Help me choose!!!

miles · 06 July 2004, 08:30

Hiya all

New to the forum. I desperately need some advice. I live in Cape Town, South Africa. I'm looking at getting a bigger RIB to use in spearing tuna that are about 30-40nm from the shore. The problem i have is that we have so many manufacturers claiming to have THE best rib, thats its become a nightmare to choose. I've narrowed my options down to the following:

6.5m Hysucat with 2x50hp Yamaha's 4 Strokes
6.5m Mako with 2x50hp Suzuki's 4 Strokes
7.2m Mako with 2x70hp Suzuki's 4 Strokes
6.2m Stingray Searaider with 2x50hp Suzuki's 4 Strokes
5.5m Gemini with 2x50hp Yamaha's 4 Strokes

Taking into account that we'll be 4 crew members with very little equipment (no scuba equipment). What recommendations do the experienced guys have??

Thanx

miles

batfalcon · 06 July 2004, 08:53

Between 6.5 and 7.2 m RIBS there are some major differences. The cost of ownership is one thing. The cost for service is another. Generally speaking, the bigger the better, as far as you can afford the expences.
Consider that bigger boat require bigger tow vehilces. Bigger boats are less manouverable on land but easier to sail when the "going gets tough" and they sure are thirstier than smaller ones.

Dirk Diggler · 06 July 2004, 08:54

My only experience of tuna is the tinned variety, but fishing 30-40 nm from shore sounds more like a job for a fishing (hard) boat!

Phil Chitty · 06 July 2004, 09:09

Hey Miles.

I'd go for the Gemini 550 any time.

A good solid RIB, built like a brick and handles well in the rough stuff.

This opinion is completely unbiased of course !

Phil

miles · 06 July 2004, 09:32

Hiya

Thanx for the response.

A bit of history. I currently own a 4.7m Gimini RIB with 2x40hp mariners and a 5m Fibreglass Cat with 2x50hp mariners. Recently sold my 24ft Cabin boat with 2x115hp yamaha's.

RIB's are the prefered vessel for spearfishing. Very stable, needs small motors, therefor light on fuel and maintance, cheaper cost as well. Also very easy to get in and out of the water and very easy/light to tow. We've got some pretty horrible seas here and RIB's handle the water better than a fibreglass boat of equivalent size.

Mako, Gemini, Stingray, Wildcat, Prestige, Falcon, Orca (Royal) and Hysucat are all built within an hours drive from my place. So as you can see, with so many manufacturers, how do i choose??

Gemini 5.5m is whats used by our NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute). I've been on a 5.05m Gemini, which has a similar hull. Bangs quite a bit. The 5.5m gemini is a great boat, impressive hull, but also bangs a bit AND is a WET boat.

I tested the 6.5m Hysucat and was suitably impressed. Very soft ride and very quick, considering 2x50hp's were pushing it.

I tow with a Toyota Hilux 4x4 with a 3.3ltr V6. This was my towing vehicle for my 24' Cabin boat, so it'll pull ANY rib easily.

Regards
miles

Rene · 06 July 2004, 10:38

Hi

Try to stay away from Mako they seems to be a bit thin in the hull, I have just seen one with a broken hull and it's wasn't wery think about 6-8 mm, and not wery well build.

I have a CAPE 79 build by Flite - Rubberduck, but make sure that it's build by Flite, and not outsourced, they tend to do this, without saying it. (Go see when they build the boatjust to say

)

Happy hunting
Rene

Ludolph · 06 July 2004, 12:41

Hallo Miles.
I am from a company, Boating Dynamix and I truly think we can end your search. We build the Ballistic 7.8 & 6.5 which have proved to be excellent
weight carrying and rough water capabilities. It is also a sexy looking boat with all the added extras such as indevidual seating, dry locker storage, huge
deckspace. It can also carry up to 250L of fuel and it seems like you would need that. Maybe you want to come and have a look at the boats in our showroom?

codprawn · 06 July 2004, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ludolph

Hallo Miles.
I am from a company, Boating Dynamix and I truly think we can end your search. We build the Ballistic 7.8 & 6.5 which have proved to be excellent
weight carrying and rough water capabilities. It is also a sexy looking boat with all the added extras such as indevidual seating, dry locker storage, huge
deckspace. It can also carry up to 250L of fuel and it seems like you would need that. Maybe you want to come and have a look at the boats in our showroom?

I recently went for a spin on a Ballistic 7.8 with a 225 on the back - really quick boat and very dry but had hell of a hammering - thought I was going to be thrown out of the boat! Do they always give such a hard ride?

RIVA · 06 July 2004, 15:12

codprawn you said you could cope with speed!!

John Kennett · 06 July 2004, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Do they always give such a hard ride?

Assuming they are still using the original Ballistic hull, then yes. It's a side effect of the pronounced scalloped chines which mean that there is a lot of flat surface on the hull. This is what makes them so fast though.

Word on the pontoon has it that the hull was designed in Gibraltar to carry heavy loads quickly without too much regard for operator comfort. It's the same hull that Crompton used.

John

codprawn · 07 July 2004, 01:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIVA

codprawn you said you could cope with speed!!

yes but I was the passenger!!!! My idea of hell would be sitting in the passenger seat of a TVR with ME driving!!!!

Alan · 07 July 2004, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

It's the same hull that Crompton used.

John

Who also (alledgely) were "experts" at moving covert cargo across the North Sea by RIB

miles · 01 September 2004, 16:54

Hiya

Thanx all for the advice!!!!

Finally got the 6.5m Hysucat with 2x50hp 4 stroke yamaha's. Suberbly sea-worthy and very soft ride!!!!

Regards
miles

Louise · 01 September 2004, 16:58

Congratulations! Wishing you lots of safe and happy cruising and fishing.

Please post some photos.

MeMe · 01 September 2004, 17:15

......some pictures.

miles · 21 September 2004, 17:59

Hiya

Some pictures from Cape Town, South Africa!!!!!!

Mark Halliday · 21 September 2004, 21:29

Miles

Picture 2. Is that a rock, a whale or what?

codprawn · 21 September 2004, 21:31

Looks like they are testing depth charges!!!

Mark Halliday · 21 September 2004, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Looks like they are testing depth charges!!!

And he said he only went fishing with spear guns and hand lines.

Andy · 22 September 2004, 00:17

6.5m Hysucat ... a bit weird but handles very well. However I would go for more horse power. Twin 50s will not give you the same a single 100hp, and on a 6.5m boat that seems too small.

EDIT

Bugger just noticed you have already made you choice ... Hysucat ... good choice!! You will have lots of fun with that.