Newbie needs help

brucehawsker · 20 May 2004, 21:18

I am suffering from confusion due to some very competant and helpful salesman who give me different advice. Basically I have decided to buy a new rather than 2nd hand rib (decision made primarily for reasons of warranty, financing).

I am looking for something robust that can be ocaasionally launched using a 2.2litre HDi Peugeot Diesel MPV, although it primarily will be kept in a boatyard in Lymington.

It will be used for crusing with an aim to explore the south coast (limited navigation skills and experience means land in sight is important, although I hope to grow up eventually).

Primarily it will be for my wife and I, and my 14 year old son, although occasionally we may take friends in calm weather across to Yarmouth.

Decision 2: go for four jockey seats

That is about as far as I have got!

There has been lots of discusions about hypalon or alternatives, "too many self tappers ( screws instead of Bolts)", deep Vs, 5 chambers, "attach them to the hull using the commercial method with a fabric hinged gusset", consoles bonded not screwed....

I am very confused about what really matters.....

Clearly I want a rib which will not fall apart. But, at least until we are much more experienced, we do not intend to go out in very choppy waters (but may on a return journey if weather changes unexpectedly!).

I am assuming that the 5.8 to 6.5 is the correct range.

Budget is less important if it is a good investment, but a Scorpion is too much!

Names which seem sensible include:

Solent
Ribcraft

Other which have been suggested (and rubbished by others) include:

XS
Tornado

I suppose all in budget including trailer and electronics must be capped at the £22000 mark.

Any advice, help, pointers to ther threads etc will be much appreciated.

Thanks and cheers,

Bruce

Louise · 20 May 2004, 21:24

Have a look here: http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4981

I don't think it will take you long to venture across to Yarmouth - it only takes a few minutes from Lymington and is a lovely place. If you need an escort on your first trip just let us know.

Good luck with your search.

BTW, RIB International has a feature on what to look for when buying a RIB. Not many newsagents seem to stock it but their website is www.ribmagazine.com

Also, I would strongly recommend you get some training (assuming you haven't already). Check out the RYA website. We have used Aquapower at Yarmouth but there are plenty of good training schools within easy reach of Lymington.

simmons0 · 20 May 2004, 21:35

my pegeot with the 2litre HDI doesnt really have the power to pull my boat up a slip. It really struggled up a very shallow slip in fareham so i wouldnt really like to try it on a steep slipway. Something to think about when deciding between 6 and 6.5m.

As for the engine it really depends what you want the boat for. I wanted a boat my son and i could cruise long distances, could carry the whole family in seats and that could be used for waterskiing. Aswell as that i needed to be able to tow it without the need for a special tow car. Originally i was going to have a 6m rib with a 115hp 4stroke outboard. The decision to go diesel was taken because of the enormous fuel savings, huge range and the availablity of diesel. Cruising was the priority but it was a pleasant suprise when the speedo hit 40 knots and was still accelerating

John Kennett · 20 May 2004, 21:38

OK, so you've decided to buy new. You'll trade depreciation cost against a warranty and finance which is fair enough.

You've decided on jockey seats which I would say is a good decision.

From what you have said, you're looking at a sensible size too.

I wouldn't get too hung up on too much detail of the build -- there aren't very many truly bad RIBs being built -- but I would suggest that you go for a deep V hull if you think you might want to do any fairly serious cruising.

Any of the manufacturers that you mention will be able to sell you a boat that will meet your requirements. Ribcraft and Tornado are more established than the other two and may have a better resale value, although the others do look promising.

You don't need to budget loads for electronics. A VHF and a GPS will do for starters. Do budget for some training though as it will help you to get the most out of the boat without learning the hard way.

There are lots of people here who would be happy for you to go out on their boats to get some experience, and try to get to RIBEX to see what else is available.

John

Alan · 20 May 2004, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

try to get to RIBEX to see what else is available.

John

Thats a sound bit of advice. Go to RIBEX & have a look around. Meet up with the RIB.NET irregulars and look over peoples boats & talk to them about their experiences, likes and dislikes.

I would advise against too much "analysis paralysis" in terms of the information and debate here. Some of the topics are somewhat esoteric at times!

You have made some sensible decisions about your first RIB. It sounds as though 6-6.5m is the size & I absolutely agree that Jockey seats are the way to go. If in doubt buy a recognised make, as if you dont like it then resale wont be a problem. So Ribcraft, Tornado definately. Solent possibly, Ditto Parker, Avon and Humber.

Your budget is sufficient to get a decent RIB, engine & trailer. As JK says no need to go overboard on electronics although you should for that money be able to get a plotter/fishfinder & VHF. Training is also a sensible move.

See you in Cowes then!

Alan

brucehawsker · 20 May 2004, 22:31

Thank you for all the advice so far. Please keep comments coming!

To answer a few points made so far. We have Powerboat 2 tickets, gained from Medina Centre in the Easter holidays, and have taken our little 3.2m out into the Solent from Yarmouth to Cowes and back, as well as from Totland out to the Needles.

We also hired a 6.5m Scorpion as a bare boat charter (strongly recommended) and went across from Lymington to the Yarmouth, the Needles, Cowes, Calshot and back to Lymington.

We have realised that we need something more substantial than the little boat to achieve our ambitions - hence the decision to 'upgrade'.

We are very safety concious, already having 'scared' ourselves by running out of fuel off Totland Bay and then again in Cowes harbour - the shame of it! - hence a recent investment in a 'proper' fuel tank. But we don't want to discover the hard way that 3.2m is just not enough!!

