again the humber we use is a little bigger than the one you have suggested a 5.7m? ours is the 6.3 m model, but not infinitely bigger so i assume you could draw some accurate comparisons.
Ability, and control in sea: Very solid in all sea states, inspires confidence, never felt unsafe, lands softly, handles big chop, and large swell very well, used to own a zodiac and couldnt believe the improvement when i went out in the humber for the first time! also very good at cornering, grips like nobodies business!
speed: obviously depending on what engine you have on it, we have a 140hp suzuki, which pushes it at a top speed of 41 knots with one person and half tank of fuel so far. not the quickest boat around, but thats the substitute you pay for having a deeper vee hull, and the superior rough water performance!
tubes: i hear that BogMonster had troubles with the tubes, well, although the boat is only a year old, i cannot find any fault so fr with the tubes, they seem solidly built, nicely done! obviously time will tell, but i think that the newer humbers have been done with more attention, perhaps the result of =feedback of old humber owners on their finnish styling etc!
engine set up was excellent as is the hull and tubes. the only thing that humber could do muich better is the finnishing, like the cut off points on the console and seating, just doesnt seem classy when you look at it closely, however it doesnt look bad at all, and the overall design of the consoles and seating, i like! its just the finnish could be done better! also the rear bench seat we have, the back rest flexes a bit which i would prefer it didnt, doesnt seem like it isnt strong enough but i just prefer a back rest which feels solid........minor faults in my opinion!
if you would like some pictures let me know, i think its a very attractive boat
, but im no expert at re-sizing the pictures, so would be easier to email them to you if wanted!
so overall great hull pedigree, overall good tough construction, a real work boat, not super yacht finnish, but its a real rib, great at doing what people have come to associate with ribs, great rough water performance, with a robust nature!
the ribcraft 585has a great reputation though, i havent used one, but people say good things about them, saying that humber have been around for much longer and have the experience!
But seriously, out in very heavy swell off Flamborough Head at the end of last year with white crests (some breaking) & strong wind giving a very confused sea. Never once felt we had a problem & loved every minute of it. Did get very wet though.
