RIB'S in the US

[Channelwatch]

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Yes still considering. We are selling up in AZ and moving to San Carlos on SOC. Project will probably take 12 months. Use would be primarily personal fun trip but looking at some commercial: sight seeing, whale watching and visits to the Baja, beach trips and other stuff. Plans are still fluid. I find the cost of RIBs in the US too high so looking at other options. They need to be competive with hard boats.
I can buy a lightly used equivalent size hard boat for half the cost of a new RIB. I like RIBS but not at a premium of $30k. Ribcraft and others need to wise up.

All boats in the US are too high but there are good reasons for the premium on a well built RIB. Keep in mind the 7.8, along with all their professional boats, are being built for commercial use (abuse). The hull on a RIB has to be stronger than a conventional fiberglass boat and I would bet the manual labor that goes into constructing and installing a tube along with the cost of the material is much higher than the topsides of a conventional boat. We wouldn't dare do some the things with our conventional fiberglass boats that we do with the RIBs.

Have you considered the Ribcraft 6.5m? There's quite a price difference and the performance is very comprable to the 7.8m. If you can live with a little less room I think you will find that it will fit into you budget.

We love our 7.8 and I have offered a ride before, but if at all possible take us up on the offer as one ride, especially with some seas, will be all it takes. We went with Ribcraft because of its British heritage and I must say, those boys accross the pond really designed a great hull for handling heavy seas and the service from Ribcraft USA has been great.

Check out some pictures on our website, www.channelwatchmarine.com. You will see some in our "gallary" but keep checking back as we're working on dedicated pages for the Ribcraft.

[Limey Linda]

Thanks for all the great input on this subject. To summarise: the market is small, at this time. The dollar has the same purchasing power in the USA as the pound does in the UK. so using the exchange rate drives things in the wrong direction ( higher prices). Also, the intial investment for UK manufactureres is high. However, watch out for the manufacturers from S. America, NZ and Australia and Canada. Check out Polaris in Vancouver.
Regards T.

[limeydal]

DC,
think you are on the right lines about getting the public interested inRIBs first. You have to show what a ,reliable fun,adaptable and economical boat a RIb can be. Why else would people part with hard earned cash unless they see the benefits. (especially with such a wide and available market over here for hard boats.)
If you get to talk to the Ribcraft guys up there,ask if they monitor this forum? It seems they are spreading out and recently were down here visiting "channelwatch" trying to stimulate the S.California market.
I have been trying to get some interest started down here over the past 2 years with local established tour companies and just hit brick walls every time.
As soon as "inflatable" is mentioned they smile politely
I put together a complete "RIb theme tour" presentation ,while looking outside the US for interested parties. Maybe just need to send it up to Mathew at Ribcraft,to try and get his imput
Biased of course, but I think I am in the best place in the world to start this going!
cheers Dal

[Tibs]

Originally Posted by pathalla

Have not yet had the pleasure of seeing a Ribcraft at any boat shows as of yet Tibs, look forward to seeing one firsthand, how about posting a few shots of yours if you have time?

I will post some pictures for sure. Just need to snap some recent shots! Hope to in the following weeks, now that summer is finally here!