Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 18 May 2017, 19:28   #1
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Stockport
Boat name: Anon
Make: Europa
Length: 3m +
Engine: Outboard, tohatsu 20
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5
New Rib advice pls.

Hi,

As a relative newbie, I would like some advice on buying a new rib on behalf of our family. We currently have a 3.3 Europa sports rib , with a 20hp 4 stroke outboard. We got it after completing our level 2 course for our holiday home in Anglesey. We have had it for a year or two now, and now feel ready to get something more capable. We want to have the flexibility to pull our boys around (donut/wake) and do a spot of fishing. Can't imagine that there will ever be more than 3 adults on it/ 4 kids (currently aged 9-14) but mostly 2 + 2. We don't want to be buying again in next 5 years and want reliability.
We are currently looking at Europa 5.2, with options of either 60hp tohatsu/80 mercury. Review on these are limited, but cost is good with initial prices £15-16.5K being quoted.
However, I know there are a lot of other suppliers and manufacturers out there. Our neighbours have just gone for a brig for instance?

Any advice will be welcome.

Many thanks,

Simon
__________________
Simston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18 May 2017, 20:53   #2
Member
 
Pikey Dave's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: South Yorks
Boat name: Black Pig
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: DF140a
MMSI: 235111389
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,153
RIBase
I've never heard of Europa ribs, but you seem to have a healthy budget so I wouldn't rush into anything. The world is your crustacean
__________________
Rule#2: Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level & then beat you with experience.
Rule#3: Tha' can't educate pork.
Rule#4:Don't feed the troll
Pikey Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18 May 2017, 21:20   #3
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Retford
Boat name: Spy-sea-one
Make: Excel 435
Length: 4m +
Engine: Suzuki Outboard/25/4
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,525
RIBase
For that budget look at Humber , xs ribs sold by Barnet marine both British built
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-XS460-...p2056016.l4276
__________________
jeffstevens763@g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 14:20   #4
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Nottingham
Length: no boat
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 238
RIBase
For that budget you could get quite a lot of boat from a decent manufacturer. Humber, XS(formerly Tornado), Redbay, RibCraft, RibEye, Avon, Zodiac and Ballistic all make decent boats.

Ribcraft - 5.85 RIBs and Inflatable Boats for sale in Hampshire, South East | Boats and Outboards

AVON - 560 Adventure RIBs and Inflatable Boats for sale in Hampshire, South East | Boats and Outboards

Ballistic - 5.5m RIBs and Inflatable Boats for sale in , | Boats and Outboards
__________________
Andy_Rs600 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 14:24   #5
Member
 
Pikey Dave's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: South Yorks
Boat name: Black Pig
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: DF140a
MMSI: 235111389
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,153
RIBase
Where are the Europas made? It doesnt say on their website as I can see.
__________________
Rule#2: Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level & then beat you with experience.
Rule#3: Tha' can't educate pork.
Rule#4:Don't feed the troll
Pikey Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 15:49   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Bristol
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 4,299
Guess?
__________________
Member of S.A.B.S. West Country Division
matt h is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 16:24   #7
Member
 
kerny's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Ashton-under-Lyne Lancs
Boat name: IMOGEN
Make: Air-Craft 5.4
Length: 5m +
Engine: Suzuki df70a
MMSI: 235087492
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 7,078
RIBase
Send a message via Skype™ to kerny
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt h View Post
Guess?
Sweet & Sour!! with extra fried ....
__________________
Member of S.A.B.S. (Lancashire Division)
kerny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 16:41   #8
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Bristol
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 4,299
Chicken chow mein?
__________________
Member of S.A.B.S. West Country Division
matt h is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 17:05   #9
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Retford
Boat name: Spy-sea-one
Make: Excel 435
Length: 4m +
Engine: Suzuki Outboard/25/4
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,525
RIBase
it's where everything is made ni on
__________________
jeffstevens763@g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 18:23   #10
Member
 
chipko's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Up North and right a bit
Make: XS500/Merc340/Bic245
Length: 5m +
Engine: Mar 60/20/3.5/Hon2.3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,125
Last year we were in exactly the same position as yourself, we sold our sibs and upgraded to a small rib.
Usually only two aboard plus towing wakeboard/kneeboard/toy so after a bit of research finally went for a new 5m XS rib with a 60hp Mariner bolted on the back. Including a trailer it all came in well under your budget so you should be good to consider some of the UK built boats mentioned above.
Early days but pleased with quality and performance of ours.
Happy hunting.
__________________
chipko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 19:09   #11
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: suffolk
Boat name: not yet
Make: Gemini
Length: 5m +
Engine: Suzuki 140
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,295
Ha Ha , here we go again !! , but post is starting to provide helpful info for the family ,
loads of links to 10 or 15 year old offshore capable ribs proudly built in the uk ,and then on the other side of the coin the Chinese offering , half the price ,same engines ,trailers and electronics ,tubes can be in pvc or hypalon dependant on choice , really equates to 5k for a hull or 20k , not saying either choice is right or wrong ,but its horses for courses , if you want to pound the waves on the open sea (with beard) then choose the home produced product (after all only the brits know the uk coastal waters ) ,if its just family fun in the estuaries ,waterskiing ,picnicking and the odd coastal excursion ,then maybe theres another way forward
__________________
Orwell boy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 19:58   #12
Member
 
Dan Gurney's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Acharacle
Boat name: Iolar
Make: Redbay
Length: 6m +
Engine: Suzuki DF175
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,047
I take your point, but another thing to consider is how well it'll wear it's years. You chinese RIB, if it's not well put together, could easily be looking pretty shabby after 5 years! are you going to keep it in a barn/garage? On the driveway? Sitting outdoors 365 can take it's toll. I certainly wouldn't expect to get much of your 16k back if you ever plan to sell it.

