Ribcraft 530 Vs. ProSport 585 - Help!

alt · 18 May 2006, 21:34

Guys,
I'm going to view a Ribcraft 530 and ProSport 585 next week but cant decide which to go for.

Both have the same seating layout, and are pretty much the same age, with same size engines for pretty much the same price.

The Ribcraft is as follows:
5.30m, Mariner 90HP 4Stroke

The ProSport 585 is:
5.85m with Suzuki 90HP 4Stroke

Which do you think would handle better on the water? Giving that the Prosport is only .5m longer.

Both have a wide console with twin jockey seats and bench to the rear. As I said theyre pretty much the same spec... Can anyone help?!?

John Kennett · 18 May 2006, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

Which do you think would handle better on the water? Giving that the Prosport is only .5m longer.

Ribcraft has the better pedigree of the two, but that .5m makes a whole lot of difference in this size range.

Can you try them both? I'd recommend it before making a decision.

John

alt · 18 May 2006, 21:44

I can try them both yes, theyre only about 30 miles apart. The problem is im in Ireland, so I have a time limit.

Would the .5, be a noticable difference?

PeterR · 18 May 2006, 21:52

Back to the same old question we all ask ourselves.What is it going to be its main use so will the hull design answer this for you.what will hold its price better is something to be considered,food for thought i hope

DM · 18 May 2006, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

.5m makes a whole lot of difference in this size range.

Very true but the stated length of a boat doesn't always give the true picture.

My 5.25m Viper is a 20 per cent bigger boat than a 5.4m Searider.

The 5.85 Prosport runs nicely......until the glassed in jockey console falls off.

DM

PeterR · 18 May 2006, 21:55

Forgot to ask ,what are the engine hours of each and service history

alt · 18 May 2006, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmanning

Very true but the stated length of a boat doesn't always give the true picture.

My 5.25m Viper is a 20 per cent bigger boat than a 5.4m Searider.

The 5.85 Prosport runs nicely......until the glassed in jockey console falls off.

DM

Uh? You've scared me! Whats this now??

It's main use will be for inland waterways, so nothing ever too bad.
However, I will be taking it off the West Coast of Ireland from time to time. Maybe 10 miles off shore. Would the 5.3 cope? Is the Ribcraft 530 5.3m from the back of the tubes at the stern to the very front of the tubes at the bow?

alt · 18 May 2006, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by no fear

Forgot to ask ,what are the engine hours of each and service history

The ribcraft is actually 2004, the Prosport is 2004

Service history on both, less hours on the Prosport which has the Suzuki.

The pros of the Ribcraft 530 are:
Hydraulic steering
Better 'brand' name
Garmin Colour GPS which im familar with

The pros of the Prosport 585 are:
2 years younger
.5m longer
Suzuki Engine
The colour GPS is a Magellan FX324 Colour which im not familar with
Longer jockey seats so seating for more people

alt · 18 May 2006, 22:02

Here are pictures of the two...

PeterR · 18 May 2006, 22:10

My advice would be dont be rushed into making the wrong choice .If you cannot aford the time to test drive them properly you definately cant afford the wrong choice .(if you get what i mean)I still have loads to learn but i would say the ribcraft will be a better boat but the suzuki is the better engine.Without seing them i would go for the better boat even though you say its 500mm shorter.What condition are the trailers

DM · 18 May 2006, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

so nothing ever too bad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

I will be taking it off the West Coast of Ireland. Maybe 10 miles

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

The ribcraft is actually 2004, the Prosport is 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

2 years younger

Yep, you're definitely Irish

Maybe the original seats have already fell out of the Prosport. Those look like Outhill jockeys to me.

It would be the Ribcraft for me.

DM

DM · 18 May 2006, 22:16

Sherlock also deduces that if it's the Prosports owners normal practice to moor up like that, the nose will be in less than pristine condition.

DM

alt · 18 May 2006, 22:28

Sorry guys,
let me clear things up!

Ribcraft is 2002, Procraft is 2004
The owner of the Procraft said he got the seats put in when he got the boat made up at the start of 2005

Both trailers are in brilliant condition. Single axle braked trailers.

Would the Prosport handle much better in a swell than the Ribcraft 530?

The Ribcraft also comes with a SS prop, its not a big deal but still £200 if I was to buy one for the Procraft... Decisions Decisions.

I currently own a Lencraft 5.5m and bought it new in 2001 with a Yamaha 75HP. Going for the Ribcraft seems crazy because its ever so slightly shorter!

xpertski · 18 May 2006, 22:39

i would personally go for the ribcraft, a better boat in my opinion. it is a hard decision though because i would prefer to have ths suzuki over the mariner. but thats life cant have everything.....go for the ribcraft, you can be suprised how well many 5mtr boats handle in the rough (not all), and ribcraft has a good hull underneath it. im not a fan of the prosports, seems a lighter construction to me. so a better hull like the ribcraft will outweigh the extra length of the prosport.....back to engines, the mariner isnt a bad engine, just the suzuki is better......as has been said earlier, dont rush things, and it would be better if you could trial the two boats to make a comparison for yourself!!!!! hope it goes well!

John Kennett · 18 May 2006, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

Going for the Ribcraft seems crazy because its ever so slightly shorter!

Try it. They're a great little boat.

John

DM · 18 May 2006, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

Would the Prosport handle much better in a swell than the Ribcraft 530?

In theory, a longer boat should handle better but in practice it depends on hull design and boat balance/set-up.

I don't agree with No Fears statement that the Suzuki is a better engine. It's a good engine and smoother than the Mariner but, in my opinion, not as robust.

The backrests of those Outhill seats have a habit of falling off as well.

DM

alt · 18 May 2006, 22:48

Guys,
I'm going to ring both parties tomorrow. The owner of the Ribcraft said that there is someone coming to look at it on Saturday. I'm not going to rush into it actually... Theres plenty of RIB's on the market.

Personally I feel the Ribcraft looks like a more robust boat than the ProCraft. I'm finished my exams tomorrow (I'm only a wee college lad) so I can think about over the weekend and jump on the Ferry Tuesday and try both of them out.

I think the sea trial will really be the decider.

So does anyone have any experience with Mariner engines? Are they reliable once taken care of? Any crazy stories about them? Are parts as easy to find as Suzuki?

ADS · 18 May 2006, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

So does anyone have any experience with Mariner engines?

Yes, the 4strokes are not bad, is it an EFI or a carb 4stroke though?

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

Are they reliable once taken care of?

A generalisation but very few 'new' outboards are unreliable these days and alot of large organisations such as the army use Mariners, I would have one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

Any crazy stories about them? Are parts as easy to find as Suzuki?