Watercraft 5.12 RIB opinions please

[alandav123]

Hi all, first time poster with some limited boating experience. Interested in getting my first RIB at around 5 meters plus for leisurely coastal crusing, beaching, BBQ's, exploring the coast with my wee ones etc and saw a watercraft 5.12 with a 20hp on it. Looked clean enough to my eyes but I have read that there are some ropey ones up around the north of scotland as many are used commercially and get hammerd.

I am no speed freek and high top speeds do not concern me, slow safe and steady would be fine

Have also read they are heavy which is a problem for hauling out/in etc.

Any general thoughts for and against would be very welcome indeed.

Regards Alan in Arbroath

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by alandav123

Hi all, first time poster with some limited boating experience. Interested in getting my first RIB at around 5 meters plus for leisurely coastal crusing, beaching, BBQ's, exploring the coast with my wee ones etc and saw a watercraft 5.12 with a 20hp on it. Looked clean enough to my eyes but I have read that there are some ropey ones up around the north of scotland as many are used commercially and get hammerd.

I am no speed freek and high top speeds do not concern me, slow safe and steady would be fine

Have also read they are heavy which is a problem for hauling out/in etc.

Any general thoughts for and against would be very welcome indeed.

Regards Alan in Arbroath

Don't know anything about the RIB in question, but you'll struggle to get on the plane with 20hp on a 5m boat. If you're looking for a leisurely pace, and possible trolling speeds, then 4-stroke is the way to go, and around the 50hp mark would be my suggestion. Found this watercraft for sale: http://www.findafishingboat.com/detail.php?aid=26953

[9D280]

Alan,

Welcome to Ribnet!

Like Spartacus, I have never heard of that make, althoguh a quick google search they seem to be more famous for liferafts?

Anyhow, 20Hp on a 5m might be OK if the hull is exceptionally light and isn't too deep a V (at risk of starting the inevitable "discussion"...). I had a 25 on the back of my SR4, and in the dim & distant past spent a couple of days with a half dead set of twin 30s on an SR5.4 (i.e it went , if somewhat lethargically, with a single 30Hp & a dead one alongside)

Best bet is probably to ask for a test run, or if the package price is good & the 20 is in decent condition but you aren't convinced by the top end, you could sell the 20 and use the profits to buy something a little (or a lot, depending on your view on it!) bigger to hang on the transom.

[Pete7]

Tim Wilks, who owned Ribtec worked for Watercraft which existed in the early 80s. I believe the original Ribtec 535 and the Solent 5.4m ribs were based on a small watercraft mould, indeed I think Solent owned the mould when they start manufacturering ribs. Watercraft tended to specialise in commerical boats because there wasn't a recreational rib scene at the time.

Pete

[paul tilley]

Ribtec 535 is the same hull as a watercraft RI5 which i suspect is what you are looking at

[alandav123]

hi all, thanks for your helpful input.

Regards Alan