RIBs for flood/swiftwater rescue?

iancg1 · 29 January 2009, 10:17

Good day to all! I'm new here. I was able to find this message board through research about RIBs and its application.

Here is our situation. We are planning to create a flood/swiftwater rescue team. We are considering RIBs because they can easily be transported (more compact) than other boats. However, we are concerned with maintenance requirements because our rescue team will be an all-volunteer team. There will be no full time staff. Someone has mentioned to me that RIBs are high maintenance. According to this person, one needs to do all sorts of stuff to preserve the rubber. Is this true? How are RIBs maintained?

John Kennett · 29 January 2009, 10:23

They don't need any special maintenance. Like any other boat they benefit from a wash down after use, and are best stored under cover, but they're not high maintenance.

Having said that it they won't last particularly well if abused, and although tubes can be repaired they are obviously not as tough as an indestructible rotomoulded polythene boat - depending on what you actually plan to do, one of these might be a better option.

doggypaddle · 29 January 2009, 10:34

surely if you want something compact and easier to transport youre looking for a SIB? our local rescue people use 4m ish SIBS for rescue work
they draw very little water and can be deflated and stowed in the back of a landrover, they are small and light enough to use either with a small light outboard or paddles for flood work where the water is shallow, or commonly pulled along by someone in waders

RNLI use them inshore too. class D is it? someone here will correct me if iam wrong

PeterM · 29 January 2009, 11:56

Hi Ian - welcome & I hope you find the site helpfull - to clarify do you mean a RIB or SIB ? - As mentioend SIBs have no solid hull , unlike the RIB which will have a solid floor that cannot be folded in any way .

I think you mean SIB as you can either have sectioned floors ( that can be removed/ folded ) or air floors which can be deflated and folded/ rolled up etc .

I 'think' tha most flood rescue type work is completed by SIBs as they draw very little water, are normally lighter than the RIB equivalent ( hence able to be rowed/ pulled etc ) while still being able to take outboard engines that will allow then to be quick/ powerfull relative to the engine size/weight.

Nos4r2 · 29 January 2009, 12:11

Ian, what country are you in? There's a couple of companies in the UK who make very tough military SIBs (if that's what you want) that would be ideal.

codprawn · 29 January 2009, 12:51

There are plenty of old Avons around that have been abused for 20yrs and are still going strong - the British Army aren't really known for being gentle with their kit!!!

havener · 29 January 2009, 13:20

Ian,

Swift/floodwater rescue is my speciality, having bee involved in the formation of a couple of teams, and continuing to train teams today.

RIBS / SIBS are not always the best craft for these environments - to give an opinion, I'd need to know a bit more about the terrain you're planning to operate in.

Drop me a PM on here if you'd like some help / advice.

Channel Ribs · 29 January 2009, 15:30

Just to back up what everyone else has said, a soft inflatable boat is going to be a good bet for all the reasons given and more; not least of which is affordability.

In terms of rapid deployment an airdeck boat (biggest are around 3.5m) can be assembled, launched and be doing 15kn within 10 mins of arrival.

You can also customise a SIB so that you have removable consoles and other equipment, so that you can put the kit together to suit a particular environment.

havener · 29 January 2009, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

Just to back up what everyone else has said, a soft inflatable boat is going to be a good bet

Nooooo.....probably the worst thing to put into floodwater - extremely vulnerable to puncture damage, submerged barbed wire fences, floating debris, chemical or bio contamination, all sorts of nasties.

There is a specific type of inflatable useful for wier rescue (low head dams to our US cousins) or for mud rescue, but that's about it.

C2 RIBS · 29 January 2009, 15:46

Hi Ian Welcome. there are some very qualified people who use this forum in the market you are looking at. The main issue I see is the swiftwater and rescue scenario is very well handled by emergency services,fire brigades, RNLI and good volunteer groups and then the very specialised companies all who are well trained.

Flood response is an area I have developed alongside my RIB charters but through local emergency planning officers and I bought a 4.3 SIB which does not draw a large draft and can be pulled through water with persons and equipment on board, the engine can be lifted totally clear of the water line. I dont intend to cover rescue work/swiftwater as very specialised. I would not use a RIB in most flood waters due to draft and access to these areas is restricted . The other area a SIB can be used is local water events where a safety boat is needed but again not specific to rescue. You mentioned maintenace issues but I see both are similar as I keep all boats under cover.

As already said, what are the areas you are looking to work in which might help to point you towards the correct people.

jyasaki · 29 January 2009, 15:49

Depending on the mission you wish to accomplish, how about a Jetski with a rescue board on the back?

Very little draft, small, easily launched (Youtube vids of jetskiers launching their trucks notwithstanding), and no spinning prop to ruin peoples days.

jky

Channel Ribs · 29 January 2009, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Depending on the mission you wish to accomplish, how about a Jetski with a rescue board on the back?

Fiendish

Channel Ribs · 29 January 2009, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by havener

Nooooo.....probably the worst thing to put into floodwater.

If you say so, bit they do seem a popular choice and no one has sent one back.

Here are some examples of various shapes, sizes and hardnesses. All being used for just this sort of thing:

http://www.sara-rescue.org.uk/thefleet.htm

prairie tuber · 29 January 2009, 16:15

There are also jetski/inflatable hybrids out there such as this one;

http://www.cabora.com/jetdrive/

codprawn · 29 January 2009, 17:58

Whitewater rafting boats get quite a hammering and the Avons seem to last well enough - and they have soft bottoms!!!

Our local Firebrigade use an old Avon and it seems to keep going.

havener · 29 January 2009, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

If you say so, bit they do seem a popular choice and no one has sent one back.

Here are some examples of various shapes, sizes and hardnesses. All being used for just this sort of thing:

http://www.sara-rescue.org.uk/thefleet.htm

Look a little closer...I used to be search manager with SARA, the inflatables are NOT used in flood swiftwater situations. Chepstow operate a hard plastic Jeanneau, Sharpness operate an aluminium craft. The former Upton station operated a rigid plastic inflatable - looked like a rib but the tubes were actually like water mains pipes (same as SARA 8 at Wyre Forest, it may look inflatable but it ain't).

As for no-one sending them back, maybe not, but I can quote you a couple of brigades who didn't send it back cos it's at the bottom of something, and you will find that whilst they may be retained on the fleet, tasking is different. Inflatables are fine for still or slow moving water, where you know where the hazards are and can take avoiding action in good time.

If you look in the States, where the whole Swiftwater discipline grew up, you'll find very few inflatables in use in urban or unpredictable situations.

codprawn · 29 January 2009, 18:57

What about whitewater rafting - lots of pretty nasty rocks around..........

havener · 29 January 2009, 19:18

But whitewater rafting is a very different beast to urban flood rescue carrying elderly, frail or frightened members of the public....

codprawn · 29 January 2009, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by havener

But whitewater rafting is a very different beast to urban flood rescue carrying elderly, frail or frightened members of the public....

Yes but the question was about the durability of inflatables. Granted jagged metal bits would be nasty but Whitewater rafts must get a hell of a bashing - some rocks can be pretty sharp as well.

Channel Ribs · 29 January 2009, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by havener

Look a little closer...

As for no-one sending them back, maybe not, but I can quote you a couple of brigades who didn't send it back cos it's at the bottom of something.

Oh silly me, I meant to add a raspberry to that comment.