Rib in Solent - Outboard Options

[Solent_Cruiser]

Hello All,

I am new to this forum and was told by a friend of mine who keeps his rib on a mooring in Hythe Marina -

I am currently a motorcruiser boater but hoping to purchase a rib. I have noticed most ribs in the marina with 300hp outboards and in and around solent mainly with twin outboard engines...

My motorcruiser has twin Kad32 engines so completely a different story and due to the weight, and hull shape I expected such package, but I thought Ribs should be light enough to plane easily with a smaller engine.

I have seen Ribeyes with 100hp, or Humber with even 90hp which matches my budget, so seeking some advice from those experienced in Ribbing in Solent that whether I should wait and purchase a twin package or a single 90-100hp outboard would be powerful enough to push a 6m Rib with just a couple of crew onboard?

Also, is anybody selling one like that?

[Pikey Dave]

A single will give you more ponies for your £ if cost is a consideration. A 100hp will just about shove a 6m RIB but it won't set you alight, especially if it's a deepish "v" which would suit the Solent.

[Tim M]

You most definitely don't need twin engines to potter around the Solent! A 5.5m with a 90 will feel quick (especially when you compare it to your existing boat). Likewise, you don't need something with a 300hp engine to take a few friends out. My first RIB was a 4m with a 40hp Mariner on the back. Used to explore all over the place with three on board in relative comfort.

[Vandad]

Depends on whether you want to just go on a good day or have something so it can be used on A choppy day - be realistic especially if its your 1st rib and hopefully others here will give you loads of advice.

My single outboard 100hp on a ribeye 600 wasn't powerful enough to give me throttle power even on a good day with strong current ....

[Nos4r2]

Lets put it this way. You won't regret having too many horses, but you may regret having too little. You don't HAVE to use all of them

[Neil Harvey]

But equally 300hp is not necessary, and I would say are in the minority.

Mine is 7m ish with a single 175, does 40 knots plus. Not often all I those horses are being used.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Neil Harvey

But equally 300hp is not necessary, and I would say are in the minority.

Mine is 7m ish with a single 175, does 40 knots plus. Not often all I those horses are being used.

Agreed. However, you have a comfortable cruising speed without having to run at a big throttle opening.

[C2 RIBS]

Originally Posted by Solent_Cruiser

Hello All,

I am new to this forum and was told by a friend of mine who keeps his rib on a mooring in Hythe Marina -

I am currently a motorcruiser boater but hoping to purchase a rib. I have noticed most ribs in the marina with 300hp outboards and in and around solent mainly with twin outboard engines...

My motorcruiser has twin Kad32 engines so completely a different story and due to the weight, and hull shape I expected such package, but I thought Ribs should be light enough to plane easily with a smaller engine.

I have seen Ribeyes with 100hp, or Humber with even 90hp which matches my budget, so seeking some advice from those experienced in Ribbing in Solent that whether I should wait and purchase a twin package or a single 90-100hp outboard would be powerful enough to push a 6m Rib with just a couple of crew onboard?

Also, is anybody selling one like that?

Welcome- firstly the majority of the boats you are seeing passing Hythe and Southampton water with twins are the commercial ribs and as most have said for Solent use a single 4 stroke engine is all that is required. If you look at Solent Rib Charter operating for years they have mainly all single engined RIBS for commercial work as do I.

A 6 metre will usually operate with 100hp to 150hp maybe slightly more on some heavier models and will propell you around The Solent with ease even with 6 on board

Here is a great example http://www.rib.net/forum/f21/for-sal...efi-53762.html for sale through the forum of a similar sized boat who are looking at. I sold a similar one with a Yam 100hp and it was very capable of dealing with the Solent in most weathers. If you plan of going out in very rough weather then maybe think bigger boat

[Nick Hearne]

I have a 6m Ribeye with a 115hp and it is plenty for playing around the Solent
It copes very well with the chop too! It will do 40 knots on a good day too
I did have a Viper 5.75m with a 100hp on it that was enough but I did put a 150hp on it & that was just mad
Also had a 220hp in a hard boat 6.40m and that just loved drinking fuel and was not much good in the chop as the hull was too flat
Try and get out and try some before you buy

[biffer]

If you're new to ribs and outboards my advise would be. Twice the power, twice the maintenance, twice the weight, twice the agro, twice the auxiliaries, get one larger one to start with and if you like it and want to go further start looking for something that will fit that role

[Nos4r2]

Just to clarify, I'm not suggesting twins, but a big single outboard setup.

[Tim M]

Originally Posted by Vandad

Depends on whether you want to just go on a good day or have something so it can be used on A choppy day - be realistic especially if its your 1st rib and hopefully others here will give you loads of advice.

My single outboard 100hp on a ribeye 600 wasn't powerful enough to give me throttle power even on a good day with strong current ....

Sounds interesting, so you weren't able to make any way with that engine against the tide in the Solent?

[Starovich]

300 - 600 hp is a lot of power, so a lot of boat, for messing around in the solent, 4-6m with 40-175hp depending on budget and hull is more than enough.
If budget stretches then 6 -7.5m with 125 - 250hp would be nice.
7.5 - 9.5m would use 250+ inboard/outboard.
Twins only needed over 300 hp in total really.

[Solent_Cruiser]

Thanks for all the replies - yes I am new to the rib world - I am switching from a Sealine S34 to a rib as we are not overnighting much on the boat anymore like we used to do and fuel cost/ maintenance / mooring do no longer have good justification. We have also visited lots of places in the south coast so the idea of a rib is that in the longer term being able to trailer it and explore more places.

However, for the first season, we will still keep the rib in the Solent.

Having said that, last weekend I used my dinghy with a 5hp outboard near hythe and it was good enough! so 100hp is surely good!!!

Cheers,
Zac

[Chilternskipper]

Certainly true Rib envy can kick in and you will always want bigger

I have a 6m with a 90 which is fine for family cruising at 20 - 30 knots however if I wanted to carry more than 4 adults and children I think I would want 120 plus

[Alf]

Chiltern skipper is dead right, I had a 6.2 metre Ribeye with a Yam 115 which was great in most conditions but felt underpowered when loaded with more than 4 people, especially when water skiing. I've now got a Cobra 7.6 with a 250 Verado which never feels sluggish, a perfect combination. A tad thirsty though!
Cheers,

[matt h]

Whats your budget Zac, that would be a great starting point

[landlord]

Zac you have a PM