Hull materials

Northern Tim · 09 July 2005, 23:16

I'm looking for my first boat and I'm after a 4m RIB.
A friend's dive club is selling a zodiac with a wooden hull. I'm fairly new to this and had not heard of wooden hulls, I thought they were all fibreglass. What are people's thoughts and advice about going for this? Apart from the obvious increase in weight, what difference will it make?
Thanks,
Tim.

Rogue Wave · 10 July 2005, 00:24

It's not a Rib it sounds more like an inflateable!

at 4 metres then GRP is fine. Avon Searrider SR4's are good boats

codprawn · 10 July 2005, 03:26

I should imagine it's wooden floorboards - not a wooden hull.

Floorboards used on a normal inflatble to stiffen up the bottom - they plane easily because bottom is so flat!!!

Northern Tim · 10 July 2005, 10:52

Although I haven't viewed it yet, I'm told that it's actually a wooden hull, not an inflatable with wooden floor. It sounded a bit odd to me as well, which I why I wanted to check it out with you guys!
Cheers,
Tim.