Wich 6.5 to choose ?

Daniel Vanesse · 20 May 2004, 15:13

Hi,

I am about to buy my first RIB and I am looking for a 6.5m with a 150hp 4/s. She will mainly be used for family (coastal) cruising at the begining, but more and more in rough sea in coming years. I want her simple, easy to use and maintain, versatile. Must also be easily towable (idealy, max. width 2.5m).
Who can advise ?

Louise · 20 May 2004, 15:15

Are you looking to buy new or second hand? What is your budget?

In my opinion, the best thing to do is to get out there and try as many different makes as you can. Come to RIBex - there'll be loads of different ones there and quite a few RIBnetters willing to show off their own boats.

See here: http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread...highlight=ribex

Louise · 20 May 2004, 15:20

This has been discussed quite recently. Have a look at these: http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....&highlight=6.5
http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....&highlight=6.5

Daniel Vanesse · 20 May 2004, 15:21

I would like to buy her new. Budget? around 25k.
I did intended to go to Ribex, but I will be on buissness travel :-(

Phil Davies · 20 May 2004, 15:26

Wanted: Imray Pilots Guide to Luxembourg. Willing to pay over odds to secure a copy of this rare work.

Andre · 20 May 2004, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Vanesse

I would like to buy her new. Budget? around 25k.
I did intended to go to Ribex, but I will be on buissness travel :-(

Daniel

Have a look at www.parkerribs.com
the 630 is really a 650 and is category B
we only fit Mercury/Mariner outboards and the max you can have is a 150HP say Optimax
or you could opt for a diesel Mercruiser 1.7L DTI just like my Seahawk 2
These ribs are made in Poland so you could jump in your car one day head East for some serious rib testing
sorry you can't make Ribex
there are a lot of threads on RibNet about Parker Ribs so please look them up

Andre

Daniel Vanesse · 20 May 2004, 15:47

Thanks Andre and Louise, it is most interesting. Phil, I take note and keep you posted as soon as I know more about

Phil Davies · 20 May 2004, 15:54

Excellent riposte, Daniel - I can tell you're not German

RLS · 20 May 2004, 16:23

Hi Danielle,
I have took delivery of my Rib-X 6.4 about 3 weeks ago. It is absolutely fantastic, in rough or smooth. Onboard I have a double console with Pod seats for six plus plenty more seating up front. Mine has a 200 Mercury OPtimax on the back and it flies. They usually sell with a 140/150 on the back but I wanted a bit more oomph to ski with a heavily laiden boat. The head guy there is called Colin Baldwin (tel: 01455 554501) and he is very helpful indeed. 2 articles are coming out soon in Rib International Mag and Sportsboat & Rib Mag.
Hope this helps.

Daniel Vanesse · 20 May 2004, 16:35

Thanks, I look forward to read about her.

tim griffin · 20 May 2004, 19:07

solent ribs, porter ribs, tohatsu, and the guys in the channel islands all build boats to fit your budget, rib x 640 is quite good did a level 2 course for Colin Baldwin a month or so ago very roomy stable check them all out, their are alot to choose from and every owner is biased to their own boat as i am towards Solent ribs but great choice for that kind of budget good luck
tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

brucehawsker · 21 May 2004, 16:24

Been offered a rib x 640, seems good in principle for cruising. Would it hold its value given it is S. African? Any other comments / criticisms?

Louise · 21 May 2004, 16:30

This is the same as the Falcon 640 but rebadged for the UK (I think). There are a couple of Falcon owners on this forum who both seem to be very happy with their craft. RIB International magazine has a review of this boat (& its big sister) and seemed to like it, saying "A very likeable RIB indeed, both capable and seaworthy, one whose predictable handling characteristics would be highly suited to the first time RIB owner".

chrisallse · 21 May 2004, 20:14

You wont be sorry, great Ribs.

Richard B · 21 May 2004, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Been offered a rib x 640... would it hold its value given it is S. African?

No.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisallse

You wont be sorry, great Ribs.

Yes you will!

brucehawsker · 21 May 2004, 20:23

Oh, dear. Have I started something here?

Bruce

Richard B · 21 May 2004, 20:31

Let me qualify that provocative post.

1. The tubes are made from some funny plastic (PVC?) material. Don't even contemplate all the discussion about PVC v PU v Hypalon. There's only one material to make tubes from, and that's Hypalon. Loads of people know how to mend it, it lasts ages, and it's really really strong stuff.
2. RIB International used to be famous for never criticising any RIB, but Hugo Montgomery-Swann has broken out of his mould this month, and guess what is the first RIB he's criticised? A Falcon/RIB-X (same RIB)! He thought the 640 was OK but the 700 was slated for being very poorly set up. Given that the importers were submitting their product for test by one of the most experience RIB users (whatever anyone thinks about Hugo he jolly well knows how to drive a RIB) in the UK, you would have thought that they would have been ultra careful preparing the boat for test - so how careless are they going to be about rigging a boat for Joe Public?

No, you haven't started anything Bruce, but if Chris is happy with his RIB that's great. In fact I do hope that he gets many hours of enjojment from it. But if you push your RIB hard in offshore conditions that are less than ideal, you'll find that shiny showroom RIBs aren't quite what the salesman promised they would be.

tim griffin · 21 May 2004, 20:33

Thats not nice Richard
i spent two day's teaching on the 640 and i think it's a good boat apart from the no feed back steering handled the Solent chop well dry boat, corners well in a hard spin manouveres well at load speed , storage space is good as well
and to cap it all i am an agent for Solent ribs ( and i love these ) but nothing fell off it did all that Colin said it would so shame on for dissing a boat if i beleaved in the rep thing you would have to have a red blob ( oops i can feel one coming my way)
regards tim

simmons0 · 21 May 2004, 20:37

Well im not sure how you can say that about the tubes. Valiant make thousands of ribs with PVC tubes, mine stood up very well, no fading of colour or any sign of leaks after 4 years. The navy are using PU tubes for a lot of their ribs instead of hypalon.

Given the choice i would go for Hypalon because it is more hardwearing than PVC and nothing like as expensive to repair as PU but by no means is PVC a "funny plastic".

chrisallse · 21 May 2004, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Oh, dear. Have I started something here?

Bruce

Looks like it....and its about to get very tedious.