We have loads of wilderness / treking experience on horse and on foot but have come to boating late in life (we are at the late 40s early 50s mid life crises stage!). I intend to do the shore based day skipper (or is one of the course books / teach yourself aprroaches sufficient). I am an experienced map reader / orienteer but 'charts' are new to me!

I will respond more tomorrow.

Thanks again for all the friendliness in this forum.

Bruce

John Kennett · 20 May 2004, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

We have loads of wilderness / treking experience on horse and on foot but have come to boating late in life (we are at the late 40s early 50s mid life crises stage!). I intend to do the shore based day skipper (or is one of the course books / teach yourself aprroaches sufficient). I am an experienced map reader / orienteer but 'charts' are new to me!

You're going to enjoy RIB cruising!

Your land based navigation skills will translate easily to marine life. A day skipper course is good to do at some point, but not critical. Looks for a book that is specifically about GPS navigation as it is likely to be a lot more relevant than conventional yachting navigation. "GPS Navigation" by Mik Chinery and "Navigation at speed" by Tim Bartlett (both published by Fernhurst) are worth a read, although there may be better books published more recently.

John

Richard B · 20 May 2004, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Your land based navigation skills will translate easily to marine life.

Certainly will. Same background myself. Welcome aboard.

swginn · 21 May 2004, 01:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Other which have been suggested (and rubbished by others) include:

XS

Surprised to hear that, considering that they are brand new to the market, and there are only 7 or 8 boats on the water so far (3 at a training school in Cowes). Suppose people are entitled to their opinions, though.

You'll find that you'll probably get a better deal at RIBEX than in a showroom too, so get plenty of quotes at the show. Most dealers will hold their "show price" for a few weeks without a deposit. I made a huge saving at LBS.

Good luck buying the boat, hope you get what you're looking for!!

tim griffin · 21 May 2004, 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Thank you for all the advice so far. Please keep comments coming!

To answer a few points made so far. We have Powerboat 2 tickets, gained from Medina Centre in the Easter holidays

We have loads of wilderness / treking experience on horse and on foot but have come to boating late in life (we are at the late 40s early 50s mid life crises stage!). I intend to do the shore based day skipper (or is one of the course books / teach yourself aprroaches sufficient).

all the boats mentioned are worth checking out at rib ex, 3 very good books the latest RYA book of navigation by Tim Bartlett and a new one by Paul Glatzel is coming out soon also dont forget Peter Whites excellent book
Powerboating The Rib and Sportsboat Handbook, the new RYA Intermediate
course would be a good one to take before deciding if you want to go down the road of Dayskipper theory, if you do then go to a school that teaches powerboating as even though the theory is the same you will get additional
input from a Instructor who is powerboat orientated, 6 to 6.5 metres seems to be the popular choice for ribs good luck with your quest in finding your rib
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

brucehawsker · 21 May 2004, 10:09

Sadly I cannot get to Ribex - half term intrudes - hence my need for advices in this forum. Will write more later. Is there any way I can access show prices without even going to the show? Surely this is all a bit like buying a car and is down to hard haggling at the final stage?

Thanks again,

Bruce

Bilge Rat · 21 May 2004, 12:09

brucehawsker

Your absolutely correct in your assumption and yes you will be able to haggle a better deal just after the show especially if you go for one of the lower more budget rib manufacturers, earlier this year i seriously looked at XRibs (now XS) and they were doing deals based on show prices after LBS, i didnt like the fact i couldn't view the boat i was interested in as they didn't yet have one made up, and they didn't have one i could demo on the water either , suppose it was a bit like asking me to buy a car i'd never seen and never driven and had only seen and read dsecriptions from a sales literature hand out !! and even when i started to back away they kept lowering the price and throwing in extra's. Now i know they were desperate for business earlier this year and to get a foot hold in the Rib market, and i suppose flooding may have been a good tactic, after buying a dog though i'm now more weary about how i look and rate boats especially relating to the times of year i go boating and what sea states i want to go out in !!

When i do though think about upgrading my current boat i might look at this particular manufacturer and ask questions again, they did seem like value for money especially as you go up the size range, hopefully by then others on the forum will have had some experience with theres and be able to give feedback.

Phil Davies · 21 May 2004, 12:15

A veritable feast of sensible advice from the Rat today - and two well deserved green blobs in recognition of the fact; well done, mate

Bilge Rat · 21 May 2004, 12:20

Thanks Phil .....sometime i scare myself

Maybe i should start a problem clinic and put my PHD in Psychology into practice

Bilge Rat · 21 May 2004, 12:21

Sorry guys a bit of a fraudiant slip there should have been Gynaecology

Phil Davies · 21 May 2004, 12:26

How about a sanitorium for terminally bewildered owners of f**ked Evinrudes, complete with free Prozac subscriptions?

Louise · 21 May 2004, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge Rat

Sorry guys a bit of a fraudiant slip there should have been Gynaecology

Do you mean 'fraudulent' or 'Freudian'?

Bilge Rat · 21 May 2004, 12:29

Louise

Definitely fraudulent in this case

Bilge Rat · 21 May 2004, 12:31

Phil

My last Evinrude case ended up tying the thing around his kneck and jumping in and that was after hours of therapy too

Prozacs gooood stuff especially washed down with a few beers

Kids dont try that at home either !!

Louise · 21 May 2004, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge Rat

Louise

Definitely fraudulent in this case