Which 6.5m? New or Secondhand? Where to find one? - Page 2

Nick Hearne · 24 May 2004, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmons0

If you were to have the merc 1.7tdi it is a lot simpler than runnign a petrol outboard. You jump in the boat and you turn the key. There is no pumping fuel, opening air vents, revs, choke etc, you just turn the key.

As for the trailers i went twin axle for safty reasons and im pleased with it. Its quite a bit smoother on the road and not too difficult to manouver by hand. I have to push it into a narrow driveway each time and i just lift the jockey wheel as high as it will go and then it only rides on the back 2 wheels and is much easier to turn.

yep that makes sense!
Nick

brucehawsker · 24 May 2004, 17:28

This is looking very positive.

Is the diesel going to be powerful enough to scare the hell out of me? Is 140 the right engine for this rib?

Thans ever so, especailly for advice on trailer and comments on diesel

timw · 24 May 2004, 18:02

I think you should add Ribeye to your list of boats to view.

I went through similar research as you last year, and I had a similar list of various Ribs as you.

Simply put, I'm very happy with my boat in every way and as a result feel I should recommend Ribeyes to you.

I keep it in central London regularly at Chelsea Harbour, and would be happy to show it to you should you be in the area. Otherwise their are a few dealers along the South Coast

chrisallse · 24 May 2004, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmons0

If you were to have the merc 1.7tdi it is a lot simpler than runnign a petrol outboard. You jump in the boat and you turn the key. There is no pumping fuel, opening air vents, revs, choke etc, you just turn the key.

I dont know what sort of outbourds you are used to but all i do wiith my Mariner 4 stroke is turn the key........

simmons0 · 24 May 2004, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmons0

If you were to have the merc 1.7tdi it is a lot simpler than runnign a petrol outboard. You jump in the boat and you turn the key. There is no pumping fuel, opening air vents, revs, choke etc, you just turn the key.

I dont know what sort of outbourds you are used to but all i do wiith my Mariner 4 stroke is turn the key........

Well i owned a 60hp yamaha 2 stroke and had to do all of the above before starting.

Richard B · 24 May 2004, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Is the diesel going to be powerful enough to scare the hell out of me?

Do you scare easily?

I would suspect that the answer will be... yes, initially... until you get used to it. Then you'll want about 140-150hp on a 6.5...

When can you next get out for a day on the water? I'm sure I can find some time to test your limit of "scare factor". If I can't find it, I pass you to Daniel. If he can't find it, he can pass you to Rogue Wave. If he can't find it, you're a nutter. Cookee may be able to assist, but after Cookee, only Alan Priddy or Jan Falkowski can deal with the totally insane!

But seriously though, you really do need to do some test drives. That's the only way you'll get a feel for what you want.

BTW modern 2-strokes (Optimax, HPDI and E-Tec) are a bit different from old technology carburetted 2-strokes. Electric fuel priming, automatic electronic fuel metering so no need for choke and no smoke on start-up.

Tim, was your Ribeye UK built or South Africa built?

(Chrisallse - thanks for not burning my house down whilst I was away for the weekend!)

jwalker · 24 May 2004, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Is 140 the right engine for this rib?

I think you'll find the 1.7 is 120hp at flywheel, 112 at prop. For info; outboards are rated at the prop.

If you want proper fun, you need more power. 150 is ok. If it's a good hull 200 is better. Petrol costs a lot of money though.

Modern outboards are pretty well turnkey. You may have to squeeze the fuel bulb a couple of times first. Not really a problem, is it?

4 wheels travel better. They're kinda a vehicle in their own right. Difficult to manoeuvre by hand (the tyres drag when turning).

Your car will pull that rig but it will be working very hard.

sea bass · 24 May 2004, 20:58

anybody will be around at the cowes ribshow on friday the fourth
thanks
ps richard b i have drop you a private message

brucehawsker · 24 May 2004, 21:06

I note nobody seems excited about the proffered Narwhal:

We have one Narwhal 5.8 Metre Rib + Engine + Trailer package available a special price - spec:

1 x Mariner 75hp 2 Stroke ELPTO Outboard
Blue Tubes/ White Hull
Double jockey console
Snipe Trailer.

Price: £10,995 inc.

Richard B · 24 May 2004, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

I note nobody seems excited about the proffered Narwhal:

We have one Narwhal 5.8 Metre Rib + Engine + Trailer package available a special price - spec:

1 x Mariner 75hp 2 Stroke ELPTO Outboard
Blue Tubes/ White Hull
Double jockey console
Snipe Trailer.

Price: £10,995 inc.

Engine way too small for a 5.8m RIB to be at all exciting. And a Mariner 75 will be an old style carburetted 2-stroke. As for Narwhal RIBs, well.... a friend of mine once had one, and I'll tell you privately what he said about it so I don't upset anyone. Anyway, he sold it to a chap who was so happy to buy it that when he came to collect it he was crying. Emotional stuff this! (DanielTD5 has a very smart looking 4.5 - oh no he hasn't it's a Valiant. Some other people on the Forum have Narwhals and haven't had many probs as I remember)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sea bass

ps richard b i have drop you a private message

Hi Arnaud... will reply v soon!

Alan · 24 May 2004, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

I note nobody seems excited about the proffered Narwhal:

We have one Narwhal 5.8 Metre Rib + Engine + Trailer package available a special price - spec:

1 x Mariner 75hp 2 Stroke ELPTO Outboard
Blue Tubes/ White Hull
Double jockey console
Snipe Trailer.

Price: £10,995 inc.

