So what makes some ribs better than others.?

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

If I was looking to buy a 6.5 leisure rib it would be a Vipermax the only thing that would make me have secohd thaoghts is that would make me a member of the Osprey owners club.

You'd be 'black balled', so don't worry.

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Sonar.
re the lamination and gell coat, different layups and the skill of the craftsmen and quality of quality control do make a diffence to the GRP. Whilst gell coat can appear similar, different brands will deteriate more rapidy than others have a lok at new ribs in a boat show with a careful eye on the finish and you'll see a differnce in quality, that isn;t immediately visible. Also lift the hatxhes and inspection plates and see what it's like underneath. I believe every rib should come with a series of digi pics of it's construction which would let you know how well it's ben made

Also what happens under the GRP is important the stiffening and deck supports have to be right or else the boat won't ride right and again in a few years you might have a serious deck off problem to deal with. Also if the laminators are careless or mingy with the deck materials the you might have a duff deck after a while.

I'm not a big fan of Humbers, I don't reckon the factories attention to detail that much it's OK but it's not great and there are far too many people buying bare hulls and fitting them out for sale, which means the manufacturer has little or no control of quality, but you pays your money and you takes your choice. For similar reasons I don't like the Avpn Adventurers much

The boats that I've come across that do seem to stand the test of time (which indicates quality of construction, to me) are Revenger, Scorpion, old ribtec, Ocean, Coatline, Flatacraft, Osprey, Northcraft, Solent/Tohatsu. Avon, Delta, Halmatic and are superb craftI agree with CJl's comments but these boats are mil spec boats and as such are heavy and dearer to run I've owned several of the above makes and was very happy with the construction..

Boats I don't think age well are Tornado's, Falcon's (ribx), Ribeye, Cobra, Gemini, Balistic Prosport
Any owners of these boat wishing to organise a fatwa against me see TimW for details.


If I was looking to buy a 6.5 leisure rib it would be a Vipermax the only thing that would make me have secohd thaoghts is that would make me a member of the Osprey owners club and they are truly a scurvy lot. If the prices were reasonable I'd also give serious thought to a Scorp and in third place it would be a Solent. If it was A 7.5 or over then it woud be a Revenger, Scorp or Ribcraft. I'm far to biased to reccomend a 5.4 or a 4.7 boat

Blimey, colours, mast, nailed!
Personally, I try to manage at least one lime a day

[biffer]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Sonar.
re the lamination and gell coat, different layups and the skill of the craftsmen and quality of quality control do make a diffence to the GRP. Whilst gell coat can appear similar, different brands will deteriate more rapidy than others have a lok at new ribs in a boat show with a careful eye on the finish and you'll see a differnce in quality, that isn;t immediately visible. Also lift the hatxhes and inspection plates and see what it's like underneath. I believe every rib should come with a series of digi pics of it's construction which would let you know how well it's ben made

Also what happens under the GRP is important the stiffening and deck supports have to be right or else the boat won't ride right and again in a few years you might have a serious deck off problem to deal with. Also if the laminators are careless or mingy with the deck materials the you might have a duff deck after a while.

I'm not a big fan of Humbers, I don't reckon the factories attention to detail that much it's OK but it's not great and there are far too many people buying bare hulls and fitting them out for sale, which means the manufacturer has little or no control of quality, but you pays your money and you takes your choice. For similar reasons I don't like the Avpn Adventurers much

The boats that I've come across that do seem to stand the test of time (which indicates quality of construction, to me) are Revenger, Scorpion, old ribtec, Ocean, Coatline, Flatacraft, Osprey, Northcraft, Solent/Tohatsu. Avon, Delta, Halmatic and are superb craftI agree with CJl's comments but these boats are mil spec boats and as such are heavy and dearer to run I've owned several of the above makes and was very happy with the construction..

Boats I don't think age well are Tornado's, Falcon's (ribx), Ribeye, Cobra, Gemini, Balistic Prosport
Any owners of these boat wishing to organise a fatwa against me see TimW for details.


