Why are RIBs so expensive?

[Boatnomad]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

Wow! Didn't expect as much debate as this (well, did really).

So, I've learned: -

Hard boats are cheap because they are mass produced and don't hold their vale. Except those imported cheaply when the $ value was poor against the £ who do hold their vale because they were cheap to start with.

Ribs are expensive because they are bespoke built in the UK, but the current market means they are cheap because people will do anything to get rid of them.

New ribs are expensive because they are fashion items and people will pay a lot of money to out-do their peers. But they are cheap because they will last a long time and out-perform hard boats that are made (in the states) of marzipan!

Rib manufacturers are making a fortune because they are selling bespoke models to feckless idiots who will buy anything that's got a 14" touch screen GPS (and stripey seats). But they also go out of business because the development costs can never be recouped from a niche (bespoke) product and they don't share the costs amongst other manufacturers.

The Chinese are bastards!

Have I got that right?

[mister p]

Originally Posted by Leapy

Just a teensy weensy bit of an over simplification

Not really, the bits that count are identical, engine, running gear, touchy-feely things like switches etc., all but the body.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

Have I got that right?

Largely what I read too. I thought it was Praline, not Marzipan though?

[Jim Robinson]

Quite a debate.
I guess rib net SR owners are the perfect example ,the very fact they are still solid now and with a little tlc can make a safe fun rib which out performs most modern 4 and 5 meter ribs, is testament to Galt glass and George Marvin who built and designed them from decent materials , some as far back as the 70,s. Can't think of any other brands which have lasted as well from the same period? Early Scorpions possibly.
We have never been a mass producer, we chose to give a premier finish and choice but in relatively small numbers. We can build them from our yard keeping overheads low. If I wanted to increase production I would have to rent or buy another unit more staff probably having to double production for the same profit. I guess walk or sprint if you like. If you sprint it is very hard to slow down, easy to fall!
You can find an import rib at half the price of mine , may last five or six years and then need replacement tubes . If you look at the state of the rest of the boat you will debate weather it is worth spending the money . May be you can't justify purchasing a rib a our prices, but our average client will move the boat on within five years, if we have done our job it will still look good at a vastly reduced price . Some pictures of the Venture 10m ,Vis diesel tender and the new Cutter. All built from scratch in the past 18 months.

[Rokraider]

Nice looking boats.

[kerny]

The next thread should be... Why are Outboard Engines so Expensive.

[NSS]

Originally Posted by kerny

The next thread should be... Why are Outboard Engines so Expensive.

Okay, so why are they?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

The Chinese are bastards!

Have I got that right?

The man with the red pen will be along shortly

[kerny]

Originally Posted by pikey dave

the man with the red pen will be along shortly

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by mister p

Not really, the bits that count are vaguely similar
, engine, running gear, touchy-feely things like switches etc., all but the body.

There you go ... made it right for you

[topspeed]

What I don't understand is why prices of new ribs have gone up so much in the last 4 years when we are in the middle of a period of general economic downturn.

I brought a brand new family orientated 7.5 metre rib with 275verado 4 years ago for £38,850, sold it 12 months ago for £32,500, and the cost of a new one today is early £60,000s with price rise due in December.

I understand exchange rates moved which meant imported items like outboards became more expensive, but they are moving back towards were the exchange rates were, so why the 50% increase.

I would like to buy another one but £60,000 is too much.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

So why are second hand ribs so cheap now, they're everywhere, if new ones are 50% more

I guess more 5.5-6m sold when free credit was available to those with no "real" money. They're now being sold as the owners realise they aren't rich and can't remortgage again! New ones are being sold though to the "real" rich an money is no object. I'll have a 50" plasma GPS with 6 ullmans covered in panda fur on my 7.5m please Jeeves.

[NSS]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

So why are second hand ribs so cheap now, they're everywhere, if new ones are 50% more

I guess more 5.5-6m sold when free credit was available to those with no "real" money. They're now being sold as the owners realise they aren't rich and can't remortgage again! New ones are being sold though to the "real" rich an money is no object. I'll have a 50" plasma GPS with 6 ullmans covered in panda fur on my 7.5m please Jeeves.

