Is a leisure Rib ever the right choice ?

[Landlockedpirate]

I'm finding that we are using our small sports cruiser less and less. My wife works weekends and that combined with a £600 boat tank, £100 in the Rangie to tow it anywhere and the faff level with a trailer boat of this size, means its only been out twice in the last year.

We use are sibs a lot more, so we are thinking of replacing the sports cruiser with a Rib.

The thing is,that for our type of usage,a leisure style rib would suit us best. We have been lucky to do lots of offshore passages all over the UK and Europe and now we just want to coast hop between marinas,run around the Solent or take the boat for a day on the Broads or even the Upper Thames.

I've been reading the forum for a while and I know that the recommendations will always be Searider/Redbay etc, but I am looking at a Zodiac Medline 3, sunpad and toilet (essential for a day out with my better half !).

How bad a mistake would I be making ? Remember the boat would be a dry suit and Geeko free zone.

Cheers

[boristhebold]

Ive seen those medline ribs, they always looked too leisure orientated to me too much med styled.

Ime very much into leisure ribbing allthough I do rib all year round. I reckon based on what youve said you should contemplate a 7.5M cobra rib, sports / leisure would be the word, bolster style seats for helm, large sunpad up front, lots of locker space, grab ropes, rear boarding ladder etc etc and plenty around so probably good choice to be had. you could buy an older one and do up, plenty of options.

I mostly use mine for hopping from place to place or going swimming from or just anchored up having a snooze or reading a book.

[Pikey Dave]

Just because you want a leisure orientated RIB, doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality/seakeeping. Most of the mainstream UK manufacturers will build you a leisure RIB to your spec, if you are buying new of course. If a leisure layout suits your kind of boating, then that's what you should buy. (as long as it isn't a Br1g or Russian or Estonian or Chinese or Egyptian)

[Aries]

My Medline 3 is great. Wife and 2 daughters love having a toilet. Layout is great.

Cooker, sink and fresh water shower make it a pleasant place to be for the day.

Crossed Lyme Bay in it a few weeks back in some pretty rough stuff and it was fine. Did have the Gekko on though.

Mate (& I guess his wife) liked mine so much he's just chopped his 8M cobra in for one.

Check out the tubes carefully though at the cones.

[Ribochet]

Originally Posted by Aries

My Medline 3 is great. Wife and 2 daughters love having a toilet. Layout is great.

Your biggest challenge in terms of options will be getting a RIB with a head.

[Landlockedpirate]

OK, so if I had an unlimited budget I could have a new rib built, but I dont.

So budget around 30k, the Heads are non negotiable. It needs to be a decent size, so 7m ish. Age isnt a factor, but condition is. Engine needs to be 4 stroke or Etec.

My other option would be a partial refurb to add a new helm with toilet, dont know if thats even possible ?

I suppose the other option would be an older cabin rib, I remember some nice looking Revengers in the 90's.

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

OK, so if I had an unlimited budget I could have a new rib built, but I dont.

So budget around 30k, the Heads are non negotiable. It needs to be a decent size, so 7m ish. Age isnt a factor, but condition is. Engine needs to be 4 stroke or Etec.

My other option would be a partial refurb to add a new helm with toilet, dont know if thats even possible ?

I suppose the other option would be an older cabin rib, I remember some nice looking Revengers in the 90's.

If you're keen on looking for a Revenger then it's worth posting a question on the Revenger Facebook page, although the company has been sold to Ribeye, Phil Morris still keeps up to date with any ribs for sale etc, he may know where there's one that may suit your needs, nowt to lose by asking the question

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reven...ref=ts&fref=ts

[Nick Hearne]

I would be looking at Biffers Cabin rib, although I don't think he has put a price on it yet!

[spartacus]

I know it's out-with budget, but Zodiac N-Zo ribs look good. Here's a 2010 N-Zo 700.
Zodiac N-zo Cabin Rib For Sale - GBP 49,950 - GB, UK - Boatshop24.co.uk

[Nos4r2]

I think the mistake people make when saying 'leisure rib' is they think 'bloody uncomfortable seating in the rough and a crap hull shape that slams'.

