Help with buying decision

MustRib · 07 September 2006, 23:55

Hi all
I am new to this. I have completed my Powerboat Level 2, and currently have a Honwave 3.8 metre inflatable with a brand new Mariner 15.
she who must be obeyed has sanctioned a Rib purchase, and this is where I need some advice.
A new rib, must fit into my garage first and foremost, so beam no wider than 2.3 metres and overall length no more than 5 metres. Its a family inclusive hobby, so will be taking my wife and two boys (aged 6 and 8) out with me, so in terms of seating spec, I have to be able to accomodate 2 adults and 2 kids. It would be used for day jollies, and taken away on holiday with us on a trailer. I did my course in a 5m Humber destroyer, and have also looked enviously at Ribcraft and XS ribs.
I have £5K to spend, plus the trade in/sale value of my inflatable and new mariner - maybe another £1.5K.
I have looked at the Humber website, and seen that the SeaPro/Assault is available at 5 metres and 2 metres beam, for £3485 (dont know if this is plus vat or not) bare boat.. direct price. I could spend £2K on a second hand engine and £1K on a trailer. Could I get 4 on seats in this 5 metre?
Anyone suggest a different Rib for my cash?
Would value some constructive advice...
thanks in advance

Rogue Wave · 08 September 2006, 00:04

Do You Want New AND CAN YOU STRETCH TO 5,2 METRES

ian parkes · 08 September 2006, 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustRib

Hi all
I am new to this. I have completed my Powerboat Level 2, and currently have a Honwave 3.8 metre inflatable with a brand new Mariner 15.
she who must be obeyed has sanctioned a Rib purchase, and this is where I need some advice.
A new rib, must fit into my garage first and foremost, so beam no wider than 2.3 metres and overall length no more than 5 metres. Its a family inclusive hobby, so will be taking my wife and two boys (aged 6 and 8) out with me, so in terms of seating spec, I have to be able to accomodate 2 adults and 2 kids. It would be used for day jollies, and taken away on holiday with us on a trailer. I did my course in a 5m Humber destroyer, and have also looked enviously at Ribcraft and XS ribs.
I have £5K to spend, plus the trade in/sale value of my inflatable and new mariner - maybe another £1.5K.
I have looked at the Humber website, and seen that the SeaPro/Assault is available at 5 metres and 2 metres beam, for £3485 (dont know if this is plus vat or not) bare boat.. direct price. I could spend £2K on a second hand engine and £1K on a trailer. Could I get 4 on seats in this 5 metre?
Anyone suggest a different Rib for my cash?
Would value some constructive advice...
thanks in advance

Just been down a similar route
I had a new 3.8 honda at the start of the season (which fetched good money on Ebay)
I wanted a 4.8 ribcraft got guzumped on one and missed another, they fetch strong money .
I ended up with a 4.9 valiant which iam very pleased with . The boat isn't as well made as a ribcraft but is perfectly ok . the more positive part of the Valiant was that its rated for up 80hp . Mine has a suzuki DF70 which has plenty of power with all the family on board and is very economical . I think had I ended up with a Ribcraft with a 50 on I may have found it a bit sluggish with all the family and thier kit on board . The A frame is removable on my valiant so it would fit in a garage but you need a long garage for boat and trailer overall at least 6 metres.
I think any boat in this size is going to be a little cramped with 4 people on board but we manage ok and have been out with 5 on board no problem . Its when you want to stop and do some fishing etc that you have limited space if you have bags and cooler box etc on board .

MustRib · 08 September 2006, 00:24

thanks Ian...
How do you manage with 4 in your Valiant when it gets a little choppy? What seating layout do you have?

MustRib · 08 September 2006, 00:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Do You Want New AND CAN YOU STRETCH TO 5,2 METRES

Maybe 5.2 metres..my garage is long, but sitting on a trailer it will be a struggle. I would consider second hand.

Nos4r2 · 08 September 2006, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustRib

A new rib, must fit into my garage first and foremost, so beam no wider than 2.3 metres and overall length no more than 5 metres.

A couple of basic questions-Is that bare hull or are you including the outboard and trailer in the 5m overall length?

If you've got £6.5k I'd suggest looking at a complete package that's ready for the water. The odds and bits come to a lot more than you expect when you fit a boat out.You'll get more boat for your money than if you buy it all separately.

