Size of the UK RIB Market

[brucehawsker]

{Trying again - last thread went in one rather focussed direction......}

1 .How big is the UK market for recreational RIBs?

i.e. How many non commercial (ie exclude lifeboats, oil industry, police, military, other industrial, training schools, salinig schools etc) ribs are sold each year?

2. How is that non commercial market broken down?

2. (a) By size? Are 6.5M the most popular? Or is that urban myth?

2. (b) By manufacturers? Who are the big boys in the non-commercial markets?

3. Is the annual new market expanding?

4. Who is increasing market their market share?

[John Kennett]

I'm not sure that the information has ever been collected in a meaningful form. You could try the British Marine Federation and see if they have any figures, or perhaps you could commission a market survey!

It would certainly be interesting to know the answers.

John

[brucehawsker]

very limited data from BMF. Lots of RIBbers do not do SSR or CG66. Manufactuters do not tend to submit timely (any!) returns

[Rogue Wave]

In theory Rib Internationl should have an idea odf the size of the market!

[jace]

Brucehawsker

Good questions, if you find the answers do let me know.
What you have to remember is that the majority of the UK marine industry (excepting the super yacht builders) are small concerns in the grand scheme of things. To put it in perspective, I was chatting to a rep for a well known outboard manufacturer who also make cars and sponsor boat shows, hard one to guess I know! The complete marine sales for the UK turn over less than a single car dealership, gives you some idea of scale of things.

J

[codprawn]

That has probably got a hell of a lot to do with our weather!!! The Med, Florida and the Carribean are not boating hotspots for nothing!!!

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by jace

............The complete marine sales for the UK turn over less than a single car dealership, gives you some idea of scale of things.....

This only shows that the company you are speaking of has poor market share it doesn't show that the market is small.

The total revenues for the UK boating industry, including the value of exports, was £1,838 million for 2003 (source: BMF 2004 data)

When i asked about the size of the UK market in 2003 the BMF said:-

Number of rigid inflatable boats (over 2.5m and 20kg) produced in UK, 2003
2.5-7.5m_________7.5-12m
5,800______________200

Which really isn't helpful having said that it is remarkable how few +7,5m boat were made.

Des

[jace]

Originally Posted by Scary Des

This only shows that the company you are speaking of has poor market share it doesn't show that the market is small.

True, unless they have really busy car dealerships

I suppose what I’m getting at is there are a few small companies building Rib’s and even more people selling them.
To get a true reading of who does what and where must be nearly impossible in a relatively small market. The official figures are also voluntary submitted by BMF members.

[Orange Beeny]

Originally Posted by jace

To get a true reading of who does what and where must be nearly impossible in a relatively small market. The official figures are also voluntary submitted by BMF members.

go on then jace - start the ball rollin - how much are you makin???

[brucehawsker]

OK. Here is an inspired guess, plus working as I was taught to do at school.

There are 18 names advertising ribs for sale in latest RIB international:

I guess the following for each - non commercial sales - in the past 12 months - in the 5m-8m bracket in the UK:

Humber 50
Mako 20
Scanner 5
Rayglass 5
Revenger 20
Ribeye 20
Delta 10
Coastline 10
Scorpion 20
Pascoe 20
Ribcraft 40
Osprey 15
Redbay 15
Rib-X 20
Solent 20
Picton 10
Parker 20
Ribquest 20

Others - XS 20
Zodiac / Bombardier 20

Say 400 in total.

OK. so tell me I am wrong????

[Pete7]

Avon ?

Pete

[brucehawsker]

avon - 40? still around the 400 - 450 mark in total?

[Pete7]

I think you might find Avon produce rather more than that, however grand total for the UK probably less than 1000.

What are you going to do with this information ?

Pete

[brucehawsker]

Well.... it is partly curiosity. But, I have been thinking.... if I could find a commercial partner who could cope with producing a large number of very similar (few choices) boats to highly reproducable standards, I think I could get the marketing advertorial in mags such as T3 or even potentially sales through Telegraph........

Any interest?

[simmons0]

I belive Humber were producing about 10 boats a week when i was trying to buy.

Dont quote me on that, it was a long time ago but im sure thats what andy said.

[brucehawsker]

This is excluding commercial sales - remember.... This is to individual end users for pleasure....

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Any interest?

Err no, think the market is rather crowded, personal opinion but I would rather invest the money in something like Rogue waves enterprise given the cost of south coast moorings and the level of service MDL manage to offer.

pete

[crazydonkey]

didn't know ya were bildin RIBs wi Rogue Wave!

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by crazydonkey

didn't know ya were bildin RIBs wi Rogue Wave!

Who told you that why do you think that engine has been in and out of billy so many times

[crazydonkey]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Who told you that

you just did - bruce asked for interest from a commerkial partner who could build lotsa RIBs, an you turned him down...

Originally Posted by Pete7

why do you think that engine has been in and out of billy so many times

cos he should have obbviosly boug=ht a Kad300 but stu lacks eckspeerience of fast planing craft so we have to forgiv him - he just pootles round the Solent,with things That need fixing off every boat I have seen.