Ribex 2011

John Kennett · 13 May 2011, 19:07

As I had managed to miss out on the half price offer on the Redjet, I decided to take another approach and hitched a ride with Andre on the latest Parker demonstrator

It's a Parker 650 with a Cummins QSD 2.0 170HP, and with a well designed console and four wingback Scot Seats it's a fantastic boat. There are a lot of RIBs out there that do a good enough job, but on this particular boat everything has come together really well. It doesn't look particularly revolutionary, but Parker have got all the details right.

It's no race boat, but would be an excellent mid-size cruising RIB. The combination of the deep v hull and suspension seats mean you can keep a good average speed even when the conditions aren't so good. It took the normal nasty Solent chop and ferry wakes at over 30 knots with no problem at all, which is good going in a boat this size. At under a litre a mile you could afford to go some distance in it too!

John Kennett · 13 May 2011, 19:18

The show itself was smaller than previous years, with the marina area looking a bit patchy. A whole section that normally has exhibitors boats is being used as visitors moorings which is great if you're arriving by boat (turn to starboard when you enter the marina, not to port as in previous years).

Beauty and the Beast, plus a couple of nice second hand RIBs for sale.

John Kennett · 13 May 2011, 19:23

Renegade RIBs were there with one of the best looking boats in the show: the Renegade 1020 with a Caudwell 350SCI. They've also got their slightly more modest 720 on display as well.

John Kennett · 13 May 2011, 19:31

For the price of a couple of Renegade 1020s, you could buy the star of this years show: the Technohull from Brugges Marine Centre. With a pair of 350hp outboards this has a claimed top speed of almost 70 knots and looks absolutely stunning.

John Kennett · 13 May 2011, 19:49

On the land there are a selection of race boats, promoting RB12 and the Cowes-Monaco race. They even appear to have let a speedboat slip past security!

John Kennett · 13 May 2011, 19:53

And now a slightly random roundup of some of the other RIBs on show:

Arctic Challenge Humber; Sea RIBs 580; shiny white Redbay 8.4S; Alimal aluminium RIB