Ribs made in USA

[RDent]

Hi,
Looking to put a 10m 12 passenger RIB into service next year as a commercial passenger tour....Have found several European Ribs that would suit...but am now concerned about the Jones Act...One of the stipulations is the boat must be 3 years old....Does anyone have a recommendation on a US manufactured 12 passenger Rib I can look at...??
Thanks
Rod

[ncp]

Off the top of my head, Northwind in Seattle and Willard in Anaheim are two that I can think of that will have plans ready to for a large passenger rib. With some lead time, many of the aluminum builder will custom build whatever you want (and Wing or someone else will custom make tubes) . Someone will chime in... there are more than just two US rib builders of large ribs.

Edit: I misread that, you're not looking for new. Either way, those two manufacturers still apply: Willard uses non flammable resins (or whatever the USCG requires) and Northwind builds aluminum.

[RDent]

NCP...no you read correctly...I am looking for a new boat...One of the Jones act stips is that the boat is 3 years old....

[PeterM]

RIBcraft USA ?

http://www.ribcraftusa.com/

[jyasaki]

There's a couple/few of aluminum RIB manufacturers, all in either the NorthWest, or along the Gulf Coast (Well, there used to be; that was in 2004 when I was looking.) A few more in Canada.

Northwind was one, Titan (Canada), Polaris Inflatable (Canada), and one which I can't find now in either Alabama or Georgia. In addition, there's SAFE Boat in Washington (not a true RIB, as it uses a foam collar.)

Guy at Polaris has built commercial boats for the US market; he can advise on all the legal stuff of using a Canadian boat for US commercial stuff.

jky

[captnjack]

Originally Posted by RDent

NCP...no you read correctly...I am looking for a new boat...One of the Jones act stips is that the boat is 3 years old....

Ummm there are lots of boat older than 3 years in commercial service... Maybe you mean it must get a COI within 3 years of manufacture? (I am not sure if this is true or not)

[ncp]

1. Aluminum RIB Boats and Rigid Inflatable Boats - Northwind Marine
2. http://willardmarine.com/pdf/WillardScarib54.pdf or (Willard Marine - Builders of Quality Boats Since 1957)
3. Rubber and Aluminum Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBS) by MetalCraft Marine
4. RIBCRAFT Rigid Inflatable Boats by RIBCRAFT
5. Aquascan Luxury Yacht Tenders and Rigid Inflatable Boats (made some boats for Sea Tow, also, if you let their pics scroll through, there a red rib named "Hooter Patrol IV"...ya, classy)


Call any of them and most know if any of their boats are for sale....especially commercial size/quality