New to ribs... hungry for knowledge!

[BritBoater]

"My Osprey and ALL others that I know of, are put together with the very, very best of componants unlike most factory built boats. Us owners spend many hours sourcing the parts that are of the highest quality and suitability regardless of cost."

Thats exactly what I'd be gunning for. I'm confident with glasswork, qualified to be messing with 12v electronics and know what makes a quality boat and what does not. My knowledge of RIBS may be limited but after other custom projects and my job which involves working on Sportsboats and ski boats weekly ha set me in good stead to take this challenge on...

[iandl]

good to see someone else thinking about taking on a challenge, there are a lot of manufacturers who will supply various stages of a built boat, not sure about massive savings though cause you tend to put better fittings in than that of manufacturers like what mollers said ...I reckon mine will take another 6 months to a year before i'm nearly complete but it is usable at present and great fun building.

Steve the boat has a 720 hull for sale as pointed out by hightower .....will do no harm to go and look ....look here http://ribs-by-shakespeare.co.uk/


good luck with whatever you decide


Ian

[timw]

Originally Posted by BritBoater

I'm going to head off to Southampton boat show and crawl around as many as I possibly can and chat to as many people as will are willing to give me the time of day.

Good idea...you'll get plenty of excellent advice there.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by timw

Good idea...you'll get plenty of excellent advice there.

Not going then Tim.

[Hightower]

I would have thought that you estimate for the hull and tubes was a bit low, more like £10,000 but if all you want is a 150 then I guess £7000 might buy you an Optimax.

I thought that Ribeye was an expensive as a buy it in bits to fit at home kit. The Shakespeare will offer you the cheapest hull build with a decent hull and set of tubes on. Then you're into the RIBcraft and Osprey terratory (both very sea worthy RIBs), I looked at both these and decided on the Osprey due to many endorsments and the flexibility of the builder to make modifications, they also glassed in a Console from another boat manufacturer without question and modified seat bases without any major cost.

But if you seriously want a Sea worthy RIB at a bargain price, look at the Shakespeare.

Have a look Here and Here Then PM Neil Harvey (hope you don't mind Neil) and ask his advice

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by BritBoater

"My Osprey and ALL others that I know of, are put together with the very, very best of componants unlike most factory built boats. Us owners spend many hours sourcing the parts that are of the highest quality and suitability regardless of cost."

Thats exactly what I'd be gunning for. I'm confident with glasswork, qualified to be messing with 12v electronics and know what makes a quality boat and what does not. My knowledge of RIBS may be limited but after other custom projects and my job which involves working on Sportsboats and ski boats weekly ha set me in good stead to take this challenge on...

Blimey. You're well ahead of where I was then. Hadn't got a clue when I started, and still learning tons about RIB fitting out. But I will echo Mollers, it is a chance to source and fit the very best of components that you can find, and end up with a boat to be proud of.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by BritBoater

...My knowledge of RIBS may be limited but after other custom projects and my job which involves working on Sportsboats and ski boats weekly ha set me in good stead to take this challenge on...

Out of interest, what specific line of work are you in?

[BritBoater]

I run a small distribution company specialising in Retail and OEM items like Wakeboard Towers, Marine Audio, Heating (for inboards), Ballast (for wakeboarding) etc... anyone who is interested can grab a look at www.wakeboardtowers.co.uk

[Top banana]

with your company in Alsager just down the road, are you local to the area.

[MonoMicky]

Having moved to RIBS myself from a speedboat (Bayliner) I can highly reccomend the Cobra Nautique. Excellent handling and a slightly plusher interior than your average RIB.
Whilst they dont come cheap (£30k new for a fully fitted 6.0 with 150HP) ... theres a lot to be said for "you get what you pay for"

Oh ... and did I mention ... there's one for sale on here
http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=25869

I am looking to upgrade to a 7.5m

[BritBoater]

Top Banana - I am indeed! Alsager born and bred... Had now idea there was a RIB manufacturer so near... What do you build?

MonoMickey - I actually know Huw, had my last boat from him and LOVE the Cobras... out of my budget if I wanted new though (which is my preference at the moment). Yours look beautiful though! We do alot of boating over on the Menai Straits around Beaumaris - are we likely to see you out there?

Mike

[BritBoater]

Just to let you guys know... things have moved on a bit in my quest... I am now looking very seriously at a RibEye 6m as a starter boat with a view to go bigger after 12-24months. 6m seems more than enough to get me round Anglesey Island (where it'll be based), possibly to Ireland and the Isle of Man, plus some cruises around the area.

