Sea worthy RIB for Newby

[Chipmunk]

I am looking for a budget sea worthy starter RIB. We live on the Ilse of Man and seas can get quite rough along the coast. This will be my first RIB and I am looking for something that is 5-6 m in length, under £10k, that can perform well in a F5-6 sea. So far I have been looking at Humber Destroyers and Ocean Pros as I understand these are good value for money. in your option, what other boats should I be looking at? Many thanks

[fastasfox]

I wouldn't want to be out in F6. What are you going to use the Rib for? Will it be just a pleasure craft or do you need it to do a Job. I'm not the most experienced Ribber but those on here with years if experience will want to know the answer to these questions. I own a 5 meter Tornado (just finished full refit this summer inc new tubes. When you look at ribs make sure the tubes are in good order as to replace them will cost £5000-£6500. Looking out for ex dive boat or saftey boat I would say would be a good option and something more on the comercial side of things if you plan or need to use it in rougher seas.
We have had the debate on here whether or not price's will start to come down....now people can travel again....time will tell, but £10.000 seems a pretty realistic budget. My vote would go to humber or Tornado/xs ribs.....but the Tornado is the only Rib I have owned...still it held it's own round big seas around St Davids Head last weekend.
Good luck with your search.

[Chipmunk]

That’s great thanks. F6 was on the extreme side - I just meant if caught out in those conditions it should be able to cope. My normal use will be fair weather cruising around the island - only for pleasure. I’ve seen a few late 90s Tornados and Humbers for around £6,000 but my concern is as you have said - the tubes are probably at the end of their life so maybe better to spend a bit more. Of course if I go up to £12,000 -£14,000 then there are some really nice options however I’d rather buy something a bit ‘used’ as my first starter boat. The question is what’s a fair price to get fair value.

[HDAV]

Out of interest:

1: why a rib?

2: why 5-6m?

3: trailered or moored?

[rik_elliott]

This is the classic use case for an avon searider 5.4m. Very solid build, very stable, hypalon tubes that are easily repaired and long lived. Should be able to get a decent one with a good engine for your budget. They tend to look quite industrial, whether you would see that as a downside or not is up to you!

I have seen a searider 6m for the topend of your budget. These are serious boats that are much bigger and heavier than the 5.4, but they are comparatively rare and usually came with twin 60hp two strokes which will cost an arm and a leg to fuel and is twice the servicing costs. The one I saw for sale was from a North Sea oil rig, which will give you an idea of their capabilities. I'd love one with a 140hp on the back but doubt I could manhandle it on a trailer.

[Chipmunk]

My current perception :
Why a RIB? Easy to handle, versatile, safe, lower cost. I also like the look of a RIB.
Why 5-6m? Big enough for coastal use but lower price point than something bigger. Essentially what other RIB owners have suggested would meet my needs
Trailered or moored? Trailered. We are only 20 -30 minutes from multiple slipways around the Island so I would prefer to bring it home and clean it after use.

Of course I am happy to hear alternative view if you think I am wrong in any of these areas. This will be my first RIB so I am still learning

[Jon Tallis]

Having owned a Destroyer for the past 17odd years I can give them a big thumbs up for build quality and sea-keeping. I'd echo fastasafox - you don't want to be planning to be out in anything approaching a F6 esp as a newby. Your budget feels light to me - especially as you need not just a dependable boat but a dependable engine for your proposed use. I'd suggest focussing on the smaller end of your size range to get a more reliable boat within your budget rather than going big and possibly sacrificing reliability. Good luck and keep us posted [emoji16]

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by Chipmunk

My current perception :
Why a RIB? Easy to handle, versatile, safe, lower cost. I also like the look of a RIB.
Why 5-6m? Big enough for coastal use but lower price point than something bigger. Essentially what other RIB owners have suggested would meet my needs
Trailered or moored? Trailered. We are only 20 -30 minutes from multiple slipways around the Island so I would prefer to bring it home and clean it after use.

Of course I am happy to hear alternative view if you think I am wrong in any of these areas. This will be my first RIB so I am still learning

Rib owners will always say get a rib the bigger you go heavier better sea keeping but harder to man handle launch and recover £6k is light for a capable sea going boat plenty around £20k that seems to be the entry point these days unless you want a project….

Put a 6.5m cobra on the list of you can find one with a 125/150hp on the back layout plays a big part do you want to straddle a jockey seat do your passengers? (Will their feet touch the floor?)

[Chipmunk]

I get the practicality of the jockey seats that many RIB are installed with however are these really necessary for general use, or are bench seats a viable alternative for a RIB?

[Iankristy]

[ATTACH]141441
I know this boat and the owner. It’s a very well looked after boat. Up at a very fair price

[Voodoo]

Originally Posted by Chipmunk

I get the practicality of the jockey seats that many RIB are installed with however are these really necessary for general use, or are bench seats a viable alternative for a RIB?

we have a front set, couple of jockey seats and a bench seat at the rear in front of the inboard engine...seems to work well
https://www.rib.net/forum/attachment...1&d=1662452451

[fastasfox]

Originally Posted by Voodoo

we have a front set, couple of jockey seats and a bench seat at the rear in front of the inboard engine...seems to work well
https://www.rib.net/forum/attachment...1&d=1662452451

Do those jockey seats have a bit of spring in them?

[Voodoo]

Not a lot...most spring is in my backside and the seat padding.....:-) I tend to stand quite a bit as well depending on speed and conditions

[Chipmunk]

Originally Posted by Iankristy

[ATTACH]141441
I know this boat and the owner. It’s a very well looked after boat. Up at a very fair price

Thanks. I have sent him a message.

Question: I see the Humber Destroyer 5.3 manufacturers tech specs state Max HP / Engine Weight of 90hp/170kg. This has a 115hp Johnson engine which seems to weigh somewhere between 150kg and 173kg, depending where you look. Is that OK from a boat and an insurance perspective?

[Iankristy]

Originally Posted by Chipmunk

Thanks. I have sent him a message.



Question: I see the Humber Destroyer 5.3 manufacturers tech specs state Max HP / Engine Weight of 90hp/170kg. This has a 115hp Johnson engine which seems to weigh somewhere between 150kg and 173kg, depending where you look. Is that OK from a boat and an insurance perspective?

Ask Steve you’ll get an honest answer [emoji1305]

[Chipmunk]

Originally Posted by Iankristy

Ask Steve you’ll get an honest answer [emoji1305]

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by Chipmunk

I get the practicality of the jockey seats that many RIB are installed with however are these really necessary for general use, or are bench seats a viable alternative for a RIB?

Jockeys allow your legs to act as suspension and you to stand

You will stand a lot in rough or choppy water the latest is suspension seating

Standard jockeys the foam is the padding

[Chipmunk]

Originally Posted by Iankristy

[ATTACH]141441
I know this boat and the owner. It’s a very well looked after boat. Up at a very fair price

Thank you for the heads up on this boat. It's a very nice boat which we bought and is now safety located back on the Isle of Man. Steve is a great guy and we really appreciate the introduction.

[Iankristy]

Originally Posted by Chipmunk

Thank you for the heads up on this boat. It's a very nice boat which we bought and is now safety located back on the Isle of Man. Steve is a great guy and we really appreciate the introduction.

Glad it worked out for you all [emoji1305]