chinese goods' can always be applied.... I feel sure they are catching up on the quality and design side very very quickly indeed.

I'm not disageeing that for this sort of money there are not more reputable/capable 2nd hand boats out there . Just look at a RC 585 for example £18k will but you alot of 2nd hand kit....

I think most Iphones/pads are made in China as an example ?

I'll get my coat

[kerny]

Originally Posted by PeterM

I'm going to be controversial .....so hang on ....

I'm not sure that the 'tag' of 'cheap & low quality Chinese goods' can always be applied.... I feel sure they are catching up on the quality and design side very very quickly indeed.

I think most Iphones/pads are made in China as an example ?

I'll get my coat

That is true but I think that some British dealers have been seduced by the large profits that can be made by importing and selling these China ribs, I dare say that there will be some good quality ribs made in China but far more expensive to import and sell so the cheaper versions are a better option. Just my own opinion.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by PeterM

I'm not sure that the 'tag' of 'cheap & low quality Chinese goods' can always be applied....

I'm hoping that the OP will be able to read between the lines and see that the only person who has actually examined one closely says this brand does not appear to fall into that category! But don't let that stop all the other people who have never seen an XPro from saying they must be rubbish because we think they are made in China. Its not like there aren't some shocking things in both the cheap and expensive ends of the UK market...

I'm not disagreeing that for this sort of money there are not more reputable/capable 2nd hand boats out there . Just look at a RC 585 for example £18k will but you alot of 2nd hand kit....

indeed but for the headline figure, you can get a NEW British rib from one of the lower end makers as I mentioned before. Certainly if the OP was further south I'd have suggested he go and see Ian at Powerboat Sales (Ribs4U Rigid Inflatable Boat RIB sales at affordable prices – Humber, Valiant, Mariner and Mercury plus jockey seats and consoles), he is a member here, seems to have a good reputation and - unlike most sells two different brands, neither of which he makes, so can possibly be a little less "My boat is brilliant minded". The difference in cost would probably be how much electronics etc you can talk them into.