NEW Parker 680 JET Rib

[Andre]

The Parker 680 Jet was specially designed for Parker Ribs by UK naval architect Adam Younger. Adam’s brief was the length of the craft, propulsion package and that water jet only was required. The engine is the Mercury Diesel TDI 3.0L 265HP with ZF63A gearbox and Hamilton Jet 213 drive. The performance after the initial trials surprised us all. Adam did a very good job. A speed of 40knots was achieved with superb sea keeping qualities. These photos were taken in the factory only yesterday prior to delivery for testing by the Polish Marine Police. Photos will be posted once the craft is back on the water.

[Andre]

and a few more pictures before the rib goes on the water.
Moulded deck and engine box which is service engineer friendly

[Andre]

and a few more

[Hightower]

For some reason I have never liked inboard boats (don't ask me why).

However looking at the photo's you've posted Andre, I find myself strangely wanting one. Love the look of the hull with the purposefully designed and prominent spray rails. Obviously this is a commercial RIB, but I can see the benefit of a reversible rear seat so that you could turn the engine box in to a sunbed and convert it in to a fishing platform

[Andre]

Originally Posted by Hightower

For some reason I have never liked inboard boats (don't ask me why).

However looking at the photo's you've posted Andre, I find myself strangely wanting one. Love the look of the hull with the purposefully designed and prominent spray rails. Obviously this is a commercial RIB, but I can see the benefit of a reversible rear seat so that you could turn the engine box in to a sunbed and convert it in to a fishing platform

Andy

my current demo rib is a diesel stern drive 320 HP. You can helm her on route to Cherbourg

By the way the engine box on the Jet rib is 185 cm long so it would make a good sun bed but not in our climate. A diving platform is an option.

[bliksem]

Hi Andre

Sorry i was not able to coem and see you on SBS or even the day after. So busy schedule and stuff on my head....

i am happy to see you are doing so well with the Parker Ribs!!! This is again a nice looking species!!

I am not an expert on Jet but 40knots for a 6.80 m rib does not seem fast especially if you consider the reasonable amount of 325HP!!! Ofcorz the weight of both engine and Jet contribute to that for sure but nevertheless....I was thinking bcoz of the better weight distribution it should contribute more to both handling and speed but obviously i am wrong

Is there any specific use for the Jet (shallow water or close encounters with people) and this Rib in specific???

Keep up the good work and please keep posting pictures; it is addictive

[willk]

Originally Posted by bliksem

I am not an expert on Jet but 40knots for a 6.80 m rib does not seem fast especially if you consider the reasonable amount of 325HP!!!

That's because it's a 265hp...

[GJ0KYZ]

That's a pretty good speed for a jet drive actually; they're fairly inefficient due to the need to change helical thrust to linear thrust via the stators. Andre: how much did that boat cost out of interest?

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Andre

By the way the engine box on the Jet rib is 185 cm long so it would make a good sun bed

My feet would still stick over the end ;-)

[Andre]

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

That's a pretty good speed for a jet drive actually; they're fairly inefficient due to the need to change helical thrust to linear thrust via the stators. Andre: how much did that boat cost out of interest?

Not so sure as yet. This will follow in due course. There will be two prices one for the open version the other with cabin. Radio and navigation equipment in option with Simrad / Lowrance being the first choice. A jet rib will no doubt be more expensive than a similar size rib with stern drive . This rib is aimed at a selective market and for sure not at the leisure one.

I am hoping to show it at Seawork next year

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by Hightower

My feet would still stick over the end ;-)

Yep, ditto!!

[GJ0KYZ]

Originally Posted by Andre

Not so sure as yet. This will follow in due course. There will be two prices one for the open version the other with cabin.

Cheers Andre. If you do find out how much they cost then I'd appreciate a pm; I think that's the best small jet-drive rib I've seen.

[Pikey Dave]

Nice looking boat Andre, what's the small control lever for low down on the console? & what is the "Volkswagen Marine" keypad for, is the engine a VW rebadged as Mercury?