Thats cos they're not very exciting

(Dons tin hat) I think you can spend your money on something else. Mebbe the thing for you to do is to spend 10-14k on an older 6mish RIB, see whether you like it and after a year spend the 20-24large on something a bit nicer. That way you are not committing so much upfront.

tim griffin · 24 May 2004, 21:26

Hi Bruce
the only way you are going to find your ideal rib, as Richard b states is to try as many as possible,you are having two try outs on the 26th so that is going to convince you if either of those two ribs will suit your needs, Richard has offered to take you out on his Scorpion , so thats 3 you will have tried
and i am sure many others in the Solent will offer you goes on their ribs,
re the towing issue sell your car and get a nice 4x4.
every salesman is gonna give you our boats are best routine so try try try
before you buy buy buy
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

brucehawsker · 24 May 2004, 21:45

like the idea of finding an older 6m ish at the 10-14k mark- but therein lies the problem - I can't find anything which is halfway appropriate..... ideas, friends?

timw · 24 May 2004, 22:15

Richard B,

Answer to you question is that I beleive the hull was built in Cape Town, but the Rib was assembled and rigged etc in UK.

Hull absolutley top quality (even the hidden bits) - don't understand the fuss about S African hulls - Easily equals quality of my previous hard boats (Searays)

It's had plenty of use in variety of conditions and still as good as new...nothings fallen off - If I'd had problems would have said so. (However did hear that Ribeye had problems with their first half dozen or so hulls from SA, but since then all good)

Richard B · 24 May 2004, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw

Hull absolutley top quality (even the hidden bits)

Good stuff... I heard the stories about the early ones form "a source". Ribeyes continue to feature in Yamaha's marketing too.

Pete7 · 25 May 2004, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmons0

If you were to have the merc 1.7tdi it is a lot simpler than runnign a petrol outboard. You jump in the boat and you turn the key. There is no pumping fuel, opening air vents, revs, choke etc, you just turn the key.

We saw Daves 6m Solent with the Mercuriser 1.7 TD on the Littlehampton cruise on Sunday. Very impressive, and I believe it has a top speed that is going to upset a few of the faster ribs. It certainly didn't hang about and at 2gph of red diesel its going to encourage lots of fun rather than worry about the running costs.

Pete

brucehawsker · 25 May 2004, 17:24

Question 1.
========

Trying to get a degree of closure here. Is it the view that the

Raider 650 Diesel Rib

Our 6.5 metre demonstrator boat is now available for sale - spec:

Blue tubes / White Hull
1 x Mercruiser 1.7lt / 140bhp Direct injection Diesel Engine
Cruiser Console
2 x Single Pod Seats
20 Gallon Stainless Steel under deck fuel tank.
Stainless Steel A Frame
Snipe twin axle braked trailer
Only 40/50 hours.

is going to be powerful enough, fast enough for normal use. I went out in the Solent on dead flat calm with a Scorpion 6.5 with 90HP outboard and it claimed to be doing 32-25 knots (no idea how accurate that was), and that was very pleasant indeed.

Is the above rib likely to disappoint?

Question 2:
========

Spoke to another expert today who felt that Solent were new on the block, built to budget, Fords of the Ocean. Was quite negative.

He fancied Parkers instead.

He also has a 3 year old Coastline 6M with 20 hour 2003 Suzuki 115hp with new trailer at about 19K.

Any thoughts on these contributions to the debate?

Thanks

Bruce

John Kennett · 25 May 2004, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Raider 650 Diesel Rib

Our 6.5 metre demonstrator boat is now available for sale - spec:

Blue tubes / White Hull
1 x Mercruiser 1.7lt / 140bhp Direct injection Diesel Engine
Cruiser Console
2 x Single Pod Seats
20 Gallon Stainless Steel under deck fuel tank.
Stainless Steel A Frame
Snipe twin axle braked trailer
Only 40/50 hours.

is going to be powerful enough, fast enough for normal use.

This will be at the lower end of the power range for this boat (it's not 140hp, it's 120) but will most likely be a very competent crusing boat. It won't be the fastest RIB around, but it will get you places very economically.

Quote:

Spoke to another expert today who felt that Solent were new on the block, built to budget, Fords of the Ocean. Was quite negative.

He fancied Parkers instead.

Solent RIBs may be budget RIBs, but from what I have seen of them they are well made. It's a new brand but the people behind it have been around for a long time. You could apply exactly the same comments to Parker RIBs too!

Quote:

He also has a 3 year old Coastline 6M with 20 hour 2003 Suzuki 115hp with new trailer at about 19K.

Sounds a bit expensive, but would do the job for you. Might be worth a haggle.

John

brucehawsker · 25 May 2004, 21:56

Thanks for all the help on this. While feeling confused, I have learned a lot so far. Tomorrow I go off to see Rib-X at Lymington, and the Raider 650 Diesel at Christchurch. Also am intrigued by a Parker, and a Coastline.

Will write more on Thursday (when I will be even more confused).

I could write a book about this saga!!

Cheers

Bruce

simmons0 · 25 May 2004, 22:18

Quote:

Spoke to another expert today who felt that Solent were new on the block, built to budget, Fords of the Ocean. Was quite negative.

Lee fairweather has been building ribs for years, before solent he was building a lot of the tohatsu's so they are not new to the idea of ribs.

Tohatsu 1 design's are built to a budget, Solent's are built to the customer. Check out the last rib they built before mine in the pic below. Luxary 7.5m with 225 opti, fresh water tanks, shower, shore power, deck lighting, 6 cd changer.