Why no ribs in Oz?

HoveRuss · 15 October 2009, 19:44

I'm leaving the uK to live in Oz at the end of november and taking my boat with me. What does seem clear is that there's very few ribs in Oz compared to the UK, for instance a quick ebay australia search brings up just two, a Zodiac 5.3 and a Naiad 5.8.

Am i doing something stoopid here? Anyone got any knowledge or ideas why the Aussies don't seem to have embraced them like us?

Russ

spartacus · 15 October 2009, 20:51

Quote:

Am i doing something stoopid here? Anyone got any knowledge or ideas why the Aussies don't seem to have embraced them like us?

Sharks, crocs, alligators...

rjbathgate · 15 October 2009, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoveRuss

I'm leaving the uK to live in Oz at the end of november and taking my boat with me. What does seem clear is that there's very few ribs in Oz compared to the UK, for instance a quick ebay australia search brings up just two, a Zodiac 5.3 and a Naiad 5.8.

Am i doing something stoopid here? Anyone got any knowledge or ideas why the Aussies don't seem to have embraced them like us?

Russ

Hey,

I'm in NZ - so almost part of Aus

and it's the same here -- no where near as mnay RIBs as in the UK.

I think most of it (in NZ at least) is that 99% of boat goers here are hardcore fishermen - so they have their big tinny - perfect for fishing, they can through fish around etc etc...

I found up in the richer island areas, more ribs are seen as people use then to hop between islands etc... but yeah the main areas, it's all fishing... not that you can't fish off a RIB... but try telling local fishermen that...

Get yourself a RIB and watch their faces when you fly past them and beat them to their favourite fishing spot!!

willk · 15 October 2009, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjbathgate

I'm in NZ - so almost part of Aus

Having lived for an extended period among the protagonists in question, my educated guess is that if you started right now, you'd be about 10 miles up the road to the airport before the Kiwis catch you.....

As regards ribs, I think they just wouldn't take them seriously; "Ribs? they're just not, well, hard enough."

rjbathgate · 15 October 2009, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

As regards ribs, I think they just wouldn't take them seriously; "Ribs? they're just not, well, hard enough."

Ha too true!!!!

Although Surf Rescue use RIBs (although they call them IRBs) for all their Surf Rescue stuff -- and everyone loves Surf Rescuers.........

davej · 15 October 2009, 21:25

I don't know why the Ozzies have few RIBs but one of our dive club members recently bought a new one and took it with him when he went to live there, well live there for half the year at a time! He loves it and wouldn't be without it particularly where he lives in south Australia. I know it was much the best thing to buy one in the UK and export it rather than buy it there.

He has put a car port up to hide it from the sun and when he comes homes tucks it up in the garage. Perhaps they don't like them because of the strong sunlight and UV damaging the tubes.

DJ

rjbathgate · 15 October 2009, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by davej

He has put a car port up to hide it from the sun and when he comes homes tucks it up in the garage. Perhaps they don't like them because of the strong sunlight and UV damaging the tubes.

I just made a cover out of UV Proof, Water Proof, Breathable Canvas

HoveRuss · 15 October 2009, 22:01

To be honest, it's the first thing into the container, folllowed by the sea kayaks. If there's room, i'll definitely take some furniture too.

From what I've seen, it'll be worth mor ethere in any case, so what the hell.

Worst thing is the bloody qualifications. in Queensland, NONE of my RYA stuff counts for toffee, I have to go back and do a boathandling course before i can even use it. Was just on the point of doing Advanced here, but its just not worth it.

Different rules in different states, I'm moving to the worst one!

rjbathgate · 15 October 2009, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoveRuss

Worst thing is the bloody qualifications. in Queensland, NONE of my RYA stuff counts for toffee.

Yup, you learn to teach scuba diving in Queensland, and do the worldwide respected first aid course as part of the dive course, but then can't teach in Queensland until you've done their seperate first aid course!

tonymac · 15 October 2009, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Having lived for an extended period among the protagonists in question, my educated guess is that if you started right now, you'd be about 10 miles up the road to the airport before the Kiwis catch you.....

Very much agree Willik. What kind of Kiwi calls himself an Ozzie??????

rjbathgate · 15 October 2009, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonymac

What kind of Kiwi calls himself an Ozzie??????

Ha - I'm English

willk · 15 October 2009, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjbathgate

Ha - I'm english

You've been out there too long if they're had the capital E off your english

Mark Babbe · 16 October 2009, 13:48

I have moved back to the Uk after two years in Oz and having owned Ribs in the uk I wondered the same thing.

Firstly, they do not understand the concept. A family friend who sells boats for a living thought RIBS were effectively dingies.

Secondly, Fishing is king and thererfore 95% of boats in Oz are day fishers. They are what they call Tinnies and are aluminium hulled.

Thirdly, there must be UV isues.

In conclusion Aussies want a rugged boat which can be launched anywhere, driven on a trailer for long distances and last forever. Also the fact they can trailer far larger boats there and have pickups with redicluous size engines to pull them with means that you can afford a larger vessel than here.

tonymac · 16 October 2009, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjbathgate

Ha - I'm English

You've been out in the sun too long mate!!

Rogue Wave · 16 October 2009, 22:57

Bitten to buggery moved to Perth from the UK and took his 7.5 Ribtec with him so theres already 50% more ribs than you thought

Bittentobuggery · 17 October 2009, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoveRuss

Worst thing is the bloody qualifications. in Queensland, NONE of my RYA stuff counts for toffee, I have to go back and do a boathandling course before i can even use it. Was just on the point of doing Advanced here, but its just not worth it.

Different rules in different states, I'm moving to the worst one!

Hi Russ,

Trust me, WA is a lot worse than Qld -I brought a boat that had just been put in survey in Queensland round to WA and the MA5 issued by WA surveyors had 13 deficiencies on it !!! (Almost $ 20,000)

However, depending on what UK qualifications you have, you should be able to get somebody to RPL your UK tickets for the Recreational Skippers Ticket and away you go....

r mcdonald · 17 October 2009, 14:20

I had a SR5.4 I sold it to a mate 15 years ago and he has still got it , There are not many ribs here most of the ribs are used for diving and SIBs for surf resuce.
For the same money you can get a much bigger hard boat that most people use for fishing which is very popular here, Ribs are considered abit of a blowup toy here. My SR was one of the first in South Australia, I can clearly remember going away for a weekend of diving and there were other hard boats in the group. I heard another hard boat owner saying how my SR was going to slow down the group ,we were going to dive some offshore islands 20nm away. The next morning we headed out to the island, I deliberately past him so I could see his face. His face was slightly red and mouth open as I past him. I had to wait for him at the island for 20 mins before he arrived. I can't clearly remember what I said to him once he arrived but he got the message that Ribs are not blowup toys for swimming pools.
Ribs are expensive here and thats why I am building a 7.5 m rib at the moment , I like a challenge to.
regards
rpm

Bittentobuggery · 18 October 2009, 04:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by r mcdonald

Ribs are considered abit of a blowup toy here.

On my insurance certificate I found my vessel described as a "rubber runabout". Bloody cheek.

Anyway, they are catching on here and the authorities now have Naiads.

J S · 18 October 2009, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bittentobuggery

On my insurance certificate I found my vessel described as a "rubber runabout". Bloody cheek.

Anyway, they are catching on here and the authorities now have Naiads.

lol