If I was looking to buy a 6.5 leisure rib it would be a Vipermax the only thing that would make me have secohd thaoghts is that would make me a member of the Osprey owners club and they are truly a scurvy lot. If the prices were reasonable I'd also give serious thought to a Scorp and in third place it would be a Solent. If it was A 7.5 or over then it woud be a Revenger, Scorp or Ribcraft. I'm far to biased to reccomend a 5.4 or a 4.7 boat

just about cover's it i would say, see if you can look inside the hull to tell if they've took the time to gell coat the inside and the underside of the deck, thought i'd better explain before i get jumped on again, if they've gell coated it will usually mean that all the wood is covered in matt, some times builders just drop a wood deck down washed over with resin, if you get your hand in a hole gell coat will feel as it does, slippery, resined wood feels like sandpaper, bare matt just feels rough, and again, check the stainless fittings for quality and see if they have nut and bolted where possible, bolts should have a4 on them

[Cookee]

It's simple - build quality - anything else is personal preference!





Forgot to mention - we don't advertise!

[biffer]

Originally Posted by Cookee

It's simple - build quality - anything else is personal preference!





Forgot to mention - we don't advertise!

yes yes!

[Poly]

RW - you've missed a couple off your RIB 'hot or not' assessment: I'm sure Willk's reading and rereading the post trying to work out why he can't find Redbay anywhere on the list. Also not so long ago you were harking after a Shakespeare - has anything changed your view on that?

[biffer]

Originally Posted by Polwart

RW - you've missed a couple off your RIB 'hot or not' assessment: I'm sure Willk's reading and rereading the post trying to work out why he can't find Redbay anywhere on the list. Also not so long ago you were harking after a Shakespeare - has anything changed your view on that?

don't you start this morning, i've only had 3 cuppa's

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by Polwart

RW - you've missed a couple off your RIB 'hot or not' assessment: I'm sure Willk's reading and rereading the post trying to work out why he can't find Redbay anywhere on the list. Also not so long ago you were harking after a Shakespeare - has anything changed your view on that?

As I'm the first to admit I'm not perfect! Yeah Shakeys are great and I think the 7's a great boat and they are very good laminators, the 6.2 is not my favourite loking rib (fromt end)but it will be made well theres a load of people I didn't mention that to me make good boats, the boat that GED has is very good but I forget the make.

I also missed out Cookies and Adam Youngers products which again are excellently built with painstaking attention to detail.

I just wanted to give Sonar some food for thought as in general the thread in my opinion wasn't really giving him answers.

A long time ago I usd to say that I thought Gemini's were good, As the years have gone by I've been less impressed with the Gell coat and now wouldn't recommend them. Any criticisms I've made have been of boats I've encountered or looked after for people. I guess I wouldn't be buying a Ferryman either.

As it happens I don't reckon Redbays much, I've been to the factory and they are made OK. So that's another 25 Ribnet members don't like me. Never going to be any point taking out a trade membership I suspect.

[biffer]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

As I'm the first to admit I'm not perfect! Yeah Shakeys are great and I think the 7's a great boat and they are very good laminators, the 6.2 is not my favourite loking rib (fromt end)but it will be made well theres a load of people I didn't mention that to me make good boats, the boat that GED has is very good but I forget the make.

I also missed out Cookies and Adam Youngers products which again are excellently built with painstaking attention to detail.

I just wanted to give Sonar some food for thought as in general the thread in my opinion wasn't really giving him answers.

A long time ago I usd to say that I thought Gemini's were good, As the years have gone by I've been less impressed with the Gell coat and now wouldn't recommend them. Any criticisms I've made have been of boats I've encountered or looked after for people. I guess I wouldn't be buying a Ferryman either.

As it happens I don't reckon Redbays much, I've been to the factory and they are made OK. So that's another 25 Ribnet members don't like me. Never going to be any point taking out a trade membership I suspect.

you ain't give me no shyte so i still luv ya

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

As I'm the first to admit I'm not perfect! Yeah Shakeys are great and I think the 7's a great boat and they are very good laminators, the 6.2 is not my favourite loking rib (fromt end)but it will be made well theres a load of people I didn't mention that to me make good boats,

thats probably useful for Sonar as I think he is interested in the lower capital investment end of the market and if I read the price right then Shakey's are pretty good value.

the boat that GED has is very good but I forget the make.

that would be an Aircraft (from Liverpool Powerboats?) - have to say I was impressed by them as an observer at last years IoM trip.

