Short listing

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Yes, but watersidematt is looking to buy this year... not 2020!

Oh so that's another vote for the SR4.7 then? What with Ribcraft having secured the olympics contract I guess their build times are currently a little longer than usual. Must say though, would seem a little pessimistic to expect them to take eight years to catch up the backlog!

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by watersidemat

Avon 4.7
Ribcraft 4.8
XS 460/500
Humber Assault 4.7

Engines is another thing but thats for another time!

I bought a new RIBcraft 4.8m commercial last year after selling my Zodiac Pro. It had a shallow V hull and I spent more time airborne with heavy landings in anything other than a moderate sea. I was looking for something <18' feet (to garage and tow), hypalon tubes, a decent proven hull and a quality of finish that would be robust enough to withstand general wear and tear over the years.

I initially looked at a Humber Destroyer 5.0m (2.1m width), but revised my search to a RIBcraft 4.8m or a Ribquest 4.8m as I was worried about fitting the damn thing in the garage!

I visited Ribquest and met Dave Rose (in Sheffield) and was impressed with the level of care and attention that goes into his boats. However, such a solid construction ends up making it a little on the heavy side, and a decent sized engine (60-80hp) is required, depending on use, crew, etc. Also, Ribquest are really in the market for a buyer who buys all the bells and whistles.

Onto RIBcraft. After a bit of hassle in the beginning, I've ended up with a boat that I'm delighted with. I'm not one of their typical 'new-boat buyers', as it was a fairly basic build, with no engine rigging, A-frame or electronic gizmos as budget was extremely tight. However I did go for extra wear patches, internal grab handles, pressure release valves, double-jockey console/screen and integral fuel filter connected to 2x (25 litre tanks). Engine choice was a mint Twatsoo 60hp (2-stroke) that will be tweaked to 70hp. At 115kg, it's a great power-to-weight ratio. Other alternatives (if I had the cash) would have been a new Yamaha F60, or the ludicrously priced Yamaha F70, although, it's for the dress-white brigade at Cannes!

Any other info - then let me know.

[Downhilldai]

Apologies if my earlier post sounded a little disparaging towards the Ribcraft 4.8. They are a very well made and capable RIB. They give a comfortable ride, but IMO the Searider 4.7 is more capable in the ruff, due to a deeper vee hull. Much more chance of finding a used Ribcraft though and they have some nice touches, such as a below deck anchor locker, below deck ducting for services, an optional below deck fuel tank and a range of different consoles. The SR4.7 is much more spartan in standard guise and factory options are virtually non-existent.

[Downhilldai]

Deeper vee hull

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Apologies if my earlier post sounded a little disparaging towards the Ribcraft 4.8. They are a very well made and capable RIB. They give a comfortable ride,

Phew! Attack code red has now been downgraded to armed code yellow.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

The SR4.7 is much more spartan in standard guise and factory options are virtually non-existent.

The choice of the RN and Special Forces... not much need for 'factory-options' when you're being strafed on a beach-head somewhere!

[watersidemat]

Whats the difference between the humber's?

Destroyer 5m
Ocean Pro 5m/2m.beam

[montu]

the destroyers have the wider beam over the 2.0 metre beam ocean pros.30cm does not sound a lot but believe me it is!!! My assault had a 2.0m beam and looks and felt tiny in comparison.The destroyer feels a much more seworthy boat and is of course more spacious for fishing(i go piking up loch ken and over wrecks).The ocean pro range has more of racing hull i believe with more chines.(apparantly can be twitch at higher speeds)Would highly recommend a 5m destroyer if my 5.3 would be to large.You will be very impressed with the destroyer range.I could launch and recover mine by myself,although two is ideal.

If you are interested in mine i can easily take you out in it,(then you will buy it,lol!!!)

[watersidemat]

Quite like the looks of the 5m humber but what engine set up would be good for the boat and our needs and how much heavyer/harder to launch is is compared to the 4.7 searider/4.8 ribcraft etc.

Ideally we need to go out and see some boats in the flesh but if we can get 2-3 ribs as definate contenders i think we are away.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by watersidemat

Whats the difference between the humber's?

Destroyer 5m
Ocean Pro 5m/2m.beam

One is a little less shite than the other.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by willk

XS 460/500 - No - um, aren't they made of PU or PVC?

I'm just catching up after some time away... yes XS ribs tubes are made from polyurethane (not PVC). Is that necessarily a problem? I don't think I can recall any XS or Valiant (who also use PU) owner on here grumbling about the quality of the tubes etc, indeed I can recall one or two actually singing the praises of PU.

[willk]

If you want me to put some positive spin on it Polwart, fine:

One is a little less shite than the other ;-)

[montu]

if you go for a 5.0 metre destroyer i would personaly go for a 90 but a 75 would be fine.Would not recommend anything smaller.
Between my assault and destroyer,both boats idealy need 2 people to launch,but like i said earlier could be launched and retrieved single handidly.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by montu

Between my assault and destroyer,both boats idealy need 2 people to launch,but like i said earlier could be launched and retrieved single handidly.

I'm intrigued as to what the 2nd person does in this multi-handed launch? I doubt you mean that someone holds the boat by the slipway while the other person parks the car & trailer, 'cos this would be the case with all boats.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

I'm intrigued as to what the 2nd person does in this multi-handed launch? I doubt you mean that someone holds the boat by the slipway while the other person parks the car & trailer, 'cos this would be the case with all boats.

The 2nd person is obviously there to rip the pi$$ and take pics when it all goes badly wrong.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Mollers

The 2nd person is obviously there to rip the pi$$ and take pics when it all goes badly wrong.

And hop around on the slipway after the trailer runs over his foot.

[montu]

the second person is there for just that as well as keeping the stern of the boat straight so that it can be wound up onto the trailer.Like i've said,i could do it myself easily when its calm but the second person comes in handy if theres a chop.Why,how many people does it take you's to launch?

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by montu

the second person is there for just that as well as keeping the stern of the boat straight so that it can be wound up onto the trailer.Like i've said,i could do it myself easily when its calm but the second person comes in handy if theres a chop.Why,how many people does it take you's to launch?

Ideally two people. Effectively the second person is a go-for or 'gopher', basically to hold your pride and joy away from the barnacle encrusted pier or slipway, while you park-up, take a pi$$ and generally act like a rear-admiral!

[montu]

wouldnt of put it like that but sounds about right!!!

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Mollers

The 2nd person is obviously there to rip the pi$$ and take pics when it all goes badly wrong.

You forget the classic arts of ;

- Sharp intake of breath about 2 seconds before all goes badly wrong
- Comments of 'this will be nasty' and ' I wouldn't do it like that' again 2-3 seconds before things go badly wrong
- Slow head shake/wry smile 2-3 seconds after it has all gone wrong.....

oh and to fall on arse/get 100% wet due to green slime on slip while car is parked etc etc