Funny how people have different perceptions. Speaking to one of the sales guys at the yard where I bought my new RIB last month, he said that sales of new RIBs have absolutely plummetted in the last couple of years (perhaps as low as 10-15% of previous numbers), but that their stock of used RIBs turns over very quickly. Net result is that used values/prices are high, but big discounts have to be given to shift new models.

[Gerry]

I wonder whether boat production will be changed significantly in coming years by the rapid progress of 3D printing?

At the moment, it's used for fairly small stuff, like this 3D manufactured model plane:

Industrial revolution. 3D printing ushers in a new age :: University of Southampton

However, the technology is advancing rapidly and it can only be a matter of time before something the size of a boat hull can be made with it. Obviously, there'd be issues with finding a suitable material that can be fabricated, but actually a boat hull would be almost the perfect thing to make with a 3D printer.

I've seen articles saying you'll be able to print out your own smartphone, etc., but that's way, way off (how on earth would you print out the electronics like nanometre scale silicon chips?). However, a boat hull - only a matter of years, certainly within a decade. Whether it would be seen as being of the same quality as a hand laid up fibreglass hull, who knows...

Gerry

[neil.mccrirrick]

Originally Posted by Gerry

I wonder whether boat production will be changed significantly in coming years by the rapid progress of 3D printing?

At the moment, it's used for fairly small stuff, like this 3D manufactured model plane:

Industrial revolution. 3D printing ushers in a new age :: University of Southampton

However, the technology is advancing rapidly and it can only be a matter of time before something the size of a boat hull can be made with it. Obviously, there'd be issues with finding a suitable material that can be fabricated, but actually a boat hull would be almost the perfect thing to make with a 3D printer.


I've seen articles saying you'll be able to print out your own smartphone, etc., but that's way, way off (how on earth would you print out the electronics like nanometre scale silicon chips?). However, a boat hull - only a matter of years, certainly within a decade. Whether it would be seen as being of the same quality as a hand laid up fibreglass hull, who knows...

Gerry

Wow, the pace of technology is just amazing. Thats not too far away from stuff we were watching on Sci Fi a few years ago

[NSS]

Originally Posted by Gerry

I wonder whether boat production will be changed significantly in coming years by the rapid progress of 3D printing?

At the moment, it's used for fairly small stuff, like this 3D manufactured model plane:

Industrial revolution. 3D printing ushers in a new age :: University of Southampton

However, the technology is advancing rapidly and it can only be a matter of time before something the size of a boat hull can be made with it. Obviously, there'd be issues with finding a suitable material that can be fabricated, but actually a boat hull would be almost the perfect thing to make with a 3D printer.

I've seen articles saying you'll be able to print out your own smartphone, etc., but that's way, way off (how on earth would you print out the electronics like nanometre scale silicon chips?). However, a boat hull - only a matter of years, certainly within a decade. Whether it would be seen as being of the same quality as a hand laid up fibreglass hull, who knows...

Gerry

Wow, that is pretty amazing! And reading the article, increasing or reducing size is just a case of adjusting scale, so one design of hull could potentially be 'printed' at any length to suit a particular buyer's need. Beam me up Scotty!

[willk]

When I got the guided tour of the Whale Pumps plant, they showed us their 3D printer - they spoke very highly of it - they could design and "print" all sorts of small bits and pieces during the design stages of a new product.

donegaldan was VERY impressed with it. He saw great potential for the future, as a kind of 3D fax machine. He said people would "printax" rude things to each other

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by willk

When I got the guided tour of the Whale Pumps plant, they showed us their 3D printer - they spoke very highly of it - they could design and "print" all sorts of small bits and pieces during the design stages of a new product.

donegaldan was VERY impressed with it. He saw great potential for the future, as a kind of 3D fax machine. He said people would "printax" rude things to each other

& now the Higgs Boson has been found (sort of) it's only a matter (matter geddit) of time before the replicators & transporters a'la Star Trek are reality.

PS Still waiting for the red pen man

[mister p]

Originally Posted by Leapy

There you go ... made it right for ME [/B]

by changing your quote to put "slightly completely" wrong information in.

[nitrox]

RIB COSTS TO PLASTIC BOATS????

put the flecther 238 and a 8mtr rib in the rough stuff and you know why neal

ps my 8mtr rib is still for sale and open to offers 07973442264