Which 6.5m to buy

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

[emoji106]+1 "BEST" is a relative term at umm best! Best in terms of what? Price? Colour? Amount of blue piping? Weight (light or heavy) speed of delivery from order....Yada Yada! "Best" hast to be quantified, best out of how many? Best of all? Best out of the ones you've tried (how many have you tried?) Best out of all boats made in ..........(insert name of town, county, communist state) Best for racing, rescue, fishing, diving?
I could go on and on and on................

Yep you could....it's all a matter of personal choice (an experience!) after all and....then Buy you're third New Rib Craft!??

[Pikey Dave]

Yup, 'cos they are the best I've tried (but I've not tried many) even then, I've had the odd issue over the years. They certainly aren't the best in terms of their sleek Gucci looks & blue piped bench seats, but I like that. Due to their weight & layup, they probably aren't the best in terms of economy & speed. Ribcraft probably aren't the best company to go to if you want a boat in a rush & are on a budget!!
BUT, if you want an Empire Built, go anywhere you dare, safe bus to get you there & back at a price that is still within the realms of reality, then personally, I think that they take some beating. The only other brand I'd consider (personally) would be Redbay, & geography is on Ribcraft's side with that one.

[MatFromPoland]

I have checked REDBAY mentioned by PD.
Very nice boats.
But (as you know) I tow RIB to Croatia, Greece.
Max width should be 2,55 so my preference is RIB width 2,5m

I think from sometimes to sometimes to change to 6-6,5m and 150 HP (Evinrude G2 of course ) but current 5,4 I tow on trailer GVW 1300 kg with some margin even with petrol.

My car max towing limit is 1500 kg so
- RIB width (2,5m)
- and car tow limit (1500 kg - I do prefer some margin, we are 5 people and many stuff)
are constraints for me ...
I do have big comfortable VAN Honda Odyssey and do not want to change it now.

[matt h]

Ribcraft all the way.. Feel the love!!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Yup, 'cos they are the best I've tried (but I've not tried many) even then, I've had the odd issue over the years. They certainly aren't the best in terms of their sleek Gucci looks & blue piped bench seats, but I like that. Due to their weight & layup, they probably aren't the best in terms of economy & speed. Ribcraft probably aren't the best company to go to if you want a boat in a rush & are on a budget!!
BUT, if you want an Empire Built, go anywhere you dare, safe bus to get you there & back at a price that is still within the realms of reality, then personally, I think that they take some beating. The only other brand I'd consider (personally) would be Redbay, & geography is on Ribcraft's side with that one.

Gucci looks (or lack of)... I'm not a big Gucci Fan by the way....are more than made up for...by the uncanny almost universal predominance of Extremely Good looking Owners!!.Eh!
The rush and budget points are certainly pertinent

[HUMBER P4VWL]

If it's boating in Poole, a fast RIB with family layout, is an agricultural style, deep V, off Roader RIB even needed? If only going out in calm days and sunbathing, look at the leisure style ribs with sun deck front areas, curvy wrap around seats and pop up tables. With a shallow-mid V the same HP engine will push you along a lot quicker. In fact, is a RIB needed...

[MatFromPoland]

I'm not specialist but it be easier to find 6,5 m RIB having on plate >= 10 persons than the same size GRP 'standard boat'

I used to have on the lake 9 people on mine (5,4m and 115 HP)
But there wer 3 kids, 2 teenagers (180cm but slim and 14-een y old) and 4 adults (2 womans and 2 big mans)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIMYgx8Mrk4

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

If it's boating in Poole, a fast RIB with family layout, is an agricultural style, deep V, off Roader RIB even needed? If only going out in calm days and sunbathing, look at the leisure style ribs with sun deck front areas, curvy wrap around seats and pop up tables. With a shallow-mid V the same HP engine will push you along a lot quicker. In fact, is a RIB needed...

Which is a fair point, but the op might then get the "bug" and fancy a weekend in Cherbourg or The Channel Islands or the Scillies, in which case he might need something a tad more "capable" horses for courses. After all, some people can't make it past the local pub[emoji6]

[sTTu]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

If it's boating in Poole, a fast RIB with family layout, is an agricultural style, deep V, off Roader RIB even needed? If only going out in calm days and sunbathing, look at the leisure style ribs with sun deck front areas, curvy wrap around seats and pop up tables. With a shallow-mid V the same HP engine will push you along a lot quicker. In fact, is a RIB needed...

