XS Ribs...any good?

[BINKY]

Hi All

Just seen an XS 7.2m with 250 diesel inboard for sale @ £26k + VAT. 2006 looks pretty good value (I think)

Can any one tell me about these boats: how good in a rough sea, quality etc etc

[alt]

Got any pics/link?

[Rogue Wave]

I kina like the wa they are put together, it's all good stuff good laminating well made hypalon toobs and sound fittings, tanks etc.

I only have experience of the sub 6 Metre boats, but I trust em in the sea, but I thing they are fine.Rumour has it that they are a tornado spinoff but |\I fancy that Northcraft might have something to do with em. Both manufacturers make good boats

[ashbypower]

We have the 550, and I demoed the 850 @ SBS and would certainly buy XS again!!
However check out HERE for other peoples comments.

[K&S]

Hi, having used xs 550 and many other manufacturers boats i have just placed an order for a new xs 650. So yes they get my vote.

i espcially like the glassed in seats. So much neater looking imho.

[iainmartins]

Sounds like a good price. The dealer from barnet marine brings his boat up here on his holiday's so it must be pretty capable.

[Jon.esp]

I have had an XS600 for one season and keep it in Spain. It was an off the shelf ex demo boat and I have never had a Rib of this size before having always previously been involved with larger sailing boats.

The XS sees to me to be fairly well put together with the accent more on the utilitarian work boat than style.

I have yet to have it out in a real blow and I am still learning how to drive a small boat like this into a sea. How hard the kids can hang on seems to be the main factor as to when we decide to turn back and not any concern over the boat itself!!!

The jockeys and console are firmly moulded to the deck not screwed or bolted. They have shown no sign of flexing or crazing. The stainless fabrication work also seems of good quality and fairly robust.

I do get blowbacks when filling the tank and maybe the breather need to be a bit bigger or it could be hat the fuel jetty I use has a fast pump.

My understanding is that the tubes are PU not Hypalon and are glued not welded. Ask me in 10 yrs how well they last but they seem very scuff resistant.

I have found one very minor fault in gel coat of the hull. A thumbnail size blemish a couple of inches down from the tubes.

If I had more control over the spec I think I would have liked a proper isolation switch for the battery but that is something I can sort out myself.

So; to conclude so far no regrets.

Finally I also don’t fully understand the relationship between Barnet Marine and XS as the way Laurence Lock talked one could almost sense he had a major interest in XS and was not just the agent. Do XS also have some sort of tie up with another UK manufacturer? Perhaps somebody else can fill us in as exactly what the tie up is.

[JIY]

Laurence Lock is the founder and director of XS RIBs (and Barnet Marine). XS was designed to fill the capacity that Tornado could not fill, but as events transpired (Tornado's move to production in China) XS have to all intents and purposes replaced Tornado in the UK. The new XS750/850/990 have taken the XS product to even higher levels, certainly equalling if not surpassing Tornado build quality.

The hulls are produced in Hull (naturally), although the actual manufacturer remains a big secret. They are outfitted (motors, electrics, stainless steel etc) by Barnet Marine in north London.

As an owner of two previous Tornados (a 7.5 outboard and an 8.5 Diesel) I'm very impressed with the XS product - so impressed that I have an XS850 with twin 200 Verados on order!

The downside to the success of the XS brand and the enhanced quality has been a hike in the price, but I guess that's market forces for you.

[ribit]

Who designed there hulls...or did they start like so many with a kind of borrowed hull from the good old hard boat brigade? and if they did are they designing there own now?

[Lostboy]

Originally Posted by ribit

Who designed there hulls...or did they start like so many with a kind of borrowed hull from the good old hard boat brigade? and if they did are they designing there own now?

You mean "Are they a splash?"

[ashbypower]

Originally Posted by ribit

Who designed there hulls...or did they start like so many with a kind of borrowed hull from the good old hard boat brigade? and if they did are they designing there own now?

To the best of my knowledge the hull design was done in-house.

[JIY]

I believe that Laurence Lock had a major input to the design of the 8.5m Tornado Hull (and therefore also the 7.5 and 9.5). The XS850 has it's roots in this hull design (and therefore also the XS750 and XS990), but it has been significantly developed.

[ribit]

Sounds good, nice to know there are well built ribs out there solidly built with their own hull design, I think that way at least you no the manufacturer has all the aspects covered including quality of workmanship... have looked over one before and it seems well built a good make to purchase one would assume

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by ashbypower

To the best of my knowledge the hull design was done in-house.

I thought it was a 'development' of the Fantum hull