[Swain Marine]

Yep rebadged VW, VW pulled out the Marine market and Mercury are marketing them alongside what was previously the CMD range

[Andre]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Nice looking boat Andre, what's the small control lever for low down on the console? & what is the "Volkswagen Marine" keypad for, is the engine a VW rebadged as Mercury?

that lever has to be bucket control for the reverse. the VW engines are now branded Mercury Diesel TDI 3.0L 6 cyl 265HP and TDI 4.2L 8cyl 370HP, both now come with Smartcraft and DTS

[Andre]

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

Cheers Andre. If you do find out how much they cost then I'd appreciate a pm; I think that's the best small jet-drive rib I've seen.

I am expecting a price and will post it. Adam Younger did a good job on the hull. The deck and engine box is our design and for the initial tests we only had a laminated plywood deck, no engine box and a remote fuel tank. The first results were so encouraging that we quickly made a deck and engine box mould. The engine box had to consist of two sections due to total length. Also it had to be service engineer friendly. We have a 5 axel fully auto CMS m/c for making plugs and moulds so this was more or less an overnight job. The moulded deck also reduced the weight of the rib and that was the idea. Also a moulded deck and engine box will enhance any rib.

[Adam Younger]

Many thanks for the comments Andre and a pleasure to work with Parker Boats.

Waterjet powered boats can be tricky to get right and often performance is not so great. The waterjet units in theirselves maybe reasonably (or better) efficient - but when you combine their effects on the hull the whole package can lead to disappointing figures.

But we used some new features on the 680 hull and very happy with the performance so far. The craft also has very good internal dimensions, handling and other characteristics to make a very serious work RIB. Also the build and looks of the finished craft are excellent and all credit to Parkers for this.

[Anchorhandler]

Originally Posted by Adam Younger

Waterjet powered boats can be tricky to get right and often performance is not so great. The waterjet units in theirselves maybe reasonably (or better) efficient - but when you combine their effects on the hull the whole package can lead to disappointing figures..

Yep, water jets are actually very efficient units as tip losses around the blades are reduced to a minimum. Being that the impeller rotates in a tunnel. An open prop lloses out to an impeller as quite a bit if energy is spent "throwing" water out radially instead of axially.

The problem with jets comes when you try to supply the impeller with a clean flow of water. You are in effect having ti 'lift' the water up into the impeller and then propel it out the rear. As AY says, hull design is critical.

During my days offshore i used to regularly helm jet drive FRC ribs. These were mainly norwegian built aluminium Ulstein SeaBear's . Awesome boats, 8 meters long, 320hp inboard diesel jet drive but were only capably of 30 ish knots. Mind you they did weigh nearly 3 tonnes. :-).
You could drive one of those through s brick wall and not notice!
Only thing i used to hate about them was ( like a lot of jet ribs) steerage at low speed/engine rpm was dreadful. There's something to be said about having an outboard leg sticking out under the hull.

Very nice rib that Parker jet.... Seems like a very serious company indeed Parker.....In fact dare i say it on here but i have been eyeing up those Parker pilothouse fast fishers for some time now.

Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[Andre]

Originally Posted by Andre

that lever has to be bucket control for the reverse. the VW engines are now branded Mercury Diesel TDI 3.0L 6 cyl 265HP and TDI 4.2L 8cyl 370HP, both now come with Smartcraft and DTS

correction to Pikey Dave's question

Sorry but I got it wrong the bottom lever at knee height disengages the gearbox. The lever to control the bucket is the one on the right side of the RC box and the throttle is on the left side

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Andre

correction to Pikey Dave's question

Sorry but I got it wrong the bottom lever at knee height disengages the gearbox. The lever to control the bucket is the one on the right side of the RC box and the throttle is on the left side

Ahh right No need to beat yerself up Andre So, bearing in mind I've never driven a jet drive, I assume this is how it works:-

The small lever in question engages the gearbox, which only ever runs in one direction (no sh1t boy band jokes please)

The throttle lever does what the throttle lever does.

The traditional "gear lever" actually controls the bucket which directs the flow of water for either forward or reverse.

So to put the boat into neutral, you would use the small lever & disengage the gearbox?

Is there much movement of the boat at tickover with the gearbox engaged? or is it a 3 lever manoeuvre to stop the boat?

Is there a neutral position on the bucket which produces neither a forward or reverse thrust?