setting a new rib

[mletelier]

I am buying a RIB in Chile at www.tecnomar.cl
It is a 4.90 meters and I have the following doubt,
Do you guys have some paper or study about the weight dostribution when settling the boat, I mean, does the position of the central console have some specific position in the boat, I mean, how the position of the central console (and the pilot) affect the stability and the performance of th boat? Should the console be put in the exact centre (along and across) of the boat?
Thanks a lot
Marcial Letelier

[Ezgoing]

What sort of rib are you getting?

rgds

[Stoo]

For what it's worth, I have my console set off to the starboard side somewhat in order to maximize deck space for diving. RIBS are extremely stable and I have not noticed any ill effect at all. I believe I read of a smaller Avon that is similarly rigged.

As for 'for and aft' positioning, most of the boats here seem to have the console positioned forward, with several seats behind. In my case, I have a two person "jockey" seat which is about centred. Generally, I have dive gear in the nose, and the inboard fuel tank is forward as well, so the nose stays down just fine...

I hope this helps!

[jyasaki]

I have what would probably be considered a center console RIB, except that, like Stoo, I tried to design the floorplan for diving.

As such, I pushed the pilot's bench back against the transom. My boat is about 18' or so, with seating for 4. The pilots bench sits 2 (3 if one is my dive buddy's kid, who's 2 and a half), and a seat on the front of the console sits 2 more. Anyone else stands, hanging onto the radar arch, or sits on the tubes.

The boat, overall, *may* be a bit tail-heavy, but for the most part it's unnoticeable. If loaded really heavy, I'll have bodies move forward to help get on plane.

Bottom line is that balance and weighting and such seems to be more of a "what works for you" kind of thing.

jky