Why do we (you) RIB?

[Navygakman]

Hi all I am new to ribbing - but not new to boating - I had a 27' express crusiers a few years back. Got tired of paying the moorage fee and the fact that it was a bit too large to be trailerable (by my truck).

This time around I wanted something smaller and trailerable - a "day boat". Something that I can pull out of the water, park and work on it in my own driveway. As well as the ability to tow it to a lake 500 miles away and splash it.

I looked at the typical fiberglass runabouts also but I decided on a RIB. I bought a Novurania. I like the way a RIB looks and that was my sole reason for the decision. But having discovered this forum, I see that there is a large group of RIBBERs out there and I am curious as to why you guys also like RIBs as opposed to, say, fiberglass boats?

Does a RIB handles better? Is it safer? Is it more nimble? Is it more rugged? Is it considered more "hip"? What are YOUR reasons for a RIB?

[blimp]

For me it's one word - ability. I used to have similar-sized sportsboats and all seemed to be more suited to inshore/lake/estuary use. As I do my boating off the coast of Ireland I need something that can handle the conditions I encounter. For the size boat that suits me (6-7m) only a rib can get the job done.

[genoa]

My one word answer is versitility. We cruise in it (Solent to Poole, RTI etc) we tow things (wakeboards, skis, ringos) we fish (badly) and we go to pubs by the shore! With young kids on board it is incredibly safe - even in the Solent you get waves that would swamp a similar sized speed boat.

[Tims Osprey]

Why do we like are ribs Cuz there just cool dude!

Also a rib is head and shoulders above any other small craft for sea keeping, what other small boat could you take 10 miles offshore, dive a wreck and then travel back in rapid fashion through a big sea, boat half full of water but still heading home safe and sound with a big smile on your face

[Sarah G]

From a sailing point of you, it is easier to rescue dinghy's with a rib and not having to worry about boats slamming into the side of you.

For my daughter she thinks of it as a giant inflatable and therefore feels that it is safe.

Oh - they are fun too

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by Navygakman

Does a RIB handles better? Is it safer? Is it more nimble? Is it more rugged? Is it considered more "hip"? What are YOUR reasons for a RIB?

Are you kidding, a big squidgy thing that's a bit of a goer

[codprawn]

RIBs are so popular in Britain becuase they were invented(probably) here specifically for our conditions. They were first developed at Atlantic College in Wales to cope with shallow seas and Atlantic storms.

Avon inflatables are built about 1 mile away from my home port - probably one of the most dangerous stretches of water anywhere.

Bow rider speedboats with flat bottoms just don't stand much of a chance around here. Boats with deeper keels need to watch out for all the sandbanks. I really wouldn't want to go out in rough conditions in any other boat unless it's in nice deep water.

[LURCHER]

IT IS THE MARINE LANDROVER AND MOST OF US LOVE THEM !
I will now stand back and enjoy the pro and anti Landrover fight that will ensue !

[genoa]

I have a rib and a landi (disco3 so not a REAL one). Still I suppose having a Ribeye also means in some of your eyes I don't have a proper rib either!!
They do go together well on the motorways though.

They are just the bizniz!!

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by genoa

I have a rib and a landi (disco3 so not a REAL one). Still I suppose having a Ribeye also means in some of your eyes I don't have a proper rib either!!
They do go together well on the motorways though.

They are just the bizniz!!

I think the Disco 3 is a brilliant machine. In fact I'd buy one except the road tax is going to be crippler very soon.

[Tims Osprey]

Originally Posted by genoa

I have a rib and a landi (disco3 so not a REAL one). Still I suppose having a Ribeye also means in some of your eyes I don't have a proper rib either!!
They do go together well on the motorways though.

They are just the bizniz!!

Nothing wrong with ribeye mate nice deep hull on e'm and they look cool and handle well in the rough.

[doggypaddle]

I hired a tdv6 for work purposes i thought it was the dogs danglies. However would i swap it for mt 1960 series 2??? not in a gazillion years:-) you get kinda attached to them, after all there is a considerable amount of my DNA gouged out and deposited on it, in the from of blood sweat and tears!

[v666]

We bought ours to have family fun at a reasonable price.
To be able to use it even if the sea is a little rough.
Not to worry about storage or towing.

Originally Posted by Biggles

I think the Disco 3 is a brilliant machine. In fact I'd buy one except the road tax is going to be crippler very soon.

If I was spending however much on a Disco 3 less than 16 months old then I dont think the 400 (?) a year would worry me.
I bought a Jeep, and if the tax does go up, fair enough.

Tim

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by v666

If I was spending however much on a Disco 3 less than 16 months old then I dont think the 400 (?) a year would worry me.
Tim

It worries me I'm a Yorkshireman and I don't like wasting money.

I was thinking of starting my own business so I could get business rates on Road Tax. It would only cost £170 per year then. Perverse hey ! Or maybe become a Pikey and pay nothing.

[Navygakman]

This is great for me to understanding the RIB culture a bit. I was shopping for boats with my girlfriend in tow (a mistake - "woman" and "boat shopping" do not mix...) The stretch of a "day boat" is quite wide - whereas I was drawn to RIBs for the way they look (especially like the black Zodiac Hurricanes with the radar arches... ooohhh so sexy). She was drawn to the fiberglass sport boats/runabouts for the civility and all the implied "comfort" - shiny white gelcoat; deck to sunbathe on; nice cushy seats for all; bimini tops; oh... cup holders!!! I kept having to justify why I preferred a RIB and I have to say I stretched a bit on my reasonings:

Aesthetics - "RIBs look cool...remember the movie Navy Seals?"
Safety - "They float better..."
Humantarian - "It is easier for me to pull someone off from the water.. think of all the potential 'rescues' we can do"
Economic - "hey honey, look at all the money I get to save on fenders!"

