Next Size Up

[smallribber]

I am very pleased with my 4.5 m Rib with 60 hp on the back and it seems to handle reasonable waves well.

I was wondering how far you need to go up in size to have a significantly more sea capable rib. I still want one that I can launch and recover on my own though

Dennis

[Poly]

If all else is equal* even half a meter adds significantly to ride / seakeeping. Big jumps in sea keeping can also be achieved by picking the right hull. There are people who launch and recover 7m+ boats single handed - it requires careful planning, experience and perhaps a few improvised solutions — and may restrict where you launch more than a 5m boat... none of that really answers your question because one person’s sea capable is not the same as another’s. The person behind the helm is also quite a factor - an experienced helm in a 4m boat can potentially feel better than a beginner in a 7m rib...

* obviously as you go bigger you need more HP too...

[smallribber]

Thanks Poly. I am looking at the 5.5 m size with something like a 115 on the back.


As I think you know I have several boats but love the ease of launching and recovering the 4.5. I will have a good look at the boat show but will not be buying new


Dennis

[Orwell boy]

i ounce spoke to a well known rib man in welwyn garden city ,who suggested to me 6 metre was entry level into blue water cruising ,however i hav,nt seen too much bluewater ,in our neck of the woods

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

As I think you know I have several boats but love the ease of launching and recovering the 4.5.

No, I struggle to keep track on who owns what. So what is the whole fleet? Because surely you know the answer yourself - for one or two people you probably don’t need more than a 5.5-5.8m unless you plan your trips in advance and have to go when work etc permits rather than allowing the weather to dictate, or you want to cover serious distances. That should still be relatively straightforward towing/launching.