Redbay

gavin · 11 July 2004, 22:50

Took a spin up to Redbay on Sat, I am still in awe, what a setup,they had at least 9 ribs in production, some in the fit out stage, and boats in for repair.The new hull designs and modifications are impressive, we were present to see a 6.5 with 200 opti leave the yard for the short 200 yard tow to the slipway, and watch it on its first vovage with its new owner.There was no other outdrives present in the yard except hydra drive, that I could see, twin hydradrives and singles,some of their 11m cabin ribs are launched via tractors, some via pickups, jeeps etc, he offers dry on the hard storage for customers and owners.Its hard not to be impressed with the build quality and cleanliness of the shop and workshop areas, a vast array of pictures, models in the yard and molds, tanks etc are all about the place.He has an amazing stainless fabricator, off site who makes all the stainless up, and it is suprising just how popular the wrap around cabins, are becoming.
The stuff that leaves this yard, is put together properly, its extremely tough, well researched, and tweaked, attention to detail becomes evident, as you browse around the workshop and storage areas.I knocked my hand against numerous hulls and chiness, (it hurt) the construction of these ribs is extra tough, the styling and 25 years in the game are producing some of if not the finest ribs, on the whole island of Ireland.

swginn · 11 July 2004, 23:59

Have to agree with you Gav, Marine Motors Cork are a dealer for them down south. I've seen their teaching boat Redbay 7.4m Cabin with 225 ficht (it was at RIBEX!!) and their latest Redbay 6.5 Hurricane with twin 90 e-tecs. Look like serious boats. And a cabin would be very handy, especially with Cork Week on at the mo, a place to kip for the nite instead of the usual fight for taxis!! Overall fit out and quality of the boats is top notch and I've heard service is very professional and nice guys to deal with.

Must try to get a spin in one of them over the week!! Thinkin of changin the Hysucat??

behavin · 12 July 2004, 10:28

FANTASTIC...... Reading this has put a big cheesy grin on my face.
Reason: The shipping company i work for is having the 8.4 stormforce built to run mail and frieght around down here and myself will be driving it so can't wait.
I'll have to keep all informed as to its performance.
It'll be all weathers 6 days a week.
Specs we've asked for: 8.4 with a solid forward wheelhouse powered by twin F 115's Counters. Plus all the electrical stuff plotters DSC Lights et all.
Due out in October i think.

Slipstream · 12 July 2004, 14:15

I can attest to the capabilities of the above, having recently taken it for a spin from Cork to Kinsale (thanks to Kevin at Marine Motors), a very well constructed boat, solid feel, very good grip (large swell, with small nasty chop on top), and if you are into speed, pretty quick with twin 90's.

Big Dipper · 12 July 2004, 20:09

As the owner of a 7.4 Redbay with 250 ficht I can attest to the build quality of these boats. A recent trip from Cork to the Scillies (on the day the Round Ireland yacht race was postponed) proved to me at least that this man will break before this machine does.They are not prefect with a few minor design flaws but Kevin and his crew in marine motors have been extremely helpful and prompt with warranty work (2 round trips to Crookhaven 160 miles within a couple of days of fault).
Joe McCollum formerly of Redbay has now gone into fulltime production of his own ribs near Kinsale and is definitely one to call if thinking of a new rib in Ireland.

TIM · 12 July 2004, 20:31

Is your Redbay the one that was at the Dublin boat show?????

Do you keep it Cork???

I was at the start of the round ireland in the Hysucat, I went the 33 miles to Wicklow from Dublin in wind over tide.... it was the closest thing to a washing machine I have ever experanced..... Drysuit, goggles, 2 hats and gloves.

When I went around Wicklow head following the fleet, I got caught by a bit of a freak wave... 4-5m vertical wall of water.... I got up it ok, but when I came of the top, I landed stern first, and lost the 2 engines and back seat completely under water ... it strange hearing the engine noise disipear for 2 seconds.... they kept running too......... the rib was them full of water, and I kept going, which emptied it in 2 mins...

BIG DIPPER you went to the Scillies in that !!!!! force 6 on the noise !!!

And for those who think redbay cabins are crap... there was a 7.4 redbay beside me in this stuff with no roof on, and they were wearing tshirts !!!!! and they
were completly dry ...

swginn · 12 July 2004, 22:13

Big Dipper,

What colour is your Redbay, as I've seen a few in Cork Harbour recently, one of which was a black 7.4m with a white Ficht on the back?

Also would I be correct in saying that Joe McCollum (formerly of Redbay) of Kinsale builds Gael Force Ribs or is that somebody else? Actually I think he posts on here as "tsunami". Seen him on the water the other day, his RIB looks like some serious machine!!

Saw the Marine Motors RIBs out on the water today, both the 7.4 Stormforce and 6.5 Hurricane. Noticed Kevin is after dropping another lump on the back of the 7.4. Looks like another 225, bet she's fast now!!

.

