Can someone please explain the advantage of a RIB over a conventional boat.

[zip]

I still I can't figure it out.

I know they are much cooler looking, and appear to be twice the price, but I guess I am not really sure what the tubes actually do.

I currently own a 9 foot SIB, 9.5 foot RIB, and a 14 foot RIB.

I am getting ready to upsize from my 14 footer to a 7-8.5 meter boat.

On my boats, the tubes appear to always be in the water. On the 8.5 I looked at recently, the tubes aren't touching the water.

Are the tubes on the little boats for floatation, and on the bigger boats for high speed turns?

The 14 footer is great in the bay and harbor, but when I get about 20 or so miles of shore it can get a little sporty if I get stuck in a small craft advisory, so I am looking for a bigger boat to go out in the ocean.

I'm still arm wrestling with myself over that big price tag. I can get a Boston Whaler for 1/2 the price, so I guess I am just wondering why go with the rib?

I appreciate all constructive advice.

Thanks.

[thomas]

Stability

[two stroke mick]

1) A rib by design will float if it become flooded with water. If the engine is reunning the majority of the water will flow over the transom and the remainer will go out of the trunks. This simaly will not happen with a convential boat.

2) The tubes act as stablisers when being driven thus the nose of the boat stays in the general direction that you want.

3) They are very easy to get in and out of for the purposes of water sports.

I believe that lots of people have ribs when a hard boat would suit their needs better. They are cramped, Thay have F all deck space for a given lenght, they are exepnsive.

In short

Ribs are good for water sports, being out in rougher conditions than you would be in a simalirly sized hard boat and the small ones i.e. sub 5.5m are great for visiting beaches

TSM

[thomas]

..... there're lighter too so tend to be quicker and more economical.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

2) The tubes act as stablisers when being driven thus the nose of the boat stays in the general direction that you want.

Not sure about this one. Most RIB's at speed won't have much of the tube in the water (if at all.)


RIB's generally have a much higher load bearing capacity than a similar sized and weighted hard boat.

Stability at rest is much better.

Assuming tubes are intact, they are about impossible to sink (not that you can't get into trouble from water ingress, but it'll stay afloat.)

Generally lighter weight means a smaller motor can be used, yielding a higher efficiency than a similar sized hard boat.

If you're looking at a BW Montauk, be aware that they beat the crap out of you in chop. The cathedral hull tends to pound in the short stuff.

jky

[zip]

great info. thanks.
still not real clear, but definitely helps.

[lukewhiting]

Id go for a boston whaler! Youve already got 3 ribs. Boston whalers are incredibly stable & virtually unsinkable thanks the hull & still fast.

But it all depends on your uses for the boat.

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

Boston whalers are incredibly stable & virtually unsinkable thanks the hull & still fast.

and rubbish in any sea (wide ass hull that gives the stability, also slams like a bitch in any waves)

Like you say tho depends on uses and location

[neil.mccrirrick]

Get a Rib and all your Rib type questions will be answered here. That may not seem like a deal breaker, but when summat goes wrong, for me this should come into it

Put it another way have you posted the same question on another forum?

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

Id go for a boston whaler! Youve already got 3 ribs. Boston whalers are incredibly stable & virtually unsinkable thanks the hull & still fast.

But it all depends on your uses for the boat.

An utter nightmare when the foam inside gets waterlogged too.

[Pikey Dave]

I've yet to find a small (6m ish) hardboat that will drive in, & handle any kind of sea like a RIB does, & I've been in a few. RIBs can be cold, wet, expensive, capable, stable & more fun than you can shake a stick at. As others have said, look at your needs & wants & go from there.

[Aries]

Its got a big bumper around it so you can bounce around the marina causing less damage ; )

[Maximus]

IMO Nothing on the Water affords the Flexabiliy and Ability afforded by a Well Founded and equiped RIB.
Camparativley Light, and Easy towing gives a great Range.Easy to Launch and Recover,,Stable,Shallow Draft,RELATIVELY Cheap to run..and Very Capable of Extended even long Distance Sea Cruises,even in Adverse conditions a Big Pluss for me most can be stored at Home if wished.AND as Stated they are SAFE!
RNLI AND SAFTEY-RESCUE ORGS- SPECIAL FORCES all over the world can't be wrong.
Another Pluss and a Big one THEY'RE FUN!

[Maximus]

Oh... and its a Reason to use RIBNET

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Oh... and its a Reason to use RIBNET

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Maximus

IMO Nothing on the Water affords the Flexabiliy and Ability afforded by a Well Founded and equiped RIB.
Camparativley Light, and Easy towing gives a great Range.Easy to Launch and Recover,,Stable,Shallow Draft,RELATIVELY Cheap to run..and Very Capable of Extended even long Distance Sea Cruises,even in Adverse conditions a Big Pluss for me most can be stored at Home if wished.AND as Stated they are SAFE!
RNLI AND SAFTEY-RESCUE ORGS- SPECIAL FORCES all over the world can't be wrong.
Another Pluss and a Big one THEY'RE FUN!

Originally Posted by Maximus

Oh... and its a Reason to use RIBNET

That Maximus sounds just on the 'button' no more to be said

[ppenman]

I believe that the reason a rib has better sea keeping than a similar size hard boat is that in rough seas when a wave hits the boat the full shock loading is on the hull whereas in a rib with air filled tubes the tubes deform reducing the impact force on the hull. Think air bag in a car. Solid filled tubes don't provide this ability and have to make do with the advantages of inbuilt fendering and extra buoyancy.

[Boatnomad]

Maximum load is like black and white

[Black]

I grapple with this one all the time......

We're currently running an Orkney Vanguard 170, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater I think it looks pretty good with the dark blue hull etc..

We moved from a RIB to this when we had the kids.

It has a little shelter for the kids to keep warm and dry, and with young kids thats been a complete bonus. As any dad knows, warm dry happy kids = happy wife = happy dad

But... with out a shadow of a doubt, when the kids are older, can hang on and keep warm, we'll be back in a 6-7 metre RIB.

what ever you do - its about being on the water - for me anyway....

[Dhf]

Owning a hard boat is like having a moaning expensive unpredictable fugly misses with a fat arse, two things I used to have but didn't want anymore.

Owning a RIB is like having a sexy exciting adventurous wife with a beautiful figure, two things I do have an happy to keep giggidy, gig-gi-dy!!