Shallow water??

Rfc100 · 05 May 2013, 01:29

We are considering a RIB. We live on Lake Saint Clair and the water levels are super low. What is the minimum depth I need for a 15-18 foot RIB inboard and outboard, or is it mostly dependent on the motor itself?

Nos4r2 · 05 May 2013, 02:02

It's mostly dependant on the motor with an outboard. You're unlikely to find a 18' rib with an inboard.

My 5.4m searider will float happily in 2'6" with the motor down, but I wouldn't want to encounter a wake in that depth.

Rfc100 · 05 May 2013, 02:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

It's mostly dependant on the motor with an outboard. You're unlikely to find a 18' rib with an inboard.

My 5.4m searider will float happily in 2'6" with the motor down, but I wouldn't want to encounter a wake in that depth.

Thank you for the reply. I'm totally new to RIBs, and there's a lot to learn. We don't even have that much depth right now, probably 2' max.

Nos4r2 · 05 May 2013, 02:37

I wouldn't even be considering a planing hull in that little water unless it's jet drive!

Rfc100 · 05 May 2013, 02:50

I'll look up jet drive; I don't know what that means, but I'm sure it will cost more...one of the RIBs we are looking at is an Avon Seasport.

Low Flyer · 05 May 2013, 07:42

We have a 5.5m jet RIB. She floats in 12" of water and does 46 knots. Look up Caribe jet RIB. Great fun boat.

Ian_st · 05 May 2013, 08:35

Go careful with jet drives in shallow water. It pulls water from underneath page boat, and if vey shallow pulls up stones etc. learnt this when I destroyed the impeller on a seadoo sportster.

Most jetskis which use the same principle suggest that the min depth is 1m to prevent this. They all float in shallow water but there can be issues

landlord · 05 May 2013, 08:40

Where on Lake St Claire do you live ?

I lived on the water near Tecumseh for a while and ran a twin outboard RIB from Lake Shore. There's usually more than 2' of water once your away from the shore line. Have you had some very dry summers over the last couple of years or has the ice further north not melted yet.

Al Baker · 05 May 2013, 09:03

If its shallow there then a jet boat is the most sensible option. Can recommend these:

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...GSR8-UPPrHRn6A

Or better still an airboat. Then you can head out in ice conditions in any depth. Neither have a rubber ring round the gunwale but then that's one thing less to fix right?

GJ0KYZ · 05 May 2013, 09:37

I'm a great advocate of shallow water cruising; I've done a fair bit myself. If you can see the bottom it's not too much of a bother but if you're in a muddy river or an estuary then it's a different thing altogether. You can feel very exposed in shallow water when you have no idea where the bottom is, believe me. As for engines, jet drives are better but expensive. Have you considered a couple of second hand jet skis? I bought a jet ski last year and now hardly use my rib at all. Here's a video of one of my trips that went wrong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsota2oD57E]