Ribcraft 6.8

DJL · 21 September 2014, 20:56

Does anyone on RIBnet own or use a Ribcraft 6.8 regularly? I'm looking for general opinions and rough engine/performance info.

I've currently got a 6.4/Suzuki DF175 on order, but I had quick ride in the 6.8 at the boat show and I'm tempted to stretch a bit further and get that instead with the new 4-cyl Suzuki DF200AP that was announced at the show.

thanks!

jambo · 21 September 2014, 21:17

I think Maximus has that rib

Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

Maximus · 21 September 2014, 21:35

Yep...Its a Great all round RIB...done plenty of miles in ALL conditions....and never found it wanting!

Just got back from a weekend in The Scillies leavening from Rock 140 miles+ And I'm still smiling!

Just Love it

Drop me a pm,more than happy to have a Chat.

sirib · 21 September 2014, 21:55

Have a look at out blog of a Round Britain voyage exactly 3 years ago with a Ribcraft 6.8 + Suzuki 200 called Contentment, and my boat a Coastline 7m + Suzuki 175 called Teal. see Take Two Ribs on the left side of the home page are the voyage statistics, it only shows fuel consumption for Teal, however the Ribcraft consistantly used approx 15% more fuel throughout the trip - this will give you a good idea.

The Ribcraft went very well round the country, coping well with loads of bad weather & big seas, never missed a beat, exceptionally well made. My only critisim is that the steering is very heavy, trim seems to have no effect, I suspect the engine is mounted too low, but that's just my opinion.

Maximus · 22 September 2014, 06:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirib

Have a look at out blog of a Round Britain voyage exactly 3 years ago with a Ribcraft 6.8 + Suzuki 200 called Contentment, and my boat a Coastline 7m + Suzuki 175 called Teal. see Take Two Ribs on the left side of the home page are the voyage statistics, it only shows fuel consumption for Teal, however the Ribcraft consistantly used approx 15% more fuel throughout the trip - this will give you a good idea.

The Ribcraft went very well round the country, coping well with loads of bad weather & big seas, never missed a beat, exceptionally well made. My only critisim is that the steering is very heavy, trim seems to have no effect, I suspect the engine is mounted too low, but that's just my opinion.

I enjoyed the Videos of your circumnavigation,certainly worth a look!

Concerning the steering..Defiantly a Rigging fault somewhere?...I have a 250 Suz,and it's absolutely fine,and easy to operate...
They are very well made Boats(Cat B) commercial spec with a heavy Lay up,and IMO after trying loads...do Benefit from a few extra Horses,the 6.8 hull in particular really come alive in the Rough Stuff!
Pikey Dave reckons the 6.3 is the last of the R.C small boats...the 6.8 the first of the Big!..He may very well be right....But don't tell I said that!

..
You would defiantly find a fair bit if difference...and your very welcome to try mine anytime if you wish.
Had 49 knots with her one up coming into Rock at the weekend!

Simon B · 22 September 2014, 16:36

They are excellent, our dive club rib is a dive version of the 6.8, it has a 175 Suzuki on it and the balance is perfect. Both Yamaha and now Suzuki have lightweight 200hp engines (Suzuki is a 200hp version of the 175hp 2.8litre)

Build quality is very good, attention to detail good, they worked hard with us to make a boat to fit our needs exactly and gave us good advice on what we could cut out of the spec to save money when they could easily have fleeced us.

Performance for what we use it for is superb, we have hydraulic steering, again excellent only gets heavy when the engine is trimmed right in. Its quite good on fuel we work on a litre a nautical mile wide open throttle is about 70litres an hour. We have our lowrance kit rigged to an engine interface.

Maximus · 05 November 2014, 19:48

[QUOTE=DJL;646989]Does anyone on RIBnet own or use a Ribcraft 6.8 regularly? I'm looking for general opinions and rough engine/performance info.

I've currently got a 6.4/Suzuki DF175 on order, but I had quick ride in the 6.8 at the boat show and I'm tempted to stretch a bit further and get that instead with the new 4-cyl Suzuki DF200AP that was announced at the show.

thanks![/QUOTE
Any Progression??

DJL · 01 January 2015, 20:09

Thanks for all the info!

Ended up going for the new 6.4 (6.5m) hull and Suzuki DF175TG and took delivery a few weeks ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIwVF0DZ1MA

Xk59D · 01 January 2015, 20:38

awesome, i see you also have a DJI phantom :-)

what sort of speed you getting? seems to fair lick along.

how you finding the fuel?

cheers

Zippy · 02 January 2015, 15:34

Nice looking boat Daniel! Come a long way from that 4 meter tornado!

Sure you will have many happy hours! Prehaps meet up this year when we are back on the water.

Maximus · 02 January 2015, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJL

Thanks for all the info!

Ended up going for the new 6.4 (6.5m) hull and Suzuki DF175TG and took delivery a few weeks ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIwVF0DZ1MA

Congratulations...All the Best with her!..Nice looking Rig

Daniel · 02 January 2015, 16:23

I did wonder if DJL was the same daniel I remember in a tornado (4.8 I think) probably 12 years ago !! I has the 18' BWM then the yellow osprey "top banana".

Hope you're well daniel - Be good to meet up. I'm putting myself a 7.5m scorpion together for this season.

Zippy · 02 January 2015, 18:18

Hope its not a case of mistaken identity!?

i remember reading your threat on the Top Banana rebuild as i was buying my first rib (also a BWM)

i can see an old school rib net gathering coming on... Daniel was one of the first people i met from here after Andy (Hightower) and Paul and Kathleen.

good old times!

anyway, hope we have mistaken you for someone else but whatever, nice looking rib!!! congratulations!

DJL · 04 January 2015, 16:17

Yep it's me - still got the photos from 2003 RIBnet Solent Cruise!! The days of fixing battery connections at the Sloop Inn and trips back from Beaulieu in the dark after my engine died.

Would be good to meet up! How are Paul and Kathleen - is anyone still in touch with them?

Top speed is about 42kts at the moment, but I can over rev the engine so I'm looking at moving from a 21" to 23" prop which might give a bit more top end and hopefully lower cruising rpm a bit. Fuel consumption seems to be around 0.9l/nm or about 27 L/hr at 30kts.

Zippy · 04 January 2015, 19:18

still remember the size of the wash from that destroyer that was taking part in the fleet review, it was huge in a 18 ft rib!

Paul and Kathleen are doing well i think, haven't seen them for a long time but i know someone (who is occasional on here) has and they seem all good.

Daniel · 04 January 2015, 19:56

Awesome old skool photos ! I'm young. And thin.

Yes a reunion this year, like an "old boys" meet defiantly in order.

Daniel · 04 January 2015, 19:57

I always wonder what happened to "ageing youth"