Thinking of buying at Rib

[alimacprc@yahoo]

Hello Ribbers. I am now looking to purchase a rib and am looking for a bit of independent advice please having been rather bamboozled by lots of sales blurb. I have tested a Ballistic 5.5m and a Ribcraft has been suggested as an alternative. I have also looked at Valiant Ribs. The intention is to position this rib at Blakney on the North Norfolk coast, to udertake some inshore passages, a bit of fishing and water skiing. Aim to use when no wind or too windy for sailing. Reliability will be important factor.

Anybody got experience of Ballistic?

[Andy Moore]

Personally, I would steer clear of Valiant. There are better options.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

Personally, I would steer clear of Valiant. There are better options.

Personally I wouldn't rule them out as quickly as that based one persons viewpoint - expecially without some detail... each manufacturer and hull has its pro's and con's so the forum would need to understand more about your interest... where are your priorities:

Speed, rough water handling, cruising distance, number of people (and possibly ages/genders), ride comfort, price, build quality, resale value/depreciation, style, size (storage?), second hand/new, seating layout, etc...

[Andy Moore]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Personally I wouldn't rule them out as quickly as that based one persons viewpoint - expecially without some detail... each manufacturer and hull has its pro's and con's so the forum would need to understand more about your interest... where are your priorities:

Speed, rough water handling, cruising distance, number of people (and possibly ages/genders), ride comfort, price, build quality, resale value/depreciation, style, size (storage?), second hand/new, seating layout, etc...

I was under the impression they are not hyperlon.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

I was under the impression they are not hyperlon.

that is correct they are polyurethane. PU is not to be confused with PVC however.

I believe PU is actually stronger and more abraision resistant than Hypalon - although not as easy to work with - especially in low volume manufacture. It really needs to be thermowelded to be properly built.

Valiant won't produce you tubes in a wide range of colours or with fittings to your spec etc - but they do produce a pretty large number of boats. PU is not so easy to repair though.

if you want a mass produced boat then they shouldn't be discounted just because they don't use the same tube materials as the bespoke manufacturers.