As it happens I don't reckon Redbays much, I've been to the factory and they are made OK. So that's another 25 Ribnet members don't like me. Never going to be any point taking out a trade membership I suspect.

So this gets to the crux of Sonar's question. Redbay have a reputation which many must envy, and an incredibly loyal following. I know some people love or loath the aesthetics of the cabins etc - but lets assume we are talking an open redbay so that the fugly factor doesn't come into it. Your not the first person who I have encountered who wasn't inspired by Redbays. I've never heard any suggestion that the construction technique was poor, and they seem to survive rough seas so what is it that means you'd rather spend your money on another similar sized/priced boat?

[willk]

Originally Posted by Polwart

I'm sure Willk's reading and rereading the post trying to work out why he can't find Redbay anywhere on the list.

D'you know, I just this minute saw it (working for a change) and I thought "might just leave that dog sleep"

But seeing as you mention it: I am obviously biased (owning one - year 2000 hull at that) but I'm neither a boat builder nor a dealer and wouldn't have the experience to rate their build quality or longevity. I have heard others say that the build/finish has improved in more recent years, and I think it's fair to say that much. The current 650 is a much better built/finished rib than my 6.5, and the rest of the range bears no comparison to what was being turned out ten years ago.

So in summary, I'm cool with the bould Rouge-Wave's comments.

(just watch yer back/Scratcher )

[Sonar]

[QUOTE=Polwart;338626] thats probably useful for Sonar as I think he is interested in the lower capital investment end of the market and if I read the price right then Shakey's are pretty good value.

Sorry to say I don't have thousands to spend on a rib.Reasons I wont put on the board..
But the above statement is about right. lower capital investment.

Like many many others I guess it will all be about what I can get for the cash.

Home building as i see it is a great idea providing you use a known makers items to do it.

The thought of paying so much what ever it may be for just a hull to start with is o.k.

But if one had the means to make there own hull seems if you wanted a resale it would not be worth the grp it was made with.

I know how much it would cost me to make a hull and have seen a few prices for supplied hulls.

Financially i know what I would do but the selling of a rib with no ce cert and unknown maker deters me. from home build.

Sure i could copy a mould from a known hull but I have better sense than that...

As I have said the only option is either a complete rib or a kit supplied by a known Maker.

Your comments are welcome. I am thick skinned..

[Rogue Wave]

Shakespeare sell hull and consoles

[biffer]

just stopped for tea, mate of mine just offered me a 535 ribtec with 75hp mariner on the back, £4k, not seen it but he said it's clean with jockey console and trailer, you now know as much as me about it

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Shakespeare sell hull and consoles

So do Osprey, and they have even got a convincing console now

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Polwart

RW - you've missed a couple off your RIB 'hot or not' assessment: I'm sure Willk's reading and rereading the post trying to work out why he can't find Redbay anywhere on the list. Also not so long ago you were harking after a Shakespeare - has anything changed your view on that?

Willko is now to RB what Nigel Mansell is Sunseeker.

Bad 'tash and a monotone drawl.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

As it happens I don't reckon Redbays much, I've been to the factory and they are made OK.

OMG!!

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by Ian M

So do Osprey, and they have even got a convincing console now

I'm might be up for one of them

I didn't know that they still did that, I thought they were doing it whilst the franchise for the UK was up for grabs following the demise of Boat and Jetski World before Roy Bishop ? took it over. I know that Proffesional Boat Sales purport to being Osprey Agents and they used to fit them out but I don't think they are anymore.

Regardless of that my main reason for pointing out the Shakespeare to Sonar is they are very reasonably priced and well made

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I'm might be up for one of them

An Osprey, an Osprey console or both?

IMO the Osprey Discovery console is one of the best looking on the market. Although, it gives very little protection.

[Sonar]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I'm might be up for one of them

I didn't know that they still did that, I thought they were doing it whilst the franchise for the UK was up for grabs following the demise of Boat and Jetski World before Roy Bishop ? took it over. I know that Proffesional Boat Sales purport to being Osprey Agents and they used to fit them out but I don't think they are anymore.

Regardless of that my main reason for pointing out the Shakespeare to Sonar is they are very reasonably priced and well made

I saw a hull for sale by Shakespeare on the well known auction site a while back I think it was 1k ? not sure on that it may have been the starting price.

Seems like a good hull to work with and more than big enough for me.