The Novu I ended up with is good because it is a good blend - it is a RIB but it does have the rounded fiberglass console and somewhat cushy seats. And the Novu website is great since their pictures stress more on the yachting lifestyle (babes with bikinis) rather than showing RIBs jumping 4m waves.

Also interesting how few RIBs there are in the Seattle area (hey we have crappy weather like you do in the UK ). So we went up to Vancouver and we saw a bunch more. I was especially impressed with this one Canadian make "BRIG". They seem to offer great value for the money and the finish seems excellent.

BTW, I imagine that RIBs have a higher power to weight ratio, would I be correct? I would think that a 5m fiberglass sport boat would be much heavier than a 5m RIB?

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by Navygakman

The stretch of a "day boat" is quite wide - whereas I was drawn to RIBs for the way they look (especially like the black Zodiac Hurricanes with the radar arches... ooohhh so sexy).

Hmmm... Don't think I'll comment on this one.

She was drawn to the fiberglass sport boats/runabouts for the civility and all the implied "comfort" - shiny white gelcoat; deck to sunbathe on; nice cushy seats for all; bimini tops; oh... cup holders!!!

Well, with a bit of planning and a little execution, all those things are possible on a RIB, as well.

For me, the boat is dive transportation; it rides with anywhere from 1 person to 6, each with about 60 lbs of gear in tow. The boat had to be able to handle that, and still be able to fit next to the house. A RIB fit that bill to a T. Add that it is lighter than a comparably capable hard boat; also add that a RIB is virtually unsinkable unless something catastrophic happens (probably takes multiple catastrophes, in truth), and more stable at rest than a hard boat, and the list tilts in favor of a RIB pretty quickly.

Aesthetics - "RIBs look cool...remember the movie Navy Seals?"

I remember the movie; dont remember a RIB in it, though. It's been a while since I've seen it, so maybe I just don't remember.

Safety - "They float better..."

They float "better"? They have more buoyancy than a comparable hard boat, but they both float the same. When the hard boat sinks, it doesn't float at all, so it's apples and oranges at that point.

RIB's tend to be more stable at rest because of the wide-spread tubes. RIB's also will handle large quantities of water within the boat better. In that case, the RIB floats, while the hard boat doesn't.

Humantarian - "It is easier for me to pull someone off from the water.. think of all the potential 'rescues' we can do"

This is one I'd do a bit of practice on. It's much easier to pull someone off another boat with a RIB; just run up against it and hold it there while the transfer takes place. With a hard boat, you have to be a bit more careful, as contact = damage for the most part. Pulling someone out of the water can be difficult: the tube profile makes it tough to get a lot of leverage to pull someone into the boat from the water. Ladders over the tubes are tough as well: a rope ladder tends to swing up under the boat when weight is put on it; a hard ladder needs a solid anchor point and takes up a lot of room when not being used.

Someone had a technique posted that involved getting the victims feet over the tubes, and pulling them in by the arms; seemed workable, and I'm sure they've done enough experimenting to make sure it is.

The other option is netting: sink the netting, get the victim parallel to a tube over the netting, and roll them up and into the boat. (Probably can be done with a few lines in the water as well.)

Economic - "hey honey, look at all the money I get to save on fenders!"

True, to an extent. I have a couple of flat fenders I use when leaving the boat against a dock for longish periods, especially when it's rocking a bit. Better to scratch up the fenders (what, $18 a pop?) than the tube material (no price, but a lot more than $18...)

The place you'll probably save money is on gelcoat repair. No dings in the gunwales.

Also interesting how few RIBs there are in the Seattle area (hey we have crappy weather like you do in the UK ).

Not just Seattle. Pretty much the whole US with the exception of the extreme Northwest has a dearth of RIBs. They're catching on, but very slowly.

BTW, I imagine that RIBs have a higher power to weight ratio, would I be correct? I would think that a 5m fiberglass sport boat would be much heavier than a 5m RIB?

Depends on how it's powered. As I said, a RIB will be lighter than an equally sized (or equally capable; take your pick) hard boat; assuming equal size boats, a RIB should have a higher load capacity. Whether or not you eat that capacity up with motor is up to you (and the manufacturer, to some extent.)


Welcome to the forum, by the way;

jky

[vince]

We like ribs cos you can stuff them and still live!

[BogMonster]

Because as I said once before, on a nice day it is like the difference between a good bike and a car with a roof. Unfortunately on a bad day when it is pssn with rain and blowing a hoolie it is still like the difference between a bike and a car but you pays your money etc....

Fun factor and relative safety being more or less unsinkable, quite important in a place where there isn't a lifeboat!

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by Navygakman

Does a RIB handles better? Is it safer? Is it more nimble? Is it more rugged? Is it considered more "hip"?

In a nutshell, "Yes"! As others have pointed out, they are simply very "capable" boats, but really only can be justified in "big" water. A RIB on a small inland lake would be a waste of money.

Last year, I went out on a friend's 21' hard boat to dive in Lake Erie. We ended up about 35 miles off shore and got caught in a bit of a blow. The waves quickly built to about 5-6' (I know that for you ocean types that's nothing, but here on the lakes, those are pretty nasty... very close period, breaking and often confused...). I seriously thought that we we going to either bury it or be capsized, depending on our direction. It was well after dark when we got in because we had to creep in. In my RIB, these waves would have been like a trip to an amusement park!

I use my boat for diving, and there simply isn't anything better in a platform that will tow easily. Period. It's fast, stable, relatively fuel efficient and built like a brick sh*thouse!

I used to think I was the only one who appreciated RIBs until I discovered this forum... Welcome to the Cult of Rubber!

[Tims Osprey]

nice post stoo and well put