New XS-600 / Merc Opti 150

[swginn]

Just got back from collecting our new RIB today. She's a 6metre XS-Rib (XS-600) with a Merc Optimax 150 on the back. Haven't got her into the wet stuff yet, Wednesday or Thursday looks likely to be its maiden voyage. Hoping to get near 50 kts from her running a Laser 2 prop.

Here's a few pics I took over the wkend of her:

1: In Barnet Marine's shop window. A big thank you to all the guys down there who were very helpful and professional and provided a top class service.

2: Pulled in at a lay-by on the M4. Tiring stuff this, I've had a total of 8hrs sleep in the last 48hrs!!

3: Pic of the hull.

[swginn]

...and some more taken at home this morning.


1: Side view
2: Top view, nice beamy boat, plenty of room.
3: Deep V hull, should give a nice comfortable, dry ride.
4: Delta seating configuration, very comfortable with plenty of storage below the seats

[swginn]

and some more!!

1: Centre console (Icom 401, Lowrance LMS 320, Smartcraft Speedo & Tacho, Plastimo 90)

2: Under deck loom keeps deck clean and free of cables and is sealed from the hull. Seastar hydraulic steering, Rule 1100 Bilge, Fuel-Water separator.

3: Where the magic happens!! Had her running in the middle of main st. Barnet you should have seen the looks Deep sound from the V6 is sweeeet!! Just wait til I get her into the water!!

[swginn]

Overall I'm very pleased with the boat. My main concern was the finish and build quality, but having seen the boat I must say I am very pleased with the quality of the finish. Everything is bolted, no screws (even though I supplied screws with my own GPS that I wanted to be fitted, they still replaced them with bolts). The overall finish and attention to detail really impressed me, the demo boat that was at RIBEX was in fact a very poor representation of the final quality of the finished customer product. The demo was one of the first boats built and so has a few rough edges, but these are all gone on mine!!
I wasn't allowed to take the boat away until all the fuses and wires were labelled and the boat given a thorough hoovering as it was a bit dusty from the workshop (looked clean to me!!) was given a full briefing on everything on the boat and I must say it felt like I was buying a boat 5 times the price!!

I'm not trying to plug Barnet Marine, but just feel I owe it to them to give them a mention here.

Ok maybe this is a plug

[bogib]

Congratulation with your new RIB, I am sure David has been a good helpful lad.

[TIM]

Congratulations

150 on a 6M.....

[Cork Rib]

Congrats swginn!! no doubt we'll see u blasting around Roches Point or crook soon. I'll keep an eye out for you.......Thats if i can catch you

[The Jackeens]

Congrats Swginn.

Looks great . Exams over so you should be free to enjoy it?

Missus

[Jon Brooks]

Swginn

She is a fine looking boat.
I hope I get to see her in the flesh in July!!

By the way nice radio

Best regards

[thorper]

Hi

Looks like a great rib - hope you have a lot of fun with it!

The Barnet Marine guys were very good with us as well when we picked our Tornado up. A good bunch of people to buy a boat from. We met up with Laurence Lock at RIBEX, and it looks like we're going to get our next dive club boat from him as well (XS 6m).

Ricky

[batfalcon]

Now that's a nice rib. Nice looks, though I can't see where are those storage places.

Safe & smooth sails

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by swginn

and some more!!



3: Where the magic happens!! Had her running in the middle of main st. Barnet you should have seen the looks Deep sound from the V6 is sweeeet!! Just wait til I get her into the water!!

Excuse my ignorance but are you supposed to do that? Don't big engines like this need loads of cooling water or are they ok for a few mins?

Always wondered in case I buy second hand and the guy starts the engine out of the water.

[Bilge Rat]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Excuse my ignorance but are you supposed to do that? Don't big engines like this need loads of cooling water or are they ok for a few mins?

Always wondered in case I buy second hand and the guy starts the engine out of the water.

You are joking arn't you ........................!!

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Excuse my ignorance but are you supposed to do that? Don't big engines like this need loads of cooling water or are they ok for a few mins?

Always wondered in case I buy second hand and the guy starts the engine out of the water.

OK if you have a pair of Outboard motor engine flush muffs with running water!
You don't learn if you don't ask Mr Rate!
Nick

[Bilge Rat]

Sorry just thought a dumb question deserved a dumb answer, its one of the first things you learn on a level 2 course

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Bilge Rat

its one of the first things you learn on a level 2 course

Unless you had that instructor who warmed up the engine the night before, an hour before and immediately before launching... all without water supply! (Rupert Bear's story I think...)

anyway, the RIB looks flippin' excellent!

There's just one thing I can't help saying.... nice Tornado!

[swginn]

Thanks, everybody for the compliments. I really am pleased with the final product. Its always a bit iffy buying something new to the market.

Originally Posted by batfalcon

though I can't see where are those storage places.

Surprisingly enough I've just finished packing all my gear into the boat.

Bruce anchor, backup anchor, chain and warp, 6 fenders, 3 mooring ropes, all fitted into the bow locker with plenty of room to spare. Its bloody enormous!!

I've got opti oil, pump, fire extinguisher,flares, bucket and sponge (bloody seagulls!!) under one of the seats and it's still not even a quarter full, which leaves me with almost the 2 seats left for storage plus a little more room under the centre console. I'm not really planning to take the kitchen sink!!

Yes we used one of those engine flush ear muff thingies to run her, unfortunately there's no water in Barnet!! prop spinning and all, looked so strange!!

Richard, I can't disagree with you she does look very like a Tornado. From a distance you would be hard pushed to tell the difference.

Here are a few though: hull, bow locker, windscreen, transom well, rear seats are longer and wider, transom shape. Oh and I nearly forgot, about £6k

[Daniel]

Looks great, i'll be interested to hear what top speed you get... what prop are you running, 19" or 21" i assume?

I'm getting 46knts @5200rpm with a 21", but i suspect my osprey is a slightly deeper V than yours...hope you make the magic 50!

Great engine, 110hrs now and... still think it was the best choice.

[batfalcon]

Originally Posted by swginn

I'm not really planning to take the kitchen sink!! :

NOT SURPISED IF YOU DID
Mr. HART TOOK HIS MICROWAVE IN HIS QUICKSILVER.

[Manos]

Great boat. Congrats swginn.
I also like the Silver Merc what number plate is that??