Deep-V ribs - manufacturer comparisons?

[steve-ribnet]

Hi All,
I'm researching into what deep-V RIBs are available from different manufacturers, at 5.5m or thereabouts, and would love to hear your experiences.

I'm sure everyone has their pet favourite RIB manufacturers - I'm a Tornado/Humber man, but haven't a clue about what the competitors have to offer in deep-v RIBs that can make headway in high seas without slamming (like an Avon;-), keeping a (relatively) dry ride, perhaps at the expense of stationary stability. The rib would be for diving - 6 divers or so, running heavily loaded on long runs in 'lively' seas, powered by 100-115hp outboard.


How's about a little "Complete this list" of comparable RIBs? The ones I'm familiar are already filled in, with what I currently consider to have the most desirable attributes at the top. The more common manufacturers I have come across in second hand sales are left for you to complete if you could please. Additions, corrections and justifications of your choices appreciated!

Delta: Dash-5.5
Humber: Destroyer
Tornado 5.5
XS-RIBS: ?
Ribcraft: ?
Ribeye: ?
Rib-Tec: ?
Northcraft: ?
Zodiac: ?
Valiant: ?
BMW: ?
Avon: ?
any others? ??

thanks all, looking forward to see what you all have to say

cheers

steve

[GordyP]

Halmatic. Either an Arctic 22,24 or 28 with outboards (for performance and fun)or the Pacific with the inboard diesel.

Very deep V hull, good second hand examples can be found.

My Arctic 22 came with twin 115's which would push her along at 42 knots fully loaded with divers and kit, she would cruise with reasonable economy at 30 knots.

[Mr Flibble]

I've seen Gordy's boat in the marina, very nice. Tried crowbarring off the Etecs but they wouldn't budge.

I'm very impressed with the Humber Ocean Pro 5.5m. Nice dry ride, good handling. I manage about 50mph 3 up with the 115 tldi, about 33mph 4 up and a shed load of twinsets.

My old club had a Narwhal which was also nice.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by steve-ribnet

at 5.5m or thereabouts

Originally Posted by GordyP

Arctic 22,24 or 28

Over spec?

[GeoffChopper]

what degree would a rib become classed 'deep'? greater than 22?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Channel might be right, brilliant though the halmatics are, possible overkill for what the op wants.

Something to consider re Humber. Destroyer and Ocean Pro are two different hulls. Both have a high sheer bow to help stop stuffing in a following sea. The latter has chines/spray rails that help lift the boat on to the plane more quickly and also make the boat sit higher in the water under way when loaded with kit. Something to consider if you are putting divers and gear on. As it's more complex a hull, it is obviously more expensive though. Attaque is the former version i believe of the Ocean pro and v similar but sometimes without such a high sheer bow. Assault is just poo for what you need. Destroyer and OP are available with different beams.

My tuppence worth.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by steve-ribnet

[B]any others?

Only the very best of that size, the Osprey Vipermax 5.8m.

[GordyP]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Over spec?

Yep.

The 22 will take 8 divers who are diving single cylinders, with 6 divers who are taking extra cylinders or on twinsets with stages the boat is pretty much full. Doing longer distance stuff, especially offshore I would be thinking of something about 6.5m to take the kit and ride comfortably with the extra weight.

Just my 2p.

[martini]

Originally Posted by steve-ribnet

BMW: ?

Not familiar with these but I'm guessing they lack directional stability at the stern

Originally Posted by Mollers

Only the very best of that size, the Osprey Vipermax 5.8m.

Originally Posted by steve-ribnet

...without slamming (like an Osprey;-),

[Viper]

Although a llittle under 5.5 my 'aged' my Osprey Viper 525 will easily cope with 6 divers and kit, and really comes into its own being a 'big small boat' when it gets lively.

Because of the internal width between sponsons there is plenty of space for kitting up, it is actually 7in wider than my 7m+ atlantic.

Not sure how the new vipermax matches up though.

[Erin]

You're just jelous of their frugality. Anyway, at least we don't get wet.

x2 for Osprey VM (obviously)

[steve-ribnet]

Wow - so many replies so quickly - and in work-time too ;-) thanks all,


Perhaps I should have said "fully laden with divers" instead of "6" divers. The size at 5.5m is more important for my investigations, than its ability to carry 6 'divers'. As GordyP quite rightly points out you can fit many more in with single tanks than tech divers, if I could steer the conversation away from that aspect. (Channel Ribs suggested a Parker 5.1, but it's a bit small)


A model with a bigger beam at the same length however might be interesting to give more deck space- like the 2.28m beam vs 2.0m Humber Ocean Pro models if any other manufacturers offer the same option?


We tend to adjust the number of divers onboard depending on what type of diving it is/what they are carrying, but it's always going to be heavier than a handful of people going fishing. The 5.5 is the best compromise for us between ease of towing, storage, single-handed launching when the need arises, fuel consumption, deck space for kitting up etc (a discussion for another topic!)


thanks all again for the replies - keep them coming (and if anyone has a 'winning' model RIB for sale in Scotland/North of England, give me a shout!)


steve

[Hightower]

The BWM Deepsea series is a beamy RIB, but I found I lacked confidence in fast cruising when the conditions got rough. I always felt safe and had water up to the inside of the transom and still felt safe, handled F6's and greater but at a slower pace that the competition.

I've got a 6.2m Osprey Vipermax which is the longer sister of the 5.8m (made in same mould). I love it! You can move a single console as far forward as you like to gain space for the divers on board. Comes with a choice of under deck fuel tanks up to 220 litres and you can hang a 150hp off the back too

[Rokraider]

When you say BMW Ribs, I wondered whether you meant BWM?
The 21 is very beamy and comfortable. It is not a very deep V, but rides well and copes with the Solent well enough. They were available with outboard or Castoldi jet drive.
In the later stages, Porters laid up the hulls for BWM and eventually retained the mould and marketed it as a Renegade 6500.

[Pikey Dave]

Ribcraft 585? good seaworthy boat & well built, or at least mine was

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by martini

Originally Posted by steve-ribnet
...without slamming (like an Osprey;-),

Naughty

[Ian M]

I had an XS 550, which seems to fit the spec. Solid build and had some really useful removable rear jockeys. Unfortunately, I decided that when I used it in the Solent, too many people were telling me how clean my prop was
Now got something with a higher take off speed

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Ribcraft 585? good seaworthy boats & used to have well built hatches, at least mine was

in true Martini style

[Andre]

In 2000 we bought the hull mould for the BWM Deep Sea 21. We designed and made in house the moulds for the deck, seats console, ect. Some of you may recall my Seahawk I,II and III. Prior to making Seahawk III we lifted the bow. It then became a much better rib. Superb sea handling. Black Magic was of the exact same design. Nothing had been changed.

Just before Seawork 2011, this was on the Sunday before so you can check the weather forcast for the Solent for that day, I took the rib from Chichester to Southampton Dry Stack. I was together with my friend Steve. It was blowing a F6 when we took the rib over the Chichester bar. We survived to tell the tale. The rib performed better then I had expected it to. Sadly no camera on board.
My greatest regret is that due to very bad weather conditions we did not manage to drive Black Magic all the way from the Baltic to the UK. We did launch in Calais and crossed there heading for Littlehampton.

Now a very much different and better rib to the one driven by Hightower

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

in true Martini style

I didn't say that.......did I ?

ee lad, tha can't educate pork