Rib Colour Choice

[rads]

Decisions decisions!

Trying to spec a replacement rib.

Done all the easy stuff, Manufacturer, engines, electronics, seating etc but now onto the difficult one, colour!

This is made even more difficult, beceause the boat is for a dive club, and trying to get consensus is a bit like hearding cats!

Does anyone have a nice simple line drawing of a rib which I could fiddle with in paintshop then present a selection of options to the club?

Don't suppose any of the manufacturers web sites allows you to play with colour combinations on the screen (click here for hull colour, here for tube colour etc)?

Failing that I'm busy printing lots of pictures of the various combinations available, so many thanks to all who have contributed some excellent photos.

We are a little tight on budget, so may stick with the default white hull rather than pay extra for colour. Anyone got one a few years old? How does white stand up? To be honest, the boat will be babied, always washed after use and dry stored, so I suspect it should be fine.

Thanks

David

[parm]

http://www.humberribs.co.uk/

go to specifications

[Hightower]

I would have thought that boring Grey would be suitable for a club dive boat. With al the abuse it'll be getting, bright colours ofter need regular attention to keeping them clean.

You can get different shades of grey that would and could look good if played around with. You could always design specific one off wear patches that could be shaped into interesting patterns.

[rads]

Yebbut, being hardcore, roughty-toughty types we want something visible to the helos when we inevitably tun it over in the mountainous seas we regularly dive in.

David

ps, All of the above is a lie, anything over a 4 finds us cowering and whimpering in a pub. Do still want the boat nicely visible though.

Parm, good link, thanks.

[codprawn]

If it's being upside down that worries you it's hull colour that matters. Get an orange one. As for tubes bright colours oxidise quickly in the sun and need protection - if the boat is stored indoors it's not too bad though. Avon grey seems to be the best of the lot!!!

[Hightower]

Then change the hull colour to Orange! If you do turn it upside down you won't see much of the tubes anyway.

[jwalker]

Get them to black gel 'Oh Feck' into the hull before they add the orange. Backwards, of course.



If you are really concerned about being spotted in an emergency, then greys, blues and white are out for tube colours.

[codprawn]

I disagree about the blue - my boat is so bright it makes orange look dull. Maybe in the med you would find a sea to match the colour but my blue stands out very well against the grey!!!

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I disagree about the blue - my boat is so bright it makes orange look dull. Maybe in the med you would find a sea to match the colour but my blue stands out very well against the grey!!!

Next time you are out in that Force 9 we will ask the SAR helicopter to take a camera just to check

[Andy Moore]

I was told that black is the most visible colour at sea. That is perhaps why you see black lobster pot flags.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

I was told that black is the most visible colour at sea. That is perhaps why you see black lobster pot flags.

Except at night!

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

I was told that black is the most visible colour at sea. That is perhaps why you see black lobster pot flags.

Or you don't.

Thats why we hate the things......................

[Andy Moore]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Except at night!

But no colour stands out at night. Black silhouettes well against the horizon at least.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

But no colour stands out at night. Black silhouettes well against the horizon at least.

Well I was thinking that if you where on an upturned hull with a few flares at night, at least you might get some reflected light from a bright colour and would show up in a search light more clearly. But if you think about it logically, what are the chances of being in an upturned RIB in the pitch black of night trying to attract some attention .

[landlord]

Whats your budget ?

[ian parkes]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I disagree about the blue - my boat is so bright it makes orange look dull. Maybe in the med you would find a sea to match the colour but my blue stands out very well against the grey!!!

Ill second that . The last sea kayak I had light blue flashes on a bright yellow deck with a grey hull .A mate was watching a group of us from the cliftop through binoculars on a dull day with a very lumpy sea . He said the blue on my kayak was the only thing that stood out and without that he wouldn't have spotted us at all about a mile or so off shore . in that group was a bright red boat and 2 yellow ones .

[Andy Moore]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Well I was thinking that if you where on an upturned hull with a few flares at night, at least you might get some reflected light from a bright colour and would show up in a search light more clearly. But if you think about it logically, what are the chances of being in an upturned RIB in the pitch black of night trying to attract some attention .

Yes, that is a bit of a 'glass is half empty' scenario.

"There I was, upside down in the shipping lanes. Thank God for my day-glo tubes otherwise the Sea King would never have found me."

[Rogue Wave]

It makes you wonder why North sea rescue boats are Dark blue and yellow sometimes. Why don't they make lifeboats black, or liferafts or the inside of lifejackets.

for your rib You got too make a choice (sounds like a TV ad) You want high Vis plus you want longevity of looks. Don't think the two go together in any colour way other than orange.

For long life and easy maintenance however white hull and dark blue or grey toobs in my experience are the easiest to keep up. Avoid yellow or Red

[Hightower]

Nothing wrong with Red tubes Stuart. The ones on Kohaku where tip top after 10 years.

[Rogue Wave]

I've ssn more red toobs faded than any other colour