Which 8m rib ??

richardjawilson · 19 December 2008, 07:38

Merry Christmas to all.

I am considering upgrading my rib from the current 6m Tohatsu to something between 7.5 and 8m.

Ideally a new 8.1m Scorpion with a 300xs on would suit. However, my budget is restricted to about £25-28000 which would put me firmly in the secondhand market of slightly lesser craft.

As I keep my rib in Dartmouth and have considered taking up Ribeye's offer of a demo in their 7.85, but I have read a few posts on here where these ribs get hammered.

The main requirements of the boat would be-

1. waterskiing and towing toys.
2. Would need to have a rear bech seat capable of keeping a small child safe compared to jockey seat only layouts.
3. Ideally a good sized foredeck area would suit as well, and dare I say it , have some sort of seating/sunbed option
4. Would be dry stored
5. Suitable for occasional cross channel trip
6. I am after a boat with good seakeeping qualities but with a leisure finish/look to it not semi commercial, but good build quality hull design is a high priorty
7. Engine wise, single outboard between 200-250
8. Also my tohatsu slams a lot, so something with a softish ride would suit

I have seen a couple of 2005/6 ribeye 7.85's in my budget but having owned a South African produced Gladiator rib which I sucessfully reduced to a pile of splintered GRP, I'm not sure of there build quality (bit of a broad brush statement there).

Any advice you can provide would help emormously as its a purchase I would like to get right !

regards richard

stevetheboat · 19 December 2008, 09:09

Would you be interested in something brand new, hand built in UK, 8.25m with 275 Verado or XS for sub £25,000 if it were available?

richardjawilson · 19 December 2008, 09:21

what do you have in mind??

John Kennett · 19 December 2008, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardjawilson

As I keep my rib in Dartmouth and have considered taking up Ribeye's offer of a demo in their 7.85, but I have read a few posts on here where these ribs get hammered.

Go and have a look and see what you think.

There were definitely quality issues with some of the very early Ribeyes, but the current ones seem to be fine. They're not everyone's choice, but could meet your requirements pretty well.

John

Julian · 19 December 2008, 10:48

Richard,

There was a second hand scorpion on this site

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22684

Seems to fit your budget etc

Cheers

Julian

codprawn · 19 December 2008, 13:39

A Revenger would fit the bill perfectly. Prob not as good in very rough conditions as a Scorpion in a following sea but better in other stuff.

http://www.revenger.co.uk/

Some of the Norweigan fjord rafting people use Revengers in preferance to Scorpions.

Here are some nice videos of a Revenger with a 300xs.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WurAvvdaivU

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0NHD3yhxWf4

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FMsC6M...eature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8MyUi5...eature=related

Mainly in French but you get the idea.

As they are custom built it MAY be possible to have simpler seats etc and get it for the price you want - money talks at the moment.

Alan Priddy · 19 December 2008, 14:17

Contact Tom at Redbay Boats. For a little bit more you can have a brand new one, twin engines, all nav equipment, trailer and all ready to add water and go.
Alan P

richardjawilson · 21 December 2008, 17:04

I have seen a couple of scorpions in the budget which look ok. My list of ribs to test is scorpion, ribeye, revenger, osprey.

i'll hopefully be able to get to excel and have a good look around at build quality etc, but with most things i tend to buy, i test it, and if it feels right i buy it. 2006 ribeye with 250 yam or 2003 scorpion with 225 opti seem to be favorites at the moment, both have that good rear bench seat setup

richard

codprawn · 21 December 2008, 17:08

Revengers are in a different league to most of the others - make sure you have a good look first - they have been building RIBs for a very long time!!!

iandl · 21 December 2008, 18:08

Steves offer of a completed hull looks a good one ......also all the revenger stuff is made at shakespeares

well worth a drive by and see for yourself

I

Tim M · 21 December 2008, 18:08

IMHO the Ribeye 785 is a horrible boat. I'm not keen on the overall looks of it, they feel quite wobbly at lower speeds as the tubes don't touch the water, it feels quite unresponsive to drive (I have driven ones with various Yamaha engines) the wiring still seems to be rather shocking (literally) and I don't like the deck furniture they put in. However, as a family boat it may well suite. Something like a Scorpion is going to be a lot more usable for serious cruising.

C2 RIBS · 21 December 2008, 18:22

If you look at the rib rally 785 link and follow the videos -

http://www.allsportsresortmaurik.nl/...nduranceclass/

it shows the ribeye 785 in a new light and have to disagree with Tim but then I do use one regularly!

stepheneyre · 21 December 2008, 19:14

hi
have a look at humber ribs
and northcraft ribs
both do 7/8 mt
and as a diver i go out in rough seas, have had 2 northcraft and 3 humbers RIBs over the years
whey pay for the name i am sure for 25k ish you will get what u are looking for

thanks
stephen

PJC · 22 December 2008, 18:24

Have a look at the Cougar R8 www.cougar-powerboats.com

Roy Smith · 22 December 2008, 19:37

"Revengers are in a different league to most of the others - make sure you have a good look first - they have been building RIBs for a very long time!!!"

What league is that then

codprawn · 22 December 2008, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

"Revengers are in a different league to most of the others - make sure you have a good look first - they have been building RIBs for a very long time!!!"

What league is that then

The same one as Scorpion....................

patos · 23 December 2008, 17:56

Rear bech seat, capable of keeping a small child safe,good seakeeping,single outboard,seating/sunbed,good build quality,waterskiing and towing toys,softish ride.ONLY one choice: Airshipribs (Cougar) Children/family/race.
http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=25998

Jon Brooks · 23 December 2008, 18:35

Well worth a chat with the guys at Ribcraft, their boats in that size bracket are very good.
We have just had a quote for a 7.8m as our second boat, very well priced.

Great reputation for build and sea keeping.

richardjawilson · 24 December 2008, 05:35

There are a lot of well made ribs out there to choose from. I had forgotten about Cougar, but I doubt there would be many in my budget on the used market.

Ribcraft have an excellent build but I always thought of them as being a bit to commercial looking and their newer leisure series I think may be a bit too much.

Budgets are so restrictive !!!

Poly · 24 December 2008, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardjawilson

Budgets are so restrictive !!!

Have you dismissed Steve's shakespear offer - sounded pretty impressive to me? And my understanding is a shakespear would fit just the form/function you are looking for.