Rib Choice

[NautiBuoy]

Good evening, we are looking at getting a rib, so far I have whittled it down to:-

2003 Tornado 5.5 with 150 Optimax

2002 Ribtec 655 with 150 Yamaha 4 stroke

2006 Cobra 6.0 with Mercury 150 4 stroke

All of the above are within £3k of each other. Does anyone have anything good or bad to say with the above. Ribcraft are quite a bit more hence I’ve narrowed it to the above at the moment.

[Limecc]

Personally would remove that Cobra from the list because it's not got jockey seats.

[jonp]

Engine pick would be the Yamaha for me.
Personally wouldn't be interested in a boat that's been kept on a mooring, not just because of the growth on the bottom but also the lack of uv protection on the tubes.

The condition of each holland tubes can't be accessed from these pictures. Personally I couldn't live with any of them with those seating arrangements but my needs are more for diving, spearing and fishing, not just driving around.

[beamishken]

Id avoid the tornado not keen on optimax engines & even less keen on pu tubes which the tornado will probably have.
The cobra seating isnt loved on here but some prefer the bench seating, its a personal choice thing and very much depends on what your going to do with the boat. The cobra is the newer boat of the 3 so seating asside would probably be on my short list of two

Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app

[Ferryman]

I've never been keen on a single jockey seat up front as I go boating for pleasure and it's a bit antisocial. I've had a Cobra and the hull shape was good in rough weather, the front seats lift into leaning posts that work well, although I can't see that clearly from the photo.
I agree with jonp about ribs on moorings, the tubes on the Cobra look good though - they'd be bleached heavily if they had been left uncovered for a long time. Boats left in the water are far less likely to have their engines flushed through as well.

[charliee]

I suspect the cobra is probably the best built craft, built by Picton, its got a good hull. i can't comment on the condition of each.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by jonp

Personally wouldn't be interested in a boat that's been kept on a mooring, not just because of the growth on the bottom but also the lack of uv protection on the tubes.

Its the UK not Oz though so the image of UV is not necessarily as bad - and some owners do fit covers when afloat whilst others don't when sitting on the driveway (or the Ribtec which doesn't seem to be on a trailer?)

Personally I couldn't live with any of them with those seating arrangements but my needs are more for diving, spearing and fishing, not just driving around.

Whilst I've totally different interests to jonp - the point is spot on - the age, engine and even the hull design will probably be nowhere near as important to the deck layout in how much you actually use it. If those cobra seats are the ones that flip up to also work as a leaning post, and the ergonomics of the wheel position (height, angle) work for your stature that could actually be the best of both worlds.

[Jon Tallis]

I'm with Poly on this one. Assuming there is nothing to choose in Hull condition, tube condition, engine hours, electronics fit etc etc, none of which we have info on, I think it all comes down to which layout suits the OP's needs best.
Only think I would say on the engines is that the Opti is going to be significantly louder than the two 4-strokes......which might or might not be a consideration.
All in all a nice problem to have [emoji16]

[NautiBuoy]

I’ve put a deposit on a Osprey Viper 585 today with 150 etec only done 132 hrs so happy with that [emoji41]

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by NautiBuoy

I’ve put a deposit on a Osprey Viper 585 today with 150 etec only done 132 hrs so happy with that [emoji41]

That'll go well!
All the best with Her!...,post some pics

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Limecc

Personally would remove that Cobra from the list because it's not got jockey seats.

,,, the seats flip to create a very comfortable leaning post style,,, I never have the seats down in the position shown unless stationary,,, enjoying a cup of tea [emoji6]

[Maximus]

Double post

[NautiBuoy]

Originally Posted by Maximus

That'll go well!

All the best with Her!...,post some pics

Thank you