Jet RIBs?

[bownessie]

Hi,

I'm fairly new to ribbing, but borrowed a friends a few times and I'm hooked!

Looking for a 4m-ish RIB in the region of £2000-4000. It's mainly for fun family days out on the lake.

I've seen a few Zodiac jet boats, they seem quite cheap compared to outboard counterparts, and wondered if there are any particular problems with them I should be aware of?

I assume that if the motor breaks it isn't as easy as just swapping out an outboard, which I guess is one reason they are cheaper, but how hard is it to get a replacement?

Are there any other particular issues that relate to jet boats?

Many thanks

Matt

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by bownessie

Hi,

I'm fairly new to ribbing, but borrowed a friends a few times and I'm hooked!

Looking for a 4m-ish RIB in the region of £2000-4000. It's mainly for fun family days out on the lake.

I've seen a few Zodiac jet boats, they seem quite cheap compared to outboard counterparts, and wondered if there are any particular problems with them I should be aware of?

I assume that if the motor breaks it isn't as easy as just swapping out an outboard, which I guess is one reason they are cheaper, but how hard is it to get a replacement?

Are there any other particular issues that relate to jet boats?

Many thanks

Matt

Small jet ribs a pretty hopeless things and only really used as big yacht tenders. Do you want ruffty tuffty or soft and squidgy?

[bownessie]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Small jet ribs a pretty hopeless things and only really used as big yacht tenders. Do you want ruffty tuffty or soft and squidgy?

I appreciate the reply. To be honest it's only be going to be for fun running up and down Windermere with family so I'm not bothered about tackling big sea swells and fighting the waves in some very manly way (as tempting as that sort of thing is!).

I just really want to know if I'm going to get myself into a lot of maintenance issues buying a jet rather than outboard.

Cheers

Matt

[dsgrnmcm]

Hi Matt,

Jets can make a huge wake compared to the equivalent outboard / prop, it would be the same maint costs as an inboard, but with to prop or gearbox to look after (ours have a reduction box as opposed to gear)

But I'm sure a more detailed answer will come along.

[landlord]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Small jet ribs a pretty hopeless things and only really used as big yacht tenders. Do you want ruffty tuffty or soft and squidgy?

+1

When they go wrong they can be a pain to put right.

Wouldn't touch the smaller jet RIBs. IMHO they're a pain to drive at slower speeds bit like a jet ski with a tube round it !

[Poly]

Originally Posted by dsgrnmcm

Jets can make a huge wake compared to the equivalent outboard / prop,

Anyone explain the physics of that?

[miccheck1516]

probobly to do with trim more than anything.

They are a nightmare to keep in a straight line, and my experiance is from a Halmatic Pacific 32, certainly not a light boat!

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Poly

Anyone explain the physics of that?

More prop wash, not wake Mr Pedantic. ;-)

[GJ0KYZ]

Jet drives create no more wake than standard prop-driven boats; why would they? Jet drives are less efficient though because of the need to turn helical thrust into linear thrust via the drive's stator vanes. The maneuverability of any jet-driven craft is unbelievable; we've all seen the Ocean Dynamic video. The small jet-drive ribs won't have a gear box so that's one less thing to go wrong. Most people on this forum don't like jet drives because they hate jet skis. And they hate jet skis because secretly they know they're the future of ribbing. Oh yes.

[Lee argyle]

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

Jet drives create no more wake than standard prop-driven boats; why would they? Jet drives are less efficient though because of the need to turn helical thrust into linear thrust via the drive's stator vanes. The maneuverability of any jet-driven craft is unbelievable; we've all seen the Ocean Dynamic video. The small jet-drive ribs won't have a gear box so that's one less thing to go wrong. Most people on this forum don't like jet drives because they hate jet skis. And they hate jet skis because secretly they know they're the future of ribbing. Oh yes.

I run a rib and a ski, skis are fantastically easy to manoeuvre - my current unit ( RXP260 ) has fly-by-wire forward, neutral and reverse, all at the your finger tips - brilliant to helm. Regards the comment ' hating jet skis ' - unfortunately there's idiots on every type of watercraft

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

Most people on this forum don't like jet drives because they hate jet skis. And they hate jet skis because secretly they know they're the future of ribbing. Oh yes.

Not when the water is 4 degrees and there's kelp

[Landlockedpirate]

As much as I love jet ribs for a fun tender, they are a massive pain to look after, jetski dealers hate them because they are so difficult to work on and take up so much space (relative to a jet ski). the 2 strokes were seriously unreliable and getting one fixed round Windermere will be tough (despite Shepherds being the original dealer !)

TBH, I couldnt think of a worse boat for the lake, they are horrible at slow speeds and wont be happy unless you open them up regularly.

If you like that style of boat, look for a Zodiac Yachtline DL, similar layout and are available in 340, 380, 420 and 500 sizes with 25hp and up.

[bownessie]

Thanks for the replies, from both sides!

I was looking at the Zodiac YL 380 and 420's, but unsure either way on the jet or outboard. The jet's seemed to be quite a bit cheaper 2nd hand, which made me think why - I guess difficult maintenance is the main issue.

Cheers.

[Alan Priddy]

I hope I am pleased with my Jet Rib when it is finished www.circumnavigationrecord.com Alan P

[hamster]

You'll probably find a jet rib if that size has a lot less internal space for bags and passengers etc than one with an outboard. If you want more space you could even go for tiller outboard on that size boat.

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[Low Flyer]

Ours has loads of space for a 5.5m and is huge fun 0-46knts is awesome and manoeuvrability is superb. And operates in 12 inces of water.