If not a complete package I'd personally try and get a 2nd-hand good sound hull on a trailer if you can find one suitable and a much newer engine. Hull failure is rare-engine failure isn't.You'll also get the right trailer without having to mess around. There's very little for an idiot to do wrong on a hull that isn't very obvious at a glance and an awful lot that can be abused on an engine that won't show up til it becomes a headache.

Is there room for 4 in a 4.7m Searider? (Ha! Got there 1st!)

ian parkes · 08 September 2006, 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustRib

thanks Ian...
How do you manage with 4 in your Valiant when it gets a little choppy? What seating layout do you have?

When I got the boat it had a jockey console that seats 2 with a dive bottle rack behind it . I have converted the rack to a single josckey seat untill I find a proper jockey seat with storage under it . I did nearly buy one with the 2 person console like mine and a bench (sofa ) seat across the stern so that would seat 4 .
This size of boat needs the seats to in line , its not wide enough for side by side jockeys etc like you would find on say a5.5m and above .

Its got quite a good V hull and handles rough water quite well for a smaller boat , the sort of chop that nearly kills you in the Honda 3.8 is hardly noticable . Its a very dry ride and as I guess with any boat a reasonable load of 3 or 4 people makes the ride better in a chop . Like your Honda it can feel quite flighty with just one person in .

MustRib · 08 September 2006, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

A couple of basic questions-Is that bare hull or are you including the outboard and trailer in the 5m overall length?

If you've got £6.5k I'd suggest looking at a complete package that's ready for the water. The odds and bits come to a lot more than you expect when you fit a boat out.You'll get more boat for your money than if you buy it all separately.

If not a complete package I'd personally try and get a 2nd-hand good sound hull on a trailer if you can find one suitable and a much newer engine. Hull failure is rare-engine failure isn't.You'll also get the right trailer without having to mess around. There's very little for an idiot to do wrong on a hull that isn't very obvious at a glance and an awful lot that can be abused on an engine that won't show up til it becomes a headache.

Is there room for 4 in a 4.7m Searider? (Ha! Got there 1st!)

The boat and engine can be 5m .. the trailer draw bar can take up a little more room as my garage narrows at the end... so a draw bar can be accomodated...
most of the complete pacakge prices I have seen come to around £8.5 K, so a second hand set up maybe the way to go... just wondered if anyone had experience of that Humber 5m Sea Pro rib..?
Thanks for the reply..

Nos4r2 · 08 September 2006, 00:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustRib

most of the complete pacakge prices I have seen come to around £8.5 K, so a second hand set up maybe the way to go... just wondered if anyone had experience of that Humber 5m Sea Pro rib..?
Thanks for the reply..

Sorry-should have said complete 2nd hand package.

Limey Linda · 08 September 2006, 01:01

Have you considered getting a trailer with a hinged/folding draw bar.This will knock 1M off the overall length.

ian parkes · 08 September 2006, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustRib

The boat and engine can be 5m .. the trailer draw bar can take up a little more room as my garage narrows at the end... so a draw bar can be accomodated...
most of the complete pacakge prices I have seen come to around £8.5 K, so a second hand set up maybe the way to go... just wondered if anyone had experience of that Humber 5m Sea Pro rib..?
Thanks for the reply..

I looked at a humber 5m and liked it very much . I don't think you would get any of these boats (valiant ,ribcraft, or humber ) for 8.5 k ready to go brand new with engine and trailer unless prices have dropped a lot for the end of season . Finding any of them second hand takes effort they are in damand and fetch good prices . 5 year old boats in good condition are all over 6k if they are any good .

I saw my valiant offered new as a package minus trailer with cheaper engine for about 9k add a trailer and more seating plus the engine you would prefer and its more like 12k

MustRib · 08 September 2006, 02:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

I looked at a humber 5m and liked it very much . I don't think you would get any of these boats (valiant ,ribcraft, or humber ) for 8.5 k ready to go brand new with engine and trailer unless prices have dropped a lot for the end of season . Finding any of them second hand takes effort they are in damand and fetch good prices . 5 year old boats in good condition are all over 6k if they are any good .

I saw my valiant offered new as a package minus trailer with cheaper engine for about 9k add a trailer and more seating plus the engine you would prefer and its more like 12k

thanks Ian..
I was also wondering if anyone had views on XS ribs?
They seem on a similar price to Ribcraft..

GaryD · 08 September 2006, 12:20

I have my 4.5M Narwhal RIB for sale on boatsandoutboards that might suit your purposes...

Click Here