Rib opinions and input

[gbftats]

Hello all. Im new to the forum and RIB's in general. I went out for my first time a few years back and the experience stuck with me. So now i'm finally in a position to start looking for my own rib, however I am noticing RIB's don't seem to be as popular here in the USA and options seem limited. I'm hoping with some of your first hand experience you can help me get into the right boat.

I dont plan on racing, but the race boats fit more of my criteria. I know I want a thundercat style tunnel hull and the option to run a 50hp motor. However the boats I see like this are upwards of $5k-7k. Is there a cheaper "weekend-warrior" option out there that i'm missing?

the closest thing I have found is the AquRa Cat410 ( https://www.amazon.com/Cat410-Thunde...hundercat+boat )

but there is so little info out there about this boat its hard to pull the trigger. It seems like used is going to be my best options, however they are hard to come by. All input and suggestions are appreciated!

[office888]

Why do you want an inflatable cat?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by office888

Why do you want an inflatable cat?

Maybe his sheep burst & he fancies a change😳


Sh1t happens

[gbftats]

Why not a catamaran?
from what I've read, (opinions mixed) they are faster with less HP, they drift, and are more stable at high speeds.

Im looking for a Toy. I want to go fast and jump waves.

[matt h]

Originally Posted by

Im looking for a Toy. I want to go fast and jump waves.

[IMG

http://www.ceasar.us/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/TC_ws_11b.216202832_large.JPG[/IMG]

Ha ha nice one!!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by gbftats

Why not a catamaran?
from what I've read, (opinions mixed) they are faster with less HP, they drift, and are more stable at high speeds.

Im looking for a Toy. I want to go fast and jump waves.

A cat fits the bill - but so does a jetski (and probably a bigger market for resale in the US when you get bored of it?). I'm not suggesting there's anything wrong with zapcat/thundercat etc as "leisure boats" (there's a couple of people here who use them without racing) but their success is definitely driven by the race rather than 'play' scene.

[Roflhat]

In Australia there are loads of thundercats and very little racing. It's really only the UK which has little leasure use cats.
These are the best fun you can have on the water, a jetski becomes very uncomfortable in choppy seas, thundercats ride on a cushion of air between the hulls. Also the fuel bill is considerably less!

what I would say if you're serious about getting one is to get a South African built hull, Ceasar, Aquarius, Gemini are the biggest names out there and generally speaking the best boats. The chinese hulls aren't of high quality and the American hulls just aren't designed very well. The SA designed hulls are race proven, so you know they can withstand whatever you throw at them.

If you plan on running in the surf or rough stuff a 50hp is your best bet. A lot of the boats in the US have big Johnson or Evinrude engines on them, which is fine for flat water but too heavy for jumping waves. Have a look on here - https://www.facebook.com/thundercatracingna

If it's sunny or hot the boat is best kept indoors when not in use as the rubber is PVC, which will wear over a few years if exposed to the sun. The yamaha and tohatsu motors hold their value well, although from what I've heard they are harder to come by in the US

[office888]

Dux is a local brand.

I will warn you though, almost all cats I have seen on the market are glued Mehler PVC using various off-brands of glue. I have never been happy with their longevity.

I'd rather for a Pro 420 or Searider with a jockey seat.

[Roflhat]

You can get custom thundercats from Aquarius in Hypalon. Another option that may be worth looking at is the Gemini GRX 420. Cat hull form but with a tube extended around the front more like a conventional RIB, again these are made in hypalon.


If glue is the issue then all the new boats coming out of South Africa are seam welded

[lukewhiting]

+1 vote for a thundercat!

I've used jet skis and thunder cats and they just don't compare.

A thundercat is better in every sense for fun, waves, costs, practical and unique.

You can still use it as a normal boat but explore more places, be rougher with it, sun bathe on it, fish, eat food, dump it on a beach, take mates with you.

Then when you want to race around it turns into a proper piece of well engineered race machinery!

I'm currently building my second boat. Don't think I'd ever own another normal boat. Mines made with a carbon fibre nose cone & floor and is also made from Hypalon.



A mate also owned a Gemini cat which was pretty good. Not as racey and a lot heavier but still a great bit of kit

[C-NUMB]

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

+1 vote for a thundercat!

I've used jet skis and thunder cats and they just don't compare.

A thundercat is better in every sense for fun, waves, costs, practical and unique.

You can still use it as a normal boat but explore more places, be rougher with it, sun bathe on it, fish, eat food, dump it on a beach, take mates with you.

Then when you want to race around it turns into a proper piece of well engineered race machinery!

I'm currently building my second boat. Don't think I'd ever own another normal boat. Mines made with a carbon fibre nose cone & floor and is also made from Hypalon.

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A mate also owned a Gemini cat which was pretty good. Not as racey and a lot heavier but still a great bit of kit

Would a deflated Thundercat fit on a europallet for storage or transportation? If not what is the smallest size it can be folded to? Thanks.

[Roflhat]

Originally Posted by C-NUMB

Would a deflated Thundercat fit on a europallet for storage or transportation? If not what is the smallest size it can be folded to? Thanks.

They fold down to about 180 x 100 x 85cm and weigh around 80kg

[C-NUMB]

Originally Posted by Roflhat

They fold down to about 180 x 100 x 85cm and weigh around 80kg

Thanks!