There's a couple of similarly built boats that operate around here (west coast US): One is a 26 or 28 footer built by ACB, or Aluminum Chambered Boats, out of Bellingham, Washington; the other smaller boat is I think out of New Zealand, a company called Stabicraft.
Don't have a clue about construction of either, other than the ACB's are built like tanks. Solid boats. The Stabicraft in question (about a 15 or 16 footer, if I remember correctly) has been running for about 10 years, and looks much the same as when I first saw it.
of course-in the same way that an oil drum does when ya build a raft for charity runs. The upthrust is equal to the weight of water displaced.
I was asked to test a new one of them down in Bristol years back but wasnt prepared to drive down there and back so they got a new boy with no knowledge of ribs but hungrier for the fee to do it Seemed ok from the report that appeared in the angling mag, but then again never trust magazine reports esp when the manufacturer is also a fee paying advertiser Must be b**** cold on the bum sitting on the toobs in winter
of course-in the same way that an oil drum does when ya build a raft for charity runs. The upthrust is equal to the weight of water displaced.
I was asked to test a new one of them down in Bristol years back but wasnt prepared to drive down there and back so they got a new boy with no knowledge of ribs but hungrier for the fee to do it Seemed ok from the report that appeared in the angling mag, but then again never trust magazine reports esp when the manufacturer is also a fee paying advertiser Must be b**** cold on the bum sitting on the toobs in winter
Of course, that was a bit of s illy question looking back.
But besides the chill factor what are the downside over inflatables? Is it just weight?
JSP - there are a number of options for what are sometimes called "Rigid Bouyant Boats" - essentially RIB styled boats without an inflatable collar:
(1) Foam filled collars
(2) Aluminium collars
(3) Polythene collars
... (a) from large plastic tube or
... (b) as part of a one piece moulding with the hull like mine
I believe the design intention is to make them much more robust (to physical and UV abuse) than hypalon tubes. Foam filled tubes normally still have some sort of fabric over the top - but punctures don't affect bouyancy. Its very very unlikely you will pierce 10 mm of polythene or 2-3mm of Ali from normal domestic abuse although if you do repairs are a bit more specialised than slapping a patch on - but still perfectly possible.
The only real downside I am aware of (other than the fact that many of the tubes are not as nicely shaped as the latest things that Chris and Paul are churning out - but aesthestics aren't your no 1 priority... you own a SR!), is that people claim that the tubes act as a shock absorber in rough water... I'm not sure how significant that factor actually is - but obviously rigid tubes can't do that. The only way to really tell would be have identical hulled boats with inflatable and rigid tubes skippered by the same person on the same day. With my level of expertise the skipper is a bigger factor than the tubes!
JSP - there are a number of options for what are sometimes called "Rigid Bouyant Boats" - essentially RIB styled boats without an inflatable collar:
(1) Foam filled collars
(2) Aluminium collars
(3) Polythene collars
... (a) from large plastic tube or
... (b) as part of a one piece moulding with the hull like mine
I believe the design intention is to make them much more robust (to physical and UV abuse) than hypalon tubes. Foam filled tubes normally still have some sort of fabric over the top - but punctures don't affect bouyancy. Its very very unlikely you will pierce 10 mm of polythene or 2-3mm of Ali from normal domestic abuse although if you do repairs are a bit more specialised than slapping a patch on - but still perfectly possible.
The only real downside I am aware of (other than the fact that many of the tubes are not as nicely shaped as the latest things that Chris and Paul are churning out - but aesthestics aren't your no 1 priority... you own a SR!), is that people claim that the tubes act as a shock absorber in rough water... I'm not sure how significant that factor actually is - but obviously rigid tubes can't do that. The only way to really tell would be have identical hulled boats with inflatable and rigid tubes skippered by the same person on the same day. With my level of expertise the skipper is a bigger factor than the tubes!
Good points Mr P. I'm not thinking of getting one but I am interested in them. I looked into foam tubes earlier this year after looking at the Delta RIB Fleetwood nautical college use. Have to say, the extra room on the deck due to the 'half' tube design is a bonus. But as you've pointed out, they are very square cut and a little bit ex wife-ish.
Would love to go out on one though and have a play. Most seem to be jet drives and rather slow but that's not that big a deal.
Davey Wavelength, know anyone on the fylde coast with one?
Either of you would be welcome to try out one with moulded in plastic tubes and see what you think if you're up this way. I'm not convinced it really makes much difference...
Either of you would be welcome to try out one with moulded in plastic tubes and see what you think if you're up this way. I'm not convinced it really makes much difference...
Seemed ok from the report that appeared in the angling mag, but then again never trust magazine reports esp when the manufacturer is also a fee paying advertiser 
Must be b**** cold on the bum sitting on the toobs in winter 
White Noise