A rib doesn't have to be crap in the rough to be more leisure orientated.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

I think the mistake people make when saying 'leisure rib' is they think 'bloody uncomfortable seating in the rough and a crap hull shape that slams'.

A rib doesn't have to be crap in the rough to be more leisure orientated.

Which was my point, but I think the OP took it slightly the wrong way.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

A rib doesn't have to be crap in the rough to be more leisure orientated.

It just needs two colour upholstery arranged in a linear, symmetrical design.

[Landlockedpirate]

Thanks for the input.

The comment about a Revenger was really just me thinking aloud, I saw a couple years ago and thought "they look nice" but thats as far as it got. I have never even stood on one, let alone tried it in the rough stuff.

I love the Zodiac cabin ribs, but 50k is just too much for the amount of use it will get, but give them 5 years and they will probably top of my list.

Your comments about leisure ribs havent been taken the wrong way,I want every ones thoughts.

Been looking around for the last month or so, my experience suggests that "leisure" ribs tend to be much wider (which my better half and family like) giving a lot more space, they have seats that look great and are really comfy while you are on the trailer but from my limited experience would be horrible when out on the water. The wider hull usually means flatter deadrise and rubbish handling.

I have 2 very different experiences of leisure ribs.I borrowed a small Zodiac Yachtline 340DL to use as a tender. It was fantastic, smooth 3 pot 2 stroke Yam on the back, soft riding hull, stable in all (moderate) conditions and it felt safe and comfortable. Great for sking the kids, lots of storage for all the bits and pieces and just a really enjoyable rib to play with, even though it was tiny.

The year after I borrowed a a Zodiac Pro 6m ish (sorry cant remember exact model). It had a horrible 2 stroke 100hp Suzuki, chine walked at anything over 35kts, helm seats that would have been better suited as bar stools and a feeling that you were contstantly about to be ejected off the back or over the side. The passenger seating was all above the level of the tubes and the whole thing just felt horrible.

So really I'm just trying to find out if I can buy a scaled up Yachtline 340DL or once I go bigger are alll leisure ribs pretty on the trailer and just pretty rubbish on the water ? And I need all of this for about 30k.

[Aries]

Does my arse look big in this?

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

So really I'm just trying to find out if I can buy a scaled up Yachtline 340DL or once I go bigger are alll leisure ribs pretty on the trailer and just pretty rubbish on the water ? .

Don't and yes. Yachtlines, as the name suggests, are designed as big yacht tenders, not really ideal as a stand alone boat.

The problem that your up against on Ribnet, is that most of us are not keen on 'leisure' orientated ribs. It almost goes against what a rib is all about for many of us.

Therefore, as a compromise, you're being directed towards a 'proper rib' with a few comfy concessions towards leisure.

Your biggest sticking point will be the loo. A bog on a rib takes you into cabin rib territory. Your £30k budget is healthy when searching for a non cabin rib, it barely puts you in the market for a cabin rib.

[Landlockedpirate]

Originally Posted by Aries

Does my arse look big in this?

Attachment 97750

I love big butts

[Aries]

Well then here's another one for you...

[Landlockedpirate]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Your biggest sticking point will be the loo. A bog on a rib takes you into cabin rib territory. Your £30k budget is nice a healthy when searching for a non cabin rib, it barely puts you in the market for a cabin rib.

Yep,I think you are right.

I realise Ribnet is all about performance but I have still been pleasantly suprised by the moderate posts on this thread and no one has mentioned a Searider at all !

The Medline is the only boat that meets my requirements that I have found so far and they are really rare. Although I have a lead on one in Southern Spain, might nip out for a look.

[Aries]

If you ever want a go in one and are on the South Coast let me know.

There's three on the River in Christchurch now.

Admins can we have a Medline 3 only section please? ; )

[HUMBER P4VWL]

What about the shearwater?

Not a cabin per se, but a big console with small loo and v berth to hide from rain/snooze. The console also wraps around a bit and often have a folding cuddy arrangement off the top. Then a big comfy bench at the back. They're about the 7-8m mark too so not stupidly big.

I think they're great in layout. Never been on one though. I'd imagine your £30k would get a second hand one. ???