Small lightweight RIB?

[stray]

Eurovision's on, so;


Last year I started off with a Zodiac 340 Fastroller, this year I've upgraded to a Bombard 380 Aerotec which is an improvement on the ride in the short period wind chop (see photo) we usually get up on the North East coast. Both have been powered by my 15hp 2 stroke short shaft Mercury, which shifted both boats along fast enough for me.
Next year I'm thinking of upgrading again, to a small RIB.





The main criteria I'm looking at are:

It's between 3.4 and 4m (that's the biggest I can get in the garage)

It's light enough for me to drag it along on launch wheels, (the beach isn't far, the Bombard weighs 43kg so up-to 50kg shouldn't kill me).

It'll be tiller steered, preferably using my 15hp Mercury.

The questions are; does such a boat exist? and will it perform better than the Bombard?

[Max...]

There are other boats like the small Avon leisure RIBs or folding transom models but Seariders they are not and you're struggle with weight issues You like me (and we have near identical boat history) and many others on here come to the same conclusion, the 380 Bombard or a 340 airfloor together with a 9.8 or 15 2 smoke are the ultimate blend and compromise of all round easy carry, quick launch economy boating. Go bigger with SIB and engine and you then need a trailer and slipway etc. And when you get to that stage you may as well get a SR4 with a 30 or 40 on the back and laugh at all us SIBbers bouncing about in anything bigger than 12" of wave!

I've been there with a Searider 4.7 but SIBs are very convenient. Conclusion is stay SIB small or go SR4.

And I'm watching Eurovision, forget the bearded lady - the
Poles get my vote...

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Max...

And I'm watching Eurovision, forget the bearded lady - the
Poles get my vote...

It's the one that's getting jiggy with the butter churn isn't it. Filth, pure filth

[Max...]

Sex never fails to sell!

[sailit]

I have a 380 rib.it is open with a tiller steer 9.9 and went pretty good. it has a OK v in the hull. I found it was a lot better than any small sib I was in. I have upgraded to a bigger rib now.

http://youtu.be/sGdac00zldg video of it running with the 9.9hp

[Barrowboy]

Originally Posted by Max...

the Poles get my vote...

Funny that. I'm cooped up with 100+ 'airy *rse blokes on a ship in the North Sea and apparently there's no contest?

The lads are even asking me if we can port call at Gdansk on our way home....

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Max...

Sex never fails to sell!

As our local motor factor mogul always says 'tits sell bits'.

[Landlockedpirate]

I have been looking for exactly that boat for a few months now. They do exist but very few used ones around.

I did find a new one at the end of last year that the nameless dealer in a Manchester church was selling, but after half a day opening boxes in a warehouse they concluded they didnt actually have the boat

The only used option that I have found is either the Avon 340 or the Plastimo 350. After looking at both I felt they were a little too flat in the hull department and would not be much of an improvement over the Bombard.

There are also a couple of new options, my favourite is the Highfield 380, its around 70kg and takes a short shaft 25hp. They do a slightly lighter 360 as well.
CL 380 - Highfield UK

But if weight is really important they do an ultralight 340 at less than 50kg, but it only takes a 15hp
UL 340 - Highfield UK

Excel also do a nice 360,but its a real heavy weight at over 100kg.
RIBs Excel Voyager SR360 RIB. Excel Rigid Inflatable Boats. Quality Inflatable Boats Online

Of the folding transom ribs, the only one I would consider would be the Walker Bay 340. I have owned the Zodiac/Bombard/Avon 310 folding rib but it had a virtually flat hull (to fit neatly into the bag) and slamed in even small chop-clever tender though.

There is a couple of deep V options in this size range, but without exception they are all much heavier and take a long shaft outboard.

[Locozodiac]

Originally Posted by stray

The questions are; does such a boat exist? and will it perform better than the Bombard?

A same size rib will perform much better than any sib at all water conditions including that Bombard, down issue is that will probaby weight at least 50% more, will need a trailer to transport and launch from a beach. A 15 will br good to powered it, just lightly loaded though.

Check : HOME, they have the Highfield alum models, less weight than traditional fiberglass ribs.

Happy Boating

[beamishken]

We just bought a ribeye aluminum hulled rib as a tender which is actually quite a bit lighter than the same size airdeck tender it is replacing
Might be worth a look

[stray]

Thanks for all the replies, especially Landlockedpirates, it was the Highfield boats that got me wondering about small lightweight RIBs.

PS. If that was the winner, the UKs entrant into Eurovision must have been truly bad.

[Exe treme]

Hi Stray.

Here's a pic of the Highfield 360 Classic on the water.

[John Kennett]

The lightweight ali RIBs that Ribeye sell look good. Deep V, no frills, not too heavy.

If someone came up with one with slide off tubes that would be even better as they'd be easier to move around ashore and simpler to store.