Which 6.5m? New or Secondhand? Where to find one?

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by simmons0

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

I could be wrong but Porter builds / built the Tohatsu's

[simmons0]

yes i should probably edit my post to say "a lot of Tohatsu's" instead of "all".

[tim griffin]

Hi Bruce
best not to judge a boat until you have seen it or better still driven it.
their are alot of people on here who have an interest in selling ribs but they
hide behind their rib net name , i also have an interest in selling ribs but
try before you buy , then make a informed decision, i try not to diss other boats but it does happen from time to time, all i will say about Solent Ribs
is they are not new to the game customer satisfaction is high on their list
have a look at all boats mentioned then make up your mind if you speak to any salesman he is gonna tell you what you want to hear.

definition of an expert x marks the spot and spurt = drip under pressure.

allways keep an open mind, try out as many boats as possible, then go for it.
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Richard I for one do not dunk my trailer as it is a rolercoaster type which Even on a very shallow slip all I kneed to dunk is the wheel's up to the hub so keeping the bearing dry!
As fare as I know this is the hole point of them, if you want to dunk a trailer why not just get a Bunker type!
Regards
Nick

Nick come and show me how to do that in Saxon Wharf and the beers are on me.

[Nick Hearne]

R W
Well as I have not used Saxon Wharf I can not comment but I use the hard at the Hamble with no problem & that is very shallow gradient!
One point is that my Osprey has a plaining pad at the transom so it is quite flat & shallow at the stern!
Hope to be there on Sunday or Monday.
Regards
Nick
P.s. the boat dose not look like this now!

[Rogue Wave]

Ahh ok Hamble hard is a fairly steep slipway IMHO and yes you could just stick the rear end in. I don't think your method would work on a truly very shallow slipway.

[Nick Hearne]

OK to give me an idea of it's angle how long is it when the tide is out? Is this the slip at Saxon Wharf looks steep to me!
Nick

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by tim griffin

Hi Bruce
best not to judge a boat until you have seen it or better still driven it.
their are alot of people on here who have an interest in selling ribs ... ...allways keep an open mind

I agree fully with Tim but even then take care. Look at the structure of the build if you can. Say to yourself, "What if...?" For example, there are pictures on the forum of boats about which their owners are very enthusiastic and the boats look nice and tidy but, say one of them stuffed ( a distinct possibility ), where would the 4 tons of water go? Out over the side, over the stern, into the console or into the engine. If you judge a negative, then ask youself, "What else did the builder not take into consideration?"

Only when you're happy, part with the cash. There will still be things you didn't appreciate, but you will when you buy your next one.

[brucehawsker]

For those of you waiting with baited breath for my conclusions so far:-

I have seen three ribs -

* Rib-X at Lymington - a little more than I had hoped for properly configured, 6.4M. Looks very clean, if a bit Zodiac / Florida / Pleasure Boat feel. Seems well put together. Knowledgable operation. Very prompt non nonsense quotation. Suggested Suzuki DF140TL, 2x2 Jockey, 91L fuel, and a GPS 178C.

But not a very deep V hull. So probably not the best cruising solution?

* Ribcraft 6.5 (finished at Christchurch) diesel 1.7 Mercruiser - their demo boat. Very tidy, looks solid. Clearly sensible and safe. So that one does not win!!! Seriously, I think the power will disappoint on those dead calm days in the Solent when I am out hopefully with other Ribs. Not expensive.

* Solent (Fareham). 150hp 2 stroke. 6.5M. Looks the part. Much more obviously sportif than the Ribcraft (but I saw one in the water and one on the land so not a fair comparison. Very nicely put together. Excellent demo in some chop just outside portsmouth harbour. Enough to thrill, but with a surprisingly comfortable ride. Seems forgiving and really secure and safe. Totally dry, even after some genuinely scarey thumps (but I am a newbie and the demonstator was very skilled). 45mph down the river (according to engine elecronics). Don't mored boats come up quickly when you are going like the bat out of hell! Could not be unsettled even with some very tight turns and figure 8s. Probably a little over budget, but bnot as much as the Rib-X. Huge number of options and flexibility which makes it a bit over-powering for an ignorant newbie. I wonder if they had ever sold to rib to someone as ignorant as I am??

A copule of questions:

- for a new build, which colour scheme is most practical and gives the best second hand value?
- is a Solent going to be easily saleable in 2 years if we needed to sell? Or is for example a Ribcraft much the more saleable option?

Thanks to a member of this forum (who had better remain anonymous unless they want to reveal themselves) who held my hand all day and who answered my myriad of questions with wonderful patience.

Any reactions from anybody to the above would be much appreciated. Clearly I am far from decided......... but this is fun!

Bruce

[Andre]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

For those of you waiting with baited breath for my conclusions so far:-

I have seen three ribs -



* Ribcraft 6.5 (finished at Christchurch) diesel 1.7 Mercruiser - their demo boat. Very tidy, looks solid. Clearly sensible and safe. So that one does not win!!! Seriously, I think the power will disappoint on those dead calm days in the Solent when I am out hopefully with other Ribs. Not expensive.

