New to ribs... hungry for knowledge! - Page 3

Pablo · 14 August 2008, 13:36

You could add Solent RIBs (http://www.solentribs.com/) to your list. They may meet your requirements too. They should be present at Southampton. Clearly the thing to do is try as many as you can.

MonoMicky · 14 August 2008, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritBoater

We do alot of boating over on the Menai Straits around Beaumaris - are we likely to see you out there?

Mike

Most definitely ... am based at Trearddur so tend to be up at the other end of the straights a lot (Aberfraw, Llandwyn, Caraerfon, nefyn etc.)
Did an Ireland trip earlier this year with humper and Ribster Rache. Moored overnight at Howth Marina and got B&B ... great trip ... even though we could have done it for about 1/8th of the price on the ferry

Julian · 14 August 2008, 16:26

Hi,

Is this of interest to you http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F186142

Within budget etc and very capable boat

Cheers

Julian

BritBoater · 14 August 2008, 17:25

Jim - Cheers

MonoMickey - I''ll keep an eye out for you, I'll be in a blue 18ft Maxum with a wakeboard tower for a few months yet...

Julian - Thanks, have already seen it, looks just the job but really not a fan of the colour scheme... plus there's no mention of trailer. If I go second hand I really want to go sub 20k.

Mollers · 14 August 2008, 18:26

[QUOTE=timw;259891] 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.

Brilliant!!!!

Twim, you crack me up.

Top banana · 14 August 2008, 20:52

[QUOTE=BritBoater;259868] Top Banana - I am indeed! Alsager born and bred... Had now idea there was a RIB manufacturer so near... What do you build?

Not a boat builder but built my 5.8 osprey viper which is based in waterhayes
village, newcastle under lyme.A few minutes up the road from you. I allso want a wake board bracket, so if you wanted to meet up and have a gander then feel free. see what excellent boats these osprey make.

BritBoater · 15 August 2008, 10:44

PM sent!!!

BritBoater · 15 August 2008, 18:08

Just returned from checking out TopBanana's 5.8M Osprey Viper Max - I am totally blown away, awesome looking boat.. Really think the 5.8m would be a great boat for us....

Looking forward to Southampton now so I can check it out against the competition.

Top banana · 15 August 2008, 21:29

your welcome.

Downhilldai · 15 August 2008, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritBoater

Just returned from checking out TopBanana's 5.8M Osprey Viper Max - I am totally blown away, awesome looking boat.. Really think the 5.8m would be a great boat for us....

Looking forward to Southampton now so I can check it out against the competition.

Yep, the 5.8 is a nice boat

BritBoater · 15 August 2008, 23:35

Anyone know why I can't find it in the Osprey brochures online???

Downhilldai · 16 August 2008, 00:09

Because Osprey feel there is no need to actively market their products.

Apparently, there is such a queue of customers that they can rely on their reputation for ongoing business.

If you need some more info, don't rely on the limited information on their website, as the dimensions stated for the 5.8 are inaccurate.

Hightower · 16 August 2008, 10:04

They have steady production but all the hulls are produced by one man in this country which in reality means that only about 30/40 hulls are produced every year, but these are built to a very high standard with extra's that the customer wants as well, like extra transom knees, different sized fuel tanks and the position of these tanks etc......You don't often have the say on where these parts go with other manufactures that churn out mass produced hulls.

There is very little advertising as they are considered in the boating community as being extremely good value for money with excellent sea keeping manners as already stated earlier. The other reason is that as mentioned above they can't churn out any more than 40 hulls a year. But this isn't a bad thing as it keeps aftersale prices high.

One of the features I liked was that the bow tube is very well supported and isn't set too far forward like other RIB's. It is little details like this that IMHO made the Vipermax my choice.

I still think however that the Shakespeare on offer by Steve the boat is an extremely good buy for the size, this would be one RIB you won't want to be upgrading in the near future, due to it's size.

Mollers · 16 August 2008, 10:34

There was an Osprey owners website which has now disappeared. It had some interesting history of Osprey boats and the Vipermax in particular. The VM's ancestry can be traced back to the Vector Vagabond via the XR boats which was built and designed in the Mighty Borough of Penryn which is in the fine Duchy of Cornwall.

iandl · 16 August 2008, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I still think however that the Shakespeare on offer by Steve the boat is an extremely good buy for the size, this would be one RIB you won't want to be upgrading in the near future, due to it's size.

I think that too

also bear in mind that shakespeare do all the grp work for revenger and others ......Francis Whitley has been involved in many different boat designs and built the 'Fugitive' for RB08 designed in early 90's by Lorne Campbell....

as hightower says value for money and quality of construction compared to others is excellant and the few that own them on here all rate them, but i have not tried others so my input has to be biased towards the shakespeare ....well woth a visit to the factory though

Ian

Mollers · 16 August 2008, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

.........as being extremely good value for money

Perhaps, but they're not cheap and don't need to be. It's a quality product. When fully fitted out to a good standard, an Osprey is no cheaper than any other quality boat. Why they appear cheaper is because the builders/owners are not factoring in labour or profit. I'm sure that the pure production cost of a fully factory built boat such as a Ribcraft would be much less than an Osprey.

Downhilldai · 16 August 2008, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

.. The VM's ancestry can be traced back to the Vector Vagabond via the XR boats ...

Is that right? I thought the infamous XR boats had a different hull form, with narrower beam?

Mollers · 16 August 2008, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Is that right? I thought the infamous XR boats had a different hull form, with narrower beam?

Stop nit pickin'.

: Yeah, it is slightly convoluted 'coz the Viper is in there aswell. I was trying to keep it simple and interesting.

Hightower · 16 August 2008, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Perhaps, but they're not cheap and don't need to be. It's a quality product. When fully fitted out to a good standard, an Osprey is no cheaper than any other quality boat. Why they appear cheaper is because the builders/owners are not factoring in labour or profit. I'm sure that the pure production cost of a fully factory built boat such as a Ribcraft would be much less than an Osprey.

I'm not just comparing cost here, I mean for what you get in terms of the cost.

When I was comparing the cost of a RIBcraft 5.8 against the cost of the Vipermax 6.2 the difference in price was so close I didn't even factor it into my decision process.

Downhilldai · 16 August 2008, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

..When I was comparing the cost of a RIBcraft 5.8 against the cost of the Vipermax 6.2 the difference in price was so close I didn't even factor it into my decision process.

Yep - I found this to be the case too, when pricing a very basic boat. The Ribcraft extras cost a fortune though - £200 for nav lights, £500 for a seat pod, £1k for a fuel tank.....