You pays your money and you takes your choice, but to be quite frank I'd take that XS460 over a Europa 520 at the same price all day long. We used an XS rib for our PB2 at Cumbrae and they're tough, well put together boats.

...and you *did* ask for advice
__________________
Dan Gurney is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 20:01   #13
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Retford
Boat name: Spy-sea-one
Make: Excel 435
Length: 4m +
Engine: Suzuki Outboard/25/4
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,525
RIBase
Look at the xs build vid on YouTube
__________________
jeffstevens763@g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19 May 2017, 20:13   #14
Member
 
Dan Gurney's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Acharacle
Boat name: Iolar
Make: Redbay
Length: 6m +
Engine: Suzuki DF175
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,047
You could get in a Highfield 460 for around that money too. No experience of them myself but the had a boat in the Round Ireland challenge the other year which seemed do ok. Bit more of a 'leisurey' layout which might suit better.

Also not british, if that's a problem. But then neither are Ballistic.
__________________
Dan Gurney is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 May 2017, 10:03   #15
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Stockport
Boat name: Anon
Make: Europa
Length: 3m +
Engine: Outboard, tohatsu 20
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5
Thanks, think that's where I am heading....out of interest, did you buy new and where from?
__________________
Simston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 May 2017, 10:05   #16
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Stockport
Boat name: Anon
Make: Europa
Length: 3m +
Engine: Outboard, tohatsu 20
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Gurney View Post
I take your point, but another thing to consider is how well it'll wear it's years. You chinese RIB, if it's not well put together, could easily be looking pretty shabby after 5 years! are you going to keep it in a barn/garage? On the driveway? Sitting outdoors 365 can take it's toll. I certainly wouldn't expect to get much of your 16k back if you ever plan to sell it.

You pays your money and you takes your choice, but to be quite frank I'd take that XS460 over a Europa 520 at the same price all day long. We used an XS rib for our PB2 at Cumbrae and they're tough, well put together boats.

...and you *did* ask for advice
Many thanks, that's why I asked......it's a minefield!
__________________
Simston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 May 2017, 10:08   #17
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Stockport
Boat name: Anon
Make: Europa
Length: 3m +
Engine: Outboard, tohatsu 20
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by chipko View Post
Last year we were in exactly the same position as yourself, we sold our sibs and upgraded to a small rib.
Usually only two aboard plus towing wakeboard/kneeboard/toy so after a bit of research finally went for a new 5m XS rib with a 60hp Mariner bolted on the back. Including a trailer it all came in well under your budget so you should be good to consider some of the UK built boats mentioned above.
Early days but pleased with quality and performance of ours.
Happy hunting.
Sorry, I am new to forums.. posting all over the place.....where did you end up buying from?
__________________
Simston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 May 2017, 10:15   #18
Member
 
Dan Gurney's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Acharacle
Boat name: Iolar
Make: Redbay
Length: 6m +
Engine: Suzuki DF175
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,047
Quote:
Originally Posted by Simston View Post
Thanks, think that's where I am heading....out of interest, did you buy new and where from?
We bought direct from Redbay. That's one of the benefits of buying british made is that your dealing with the people who actually make it. They'll tailor it to your requirements (within reason). Things like moving vents, or building up a binnacle for the plotter etcetc.

Barnet Marine are (I think) the retail face of the company that builds XS ribs. We found the gaffer very helpful over email regarding some initial queries.
__________________
Dan Gurney is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 May 2017, 10:25   #19
Member
 
chipko's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Up North and right a bit
Make: XS500/Merc340/Bic245
Length: 5m +
Engine: Mar 60/20/3.5/Hon2.3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,125
New Rib advice pls.

Hi Simston,
We had ours built to order direct from the manufacturer XS Ribs who retail through Barnet Marine Centre in Welwyn Garden City
http://www.xsribs.com/
http://www.ribs.co.uk/
__________________
chipko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 May 2017, 18:25   #20
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: London
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 256
Quote:
Originally Posted by chipko View Post
Hi Simston,
We had ours built to order direct from the manufacturer XS Ribs who retail through Barnet Marine Centre in Welwyn Garden City
XS Ribs Commercial Leisure Range of Craft 3.6 - 10 m
BEST UK PRICE Outboard Motor Rib Inflatable Aluminium Boat Package

I did same. Barnet Marine and XS are sister companies with common directors.

Very pleased with my XS 6.5 which was built to order to my spec.
__________________
mikew4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
rib


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 15:24.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.