Slipstream, Big Dipper any of ye out on the water for Cork Week.

Big Dipper · 13 July 2004, 21:54

Tim
Boat at DBS had 225 ficht.Now kept in Cork Harbour.
Swginn
My boat same colours(250 ficht) mostly in Crookhaven, occasional visitor to Cork.
Marine motors boatis Redbay8.4 with twin 175 fichts.
All likely to be in west cork around August Bank Holiday(Irish Holiday).

swginn · 13 July 2004, 22:19

Big Dipper, will be down West for the August Bank Holiday. We keep her in Baltimore as we have a house there. Hope to see you out on the water then!! If you keep yours mainly in Crookhaven, you may know a Mr. Caulfield who has a Navy Cobra with a 225 Optimax on the back who also keeps his boat there, he's a good friend of mine. Twin 175s!! I must be confusing the Marine Motors rib with a customers boat that I saw up there so!!

Anyways give us a wave if you see us out on the water.

TIM · 13 July 2004, 22:58

IS it a cabin Redbay you have, or an open ????

How do you find the 250 Ficht ????

Brian · 14 July 2004, 09:11

Swginn
Quote "Also would I be correct in saying that Joe McCollum (formerly of Redbay) of Kinsale builds Gael Force Ribs or is that somebody else? Actually I think he posts on here as "tsunami". Seen him on the water the other day, his RIB looks like some serious machine!!"

Absolutely correct. Met him when we were over in Kinsale the other month.

swginn · 14 July 2004, 18:36

Was talkin to Dave Venner, skipper of the Marine Motors Rib today. No getting wet on this one!! Lovely Boat!!

Jon Brooks · 15 July 2004, 09:44

I love Redbay's

Having just got back from Cork and having spent a good few hours in them can honestly say they are a gereat boat.

I was playing in 3 out there.
A 6.5m open, 8.4m with cover and the above mentioned 7.4m.
Most of my time was spent driving the 7.4m.

Great sea boats.

I did rough it in a couple of Humbers too

The guy's at Redbay a a nice bunch of people too.

Regards

Jon

Big Dipper · 15 July 2004, 20:36

Swginn
Yes I know Fintan- going to Crook for years.
Long island bay will be Rib mad for the next 5 or 6 weeks.

Tim
I have the wrap around console , sort of DIY convertibie, though i did hear it being described as a RIB with conservatory. The family like to be out of the weather in the dirty stuff.

The 250 is great for power & performance though a bit thirsty.Our scillies trip used 570 litres of petrol and 10 litres of (very expensive) ficht oil for 345 miles costing about 2 euros per mile. Kinda makes all the pre purchase literature look like a fairy tale. Iwas also dissappointed to have to change the plugs after just 72 hours(the book says 100).

TIM · 15 July 2004, 21:13

I think the wrap around is great.....I want to get one

I know ficht oil is expencive, and its now changed to XD 50... even more expencive .... the inboard diesel is and extra €15,000 on that RIB... that would buy a lot of Petrol !!!!!

The plugs are expencive too, Do you put them in yourself??? if you get the indexing right... it makes a huge difference to the engine power..... we get them from the US from sparkplugs.com... about €5 each inc postage... beats the hell out of €15.00 in the local supplier!!!!!

4000 rpm seams the right rpm to run fichts on long runs...... and the dont like been driven easy either.... start troling with them and its a ticking time bomb, they need dogs abuse to keep them sweet

Big Dipper · 15 July 2004, 22:20

Mark the plugs to line up with injectors before screwing them in. Have 7 or 8 available, different plugs seem to line up in some cylinders but not in others . u dont have to be degree perfect . 10 or 15 either way makes no difference.Must explain market economics to local supplier re prices.

Simon A · 20 July 2004, 09:15

Some good feedback. Very pleased as the gentleman whose ribs I look after has just put in an order for 11m stormforce.

Any feedback on that particular model or any advice on set up/things to bear in mind throughout the build and kitting out would be appreciated.

It is cabin version with stern drives. I like the wrap around but it was a bit more weather protection he was looking for.

Thanks
Simon

peter bullick · 22 July 2004, 16:51

hi gavin,

are you coming to bangor for the rib raid. 31st July 2004.

You like redbay ribs then, bring some money with you, mine's for sale.

6.5 inboard diesel.

gavin · 22 July 2004, 16:59

You also have a nice boat Peter I remember it from last year,I shouldnt see a problem selling your boat on, after all its got a diesel motor, I do hope to be there Peter cheers gavin

richard9 · 07 August 2004, 21:14

i know red bay are an excellant boat,but you should see the excaliber range of ribs being made here in cork, from the fun 6.5 to the serious 8 metre they are a boat to be reckoned with and ,as soon as i find the money im having one!!!!!.we went on the trip from kinsale to wales in april on the delta and the 6.5 and 8 m excalibers really stuck out.i have some pictures that i must try and post on this site of the welsh run.