Bruce

Bruce

Nothing wrong with a Ribcraft a very fine rib indeed. But my input here is not the rib but the engine. The Mercruiser 1.7 L TDI (120HP) is ideally suited for 6-6.5 mtr rib. Ok it is not a racer and in some case you will not keep up with "the boys" but look on the bright side , how many times you will be able to go round the island and then just laugh it off when refuelling with the RED.
This I say from first hand experience having done 193 hours on my first Parker 630 diesel rib and having gone round the Island many times. I am now on my second 6.30 diesel again the Mercruiser 1.7 and max speed is 32 knots on a calm day but believe me it is still great fun

so I think you should ask yourself two questions

1) Do I want to be one of the fastest on the Solent at calm conditions or
2) Do I want to do a lot of cruising

The choice is yours

Andre

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

OK to give me an idea of it's angle how long is it when the tide is out? Is this the slip at Saxon Wharf looks steep to me!
Nick

OK Nick the beeers are waiting in the fridge show me how to do it. This is a very shallow slipway and I want you to show me the way

[tim griffin]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

* Solent (Fareham). 150hp 2 stroke. 6.5M. Looks the part. Much more obviously sportif than the Ribcraft (but I saw one in the water and one on the land so not a fair comparison. Very nicely put together. Excellent demo in some chop just outside portsmouth harbour. Enough to thrill, but with a surprisingly comfortable ride. Seems forgiving and really secure and safe. Totally dry, even after some genuinely scarey thumps (but I am a newbie and the demonstator was very skilled). 45mph down the river (according to engine elecronics). Don't mored boats come up quickly when you are going like the bat out of hell! Could not be unsettled even with some very tight turns and figure 8s. Probably a little over budget, but bnot as much as the Rib-X. Huge number of options and flexibility which makes it a bit over-powering for an ignorant newbie. I wonder if they had ever sold to rib to someone as ignorant as I am??

glad to see you are starting to make up your own mind (still think they are Ford Escorts)

go for a light colour fades less though a bugger to keep clean
don't see many second hand ones around
Take it Kevin was doing the demo then
and yes every manufacturer sells to guys like you and hopefully points you in the direction of a school
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[brucehawsker]

No, don't think they are escorts. More like a Scirocco with an aero engine under the bonnet!

Yes, the school idea is good. Have powerboat 2 but realise I am going to need some serious tuition for signifcant chop!

Your assumptions are right, and Kevin is a star!! Even politely, after taking us round and round the chop, stopped asked if we had had enough. When we said we were game for more, pointed us out away from the wall and took off like a jack rabbit.... Wow!!

I could get to being addicted to this! 47-year old boy racer!

Still a bit confused on colour

[tim griffin]

if you buy one , come to the isle de blanc and we will go and play
no charge
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[brucehawsker]

The labourer is worthy of his hire!

I would love to take you up on the offer if:

1) you promise to be very critical and demanding - I do not respond to gentle nudges (ask the wife (Jo) - see also under "tidying the garage")

2) you promise to push me hard

3) you let me pay you!

4) you never never tell Jo the extent of what we have been up to.... in time she will want her own lessons, but for now.... softly,softly catchee monkee

Guess it will be September before I get mine into the water, whatever it is....

Until then I will be sibbing (and sobbing with envy!)

Thanks

Bruce

[tim griffin]

not a problem
tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[Louise]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Guess it will be September before I get mine into the water, whatever it is....

Until then I will be sibbing (and sobbing with envy!)

You will be very welcome on 'Blue Ice' any time, Bruce (& Jo & family of course).

[swginn]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Still a bit confused on colour

Tubes really are a matter of what you like personally. I will say one thing to you about hull colour though. White is a b*$!# to keep clean and shows up every mark. Having scrubbed the white hull on my last rib for a week solid I've come to realise that some marks just don't come off. I've gone for grey glass on my new one to try and hide any marks etc on the hull. There is one advantage as far as I can see however with regards to white hulls, the gelcoat is easy to obtain for repair work etc. However as you are in the UK pretty much every colour should be readily available to you. (Not the case on the emerald isle!!)

Oh and if you get black tubes, be sure to get pressure relief valves fitted.

Great to hear you're enjoyin your search. It will only get better from here!!

[brucehawsker]

Not black. Not orange - I don't want anyone think I am ready or competant to provide lifeboat facilities!

Agree on the grey hull.

So what 'goes' with grey?

I like yellow but am I going to regret it marking easily?

Else it is dark blue. But will grey / dark blue look dull and be hard to see? (Safety issue?)

I think the lighter blue / greens look weak?

[swginn]

Its a tough one I know. Trying to pick a colour combo can sometimes be harder than picking the boat itself. Here's a link that I found quite useful when deciding which colours to go for:

http://www.boat-finder.com/12460/ind...ve_menu_id=266

Only thing is the guy who wrote this was talking about PU tubes which don't really fade, compared to Hypalon so you will have to take this into account if you are getting a Hypalon boat, avoiding colours that will look terrible faded.

I've gone for the blue tubes/grey hull combo you see in the link. I personally think the boat you see with the yellow hull/grey tubes looks very smart as well. You could always have contrasting bright wear patches to make the boat more visible. At the end of the day it comes down to what YOU like so we can only advise. You have to make the hard choice.

Oh god you haven't even decided what rib you want and I've probably gone and got you alll worried about colours. Sorry!!