RIB or cruiser?

[Aming]

I am looking at a 26' cruiser, such as Sea Ray 260 sundancer.
http://www.searay.com/2008_sea_ray_s..._sundancer.asp
Does anyone know whether this boat is safe to confront the open sea?
Since I can find a very cheap used 26' cruiser, if it can confront the open sea, do I still need a RIB?

[Limey Linda]

Originally Posted by Aming

I am looking at a 26' cruiser, such as Sea Ray 260 sundancer.
http://www.searay.com/2008_sea_ray_s..._sundancer.asp
Does anyone know whether this boat is safe to confront the open sea?
Since I can find a very cheap used 26' cruiser, if it can confront the open sea, do I still need a RIB?

Need more info. What open sea, where? what conditions? how far off shore? what will you use the boat for? etc. etc.

[Aming]

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Need more info. What open sea, where? what conditions? how far off shore? what will you use the boat for? etc. etc.

Pacific Ocean.
Force 6 condition.
50 miles off shore.
For travel.

Do you think it is safe for the 260 Sundancer?

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Aming

I am looking at a 26' cruiser, such as Sea Ray 260 sundancer.
http://www.searay.com/2008_sea_ray_s..._sundancer.asp
Does anyone know whether this boat is safe to confront the open sea?
Since I can find a very cheap used 26' cruiser, if it can confront the open sea, do I still need a RIB?

I previously owned a 250 Sundancer, I've since had ribs. A sports cruiser of this size will cope with a surprising amount of sea. It'll handle very differently to a rib though. Head-on it'll plough on with ease putting plumes of water over the cockpit canvas however, beam-on she'll roll like a pig due to the high super-structure. Cruisers are also slow to respond to the throttle, so 'working' the boat in sea is not easy.
Personally I'd rather be in a rib in big seas, but a 260 Sundancer will put up with a lot more than most are prepared to give it.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Aming

Pacific Ocean.
Force 6 condition.
50 miles off shore.
For travel.

Do you think it is safe for the 260 Sundancer?

Nope, I wouldn't fancy that.

[Aming]

If in normal high sea condition (not Force 6 condition), do you think it is safe to boat 50 miles off shore?
If caught by a storm, such as a Force 6 or worse, do you think the boat will sink or flip over?

[Limey Linda]

Originally Posted by Aming

If in normal high sea condition (not Force 6 condition), do you think it is safe to boat 50 miles off shore?
If caught by a storm, such as a Force 6 or worse, do you think the boat will sink or flip over?

Respectfully; your questions indicate you do not have too much boating experience. Your requirements for a 26 footer are therefore not realistic.
Think again and be safe. I would think twice about that sort of use even in a RIB and I have been boating off shore for 40 years.
Regards, ll

[Aming]

There is another question:
When the sea condition turn bad, the fuel mileage of RIB will decrease a lot, right? How about a 260 cruiser? (Since it'll handle very differently to a rib.)

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Aming

If in normal high sea condition (not Force 6 condition), do you think it is safe to boat 50 miles off shore?
If caught by a storm, such as a Force 6 or worse, do you think the boat will sink or flip over?

I wouldn't want to be 50m offshore in much less than a ship!!

[Limey Linda]

Originally Posted by Aming

There is another question:
When the sea condition turn bad, the fuel mileage of RIB will decrease a lot, right? How about a 260 cruiser? (Since it'll handle very differently to a rib.)

In any conditions a RIB will be more economical because it it lighter.

[Aming]

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Respectfully; your questions indicate you do not have too much boating experience. Your requirements for a 26 footer are therefore not realistic.
Think again and be safe. I would think twice about that sort of use even in a RIB and I have been boating off shore for 40 years.
Regards, ll

Please don't get me wrong. I just want to get an idea of the extreme conditions a 26' cruiser can handle. I am not actually planning to confront such situations.

[Aming]

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

In any conditions a RIB will be more economical because it it lighter.

My concern is the 'decrease' of the fuel mileage but not the absolute fuel mileage, since I want to calculate how much fuel I need to carry.