Good point, wife, kids and dog will not want to go out in anything lumpy but my adrenaline time will be hacks along the coast in the mucky stuff, I'd rather have a boat thats well capable of taking it when it gets rough. I did look at leisure boats, but IMHO they're not going to give me the fun value.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Fair enough, questions answered. RIB it is.

Yes, point taken, I do struggle to carry on if the next pub is more than an hour away! ;-)

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Maximus

...by the uncanny almost universal predominance of Extremely Good looking Owners!!.Eh!

Are you flirting with Pikey Dave on ribnet? I wonder if we've got any opticians on here who could do you a deal - I am sure the admin team would relax the trade rules for such a serious affliction

[butty]

You should talk to these guys, there is some very impressive work going on with this builder. The quality is outstanding.

Island RIBs - Home

I find it hard to understand the builders still putting ply down and throwing fibre glass over the top.... these guys have moulded decks.

I don't see why more builders are not doing it as it's the only way to actually seal the underside.

I would only go with Parker or Island.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by butty

You should talk to these guys, there is some very impressive work going on with this builder. The quality is outstanding.

Island RIBs - Home

I find it hard to understand the builders still putting ply down and throwing fibre glass over the top.... these guys have moulded decks.

I don't see why more builders are not doing it as it's the only way to actually seal the underside.

I would only go with Parker or Island.

And just to prove that one mans meat is another's poison, I don't like moulded decks. They always (or at least the ones I've experienced) seem to flex, they feel & look cheap to me, don't ask me to explain why, because I can't. Also they tend to be over complicated in their shape, I prefer the flat slab, open space you get from a traditional glassed ply deck. The moulded ones always have lots of corners & ledges with edges that you either stub your toes on, or the edges get damaged.
Just my opinion, no more or less.

[matt h]

Absolutely. Ribcraft tried moulded (and still can if you wanna go down that route), Customers chose the other options though.

What happened to Coastline?

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Poly

Are you flirting with Pikey Dave on ribnet? I wonder if we've got any opticians on here who could do you a deal - I am sure the admin team would relax the trade rules for such a serious affliction

Busted!

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Poly

Are you flirting with Pikey Dave on ribnet? I wonder if we've got any opticians on here who could do you a deal - I am sure the admin team would relax the trade rules for such a serious affliction

Apparently "bromance" is all the rage & I ain't short of rage[emoji15]

[willk]

Originally Posted by butty

I don't see why more builders are not doing it as it's the only way to actually seal the underside.

Probably because it isn't correct?

[andyjcox1]

I am in Poole and had a ribeye 6m and used it for the same purpose as you plan to. I have only good things to say about it, but I would say it was just abit too small for family days out with kids.

You don't specify budget, but if going new you probably have a good 40k to spend.

You won't go wrong with a ribcraft 6.8 or a ribeye 6.5. I would say you want 4 jockey seats and a rear bench. The kids and wife used the bench the most and the jockeys will be for you and mates on more ambitious trips. I would want a bow cushion with a table if possible for picnics but not many have this arrangement. As with most things, bigger is better. There is a nice cobra 9m for sale in cobbs quay that would make a great family boat and would be fast but it's 69k.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

And just to prove that one mans meat is another's poison, I don't like moulded decks. They always (or at least the ones I've experienced) seem to flex, they feel & look cheap to me, don't ask me to explain why, because I can't. Also they tend to be over complicated in their shape, I prefer the flat slab, open space you get from a traditional glassed ply deck. The moulded ones always have lots of corners & ledges with edges that you either stub your toes on, or the edges get damaged.
Just my opinion, no more or less.

...
You always see a lot more star crazing and cracks in the Gel Coat too...(even when relatively new!)..which does indicate flexing.
Matrix ply/glass and Glassed ply deck..hasn't been beaten yet IMO.

[Curlew]

I have a brand new Ribcraft 6.4 with Suzuki 175, currently at Northney Marina on Hayling Island, and would be happy to take you out and/or discuss the lengthy but ultimately satisfying process of acquiring a Ribcraft.