Suggestions for small ribs

[blootac]

I currently have two SIB's, one 3.1 and a 3.8 which lives on a trailer.
If it lives on a trailer I might as well have a 4m rib and have the comfort that it brings.

This leads me on to the hard bit... What manufacturers should I be considering in the 4m range.

Obviously there is the SR4 which everyone raves about. Hopefully I'm going to get a chance to go out in one and see for myself why people rate them so highly. But what about the other options?

I'd be looking to put a new (or nearly new, still under warranty) 40-50hp engine on whatever I get.

Suitable for 2 people, used for just general bombing around really.

Looking to spend around the 5-6k mark, which if I'm spending 4.2k on a new Mariner 40, leaves me between 0.8 and 1.8k for the hull + trailer. Is this going to be sufficient? or do I need to revisit my budget?

I'm not in any hurry and realistically it'll be a year before I've got all the money, but I like to research things thoroughly before buying.

Hope that's enough information for some suggestions!

Thanks

[jeffstevens763@g]

blootac

have a look at humber they have some good deals last time i looked on boats and outboards, look at what you like give them a ring and they will get one out for you to look at not far from you in hull.

cheers

[blootac]

Thanks Jeff

[Nick Hearne]

Hi For that budget you should get a very nice Sr4 if you relay want the nearly new engine I would think you are better buying a good setup rig and sell on the engine and replace with your new one!
But if it was me I would just be looking at a well maintained one with a late year engine for your budget

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by blootac

I currently have two SIB's, one 3.1 and a 3.8 which lives on a trailer.
If it lives on a trailer I might as well have a 4m rib and have the comfort that it brings.

This leads me on to the hard bit... What manufacturers should I be considering in the 4m range.

Obviously there is the SR4 which everyone raves about. Hopefully I'm going to get a chance to go out in one and see for myself why people rate them so highly. But what about the other options?

I'd be looking to put a new (or nearly new, still under warranty) 40-50hp engine on whatever I get.

Suitable for 2 people, used for just general bombing around really.

Looking to spend around the 5-6k mark, which if I'm spending 4.2k on a new Mariner 40, leaves me between 0.8 and 1.8k for the hull + trailer. Is this going to be sufficient? or do I need to revisit my budget?

I'm not in any hurry and realistically it'll be a year before I've got all the money, but I like to research things thoroughly before buying.

Hope that's enough information for some suggestions!

Thanks

If you can stretch size wise, the Ribcraft 4.8 is a capable little boat, if you can find one.

[Trefor]

Hi
Just put my Avon SR4 Deluxe in the classifieds it has a great 2006 Tohatsu 40hp take look

[Tim in Yorkshire]

I really like my SR4 with a 50hp two stroke on the back, PTT makes for handy adjustments too. An ace boat we use for blatting up and down the coast as well as fishing and lobster potting from. Mine has a sealed hull (the official Avon kit!) which is probably handy given that it's left on a mooring over the summer, and given that the 3 cylinder would have the stern a bit low at rest for fishing otherwise. It's fun to get air bourne when the swell picks up. I find it a doddle to get it on and off the trailer when launching/recovering too, tows ace too

The previous owner used it to waterski, currently I'm getting my girlfriend up to helm standard so we can use it for some tame wakeboarding.

[blootac]

Thanks pikey dave.

That looks like an amazingly clean engine Trefor! Unfortunately I'm not quite ready to buy but I'm sure someone will take it off your hands pretty quick!

Cheers Tim.
What is it about the seariders that seems to set them apart from everything else? They are all pretty old hulls by now and yet everyone seems to love them. Are they no new hull designs that offer similar experience?

[Searider]

I was once told that the same designer who designed the Seariders had a hand in the early Ribcrafts. I don't know if this is true or not though!

Certainly the Ribcraft 545 hull looks like a wider version of a Searider 5.4m

[Tim in Yorkshire]

Originally Posted by blootac

Cheers Tim.
What is it about the seariders that seems to set them apart from everything else? They are all pretty old hulls by now and yet everyone seems to love them. Are they no new hull designs that offer similar experience?

Mine was bought new in '97 by the previous owner and acquired by me last year, as a one owner boat it was in very tidy condition, kept in a garage, one 2cm patch and just the very odd minor gel coat chip. I think they are robustly constructed and have quite a deep v for a small rib, hence their popularity as they can last well with the proper care and attention. When mine is cleaned up it doesn't look almost 20 years old and I have no issue leaving it on its mooring wrt tubes/valves leaking. Plus it was great value for a tidy rib, engine and trailer, I didn't want to spend too much on my first rib as I wasn't sure how much it would get used.

In time we want to upgrade to something a little bigger at 5m + for longer passages plus taking guests, we've had 4 people fishing from the SR4 but it's a bit of a challenge and needs some synchronisation when moving about the boat! However my 1860s property is swallowing up more money than boats at the moment by factors of ten or more...the SR4 is great for now

[blootac]

Originally Posted by Tim in Yorkshire

However my 1860s property is swallowing up more money than boats at the moment by factors of ten or more...

Phew! I'm glad someone's found something more expensive than boating!

Luckily It's just me and the Mrs at the moment so I don't have the problem of many people trying to move around!

[two stroke mick]

Do not discount the Valiant DR490. If you can get one with the console pushed well forward they are not a bad wee boat.

[blootac]

Thanks mick.
So I've got the
SR4,
Humber variants,
Valiant DR490
ribcraft 4.8.

What do people think of XS? the XS460 in particular? No idea of pricing, but I've at least been out in a 650 at last years boat show...

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

If you can stretch size wise, the Ribcraft 4.8 is a capable little boat, if you can find one.

Sure is!...
A well built sub 5m Rib that comes with a Bilge and option of inbuilt fuel tank (allthough not unique)is pretty much a rarity too
There is a DVD of some doing the round Britain a few years back if you need to see what they can do.
You're main problem would getting a good example without selling a Body part!
Matt h was looking for 2yrs before getting his little Belter recently.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by blootac

Thanks mick.
So I've got the
SR4,
Humber variants,
Valiant DR490
ribcraft 4.8.

What do people think of XS? the XS460 in particular? No idea of pricing, but I've at least been out in a 650 at last years boat show...

I'd recommend you Get down to the Boat show and give em a trial!

[jeffstevens763@g]

had a good look at xs good boats barnet marine supply them prices on there i think there's a construction video on the site if not on YouTube

[blootac]

Originally Posted by Maximus

I'd recommend you Get down to the Boat show and give em a trial!

I know, I can't make it this year though

[two stroke mick]

I am of the opinion that some of the ribs that are on the market at present are poorly balanced. I believe them to be too stern heavy. That is why I qualified my comments about the DR 490. When I first got my rib the console was too far back which meant it was a pig in a head sea (unless a lot of weight was added to the bow locker). I have since re-built this boat with a new humber style console with 53 lt of under console fuel tank. The weight been closer to the bow has transformed the boat.

TSM

[Poly]

As it is almost a ribnet tradition to promote your own particular brand above all else I feel duty bound to suggest looking at a rotomolded rigid buoyant boat rather than just ribs. There are pros and cons...

[blootac]

Thanks Poly.
Are they not rather expensive?
I assume they're rather uncomfortable to sit on the solid tubes?
How do they compare weight-wise?