Rough spec I'm contemplating at the moment would be:
6 metre A series Hull
115-120 yam 4-stroke (Which I'd 4 blade stainless right away)
tailored mooring cover
tek dek
Bramber trailer
SS A frame
Navman Chartplotter and VHF

I'd then add my own stereo, likely 4 speakers, iPod headunit, amplifier, dual yellow top optima batteries with auto split charge kit.

I'd also add a couple of wakeboard/ski racks to the A Frame.


Nothing 100% decided yet and I'll be looking over many boats at Southampton but at this time the RibEye really is in pole position, I'm blown away by their professionalism, eagerness to help and openness when asked tricky questions. I also have to admit that I think their boats look great...

Have to also give big thumbs up to Humber who've been really helpful and also Chris from this forum who still has me very tempted by an Osprey (going to check one out in the flesh before I decide)... I think that's RibEyes closest competitor right now.

Still can't believe what a top bunch of people Ribbers seem to be - I've been inundated with emails, PM's and phone calls from people wanting to help - can't thank you all enough!

Cheers guys - again feel free to comment on my thoughts; am I going a sensible route or barking up the wrong tree?

Mike

[willk]

um, a Coke and a family size popcorn please Miss!

[BritBoater]

oh dear... does not bode well! haha

*battens down hatches and prepares for onslaught*

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by BritBoater

oh dear... does not bode well! haha

*battens down hatches and prepares for onslaught*

I'd bin the stereo idea whatever rib you go for, unless you listen to
George Michael

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by bedajim

I'd bin the stereo idea whatever rib you go for, unless you listen to
George Michael

Perhaps Britboater is planning on fitting an array of chrome speakers to the A-frame, as is commonplace on ski/wakeboard boats nowadays.
Britboater: If that's the sort of boat you're planning, ie a wakeboard tow craft with tubes, then I can see the attraction of a Ribeye. Most Rib users on this forum tend to prefer their boats a touch more 'industrial' than this, hence willk's earlier post.
Good luck with your choice.

[timw]

Superb choice, well done.

Despite being the hight of luxury, performance and style, Ribeye RIBS can take the most severe punishment without any harm.
Mine was a true working boat for several years as well as being used in extreme offshore conditions which it handled with aplomb.

Send my regards to John Wood if you see him in Southampton

[Hightower]

But he hasn't tried an Osprey yet

Second thoughts, bling on an Osprey.......Better off with the Ribeye as mentioned earlier by Downhilldai

[BritBoater]

Seems like I'm opening a can of worms here...

If i'm honest I'm never going to be a hard core Rib user per say... Most trips will be centred around some fast cruising of the menai straits, possibly a ski, lunch and a blast round puffin island.. But I do want to be able to comfortably get to the Isle of Man/Ireland/cumbria etc as that's part of the point of buying it. I also need ot be able to tow the thing easily and be able to man handle the thing.

Equally though, whilst i do want something that looks the part, I'm not gunning for something overly industrial... having chatted with Ian at Humber is seems they might be a tad too commercial for what I'm planning... remember - I've still got the family to sit on this thing comfortably as well and don't want to be too far detached from the comforts of the sportsboats/wakeboard boats that I'm used to using.

I really need to get aboard more of these boats ASAP... I'll probably be eating my words in 3 months.. who knows!

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by BritBoater

Seems like I'm opening a can of worms here...

If i'm honest I'm never going to be a hard core Rib user per say... Most trips will be centred around some fast cruising of the menai straits, possibly a ski, lunch and a blast round puffin island.. But I do want to be able to comfortably get to the Isle of Man/Ireland/cumbria etc as that's part of the point of buying it. I also need ot be able to tow the thing easily and be able to man handle the thing.

Equally though, whilst i do want something that looks the part, I'm not gunning for something overly industrial... having chatted with Ian at Humber is seems they might be a tad too commercial for what I'm planning... remember - I've still got the family to sit on this thing comfortably as well and don't want to be too far detached from the comforts of the sportsboats/wakeboard boats that I'm used to using.

I really need to get aboard more of these boats ASAP... I'll probably be eating my words in 3 months.. who knows!

I don't think Osprey go to the boat show but if you contact them for a demo I belive the demo rib is based on the Welsh coast

Just try as many as possible

Jim