Help With F-RIB 360

Sois · 05 December 2018, 01:21

Hi All,

New to the site, first time poster. I just bought a Foldable RIB 360 and and syched to get it out on the water this Spring (long time I know).

The good thing is that this gives me a few months to trick it out the way I want. Primary use will be inshore fishing and cruising the various waterways in Long Island NY.

But first things first. What engine should I get? I live in an apartment, so I want either a fully electric outboard (Torqeedo Cruise 4.0?) or propane. If Torqeedo, then what battery set up? I really don’t want to spend $8k on outboard and two of their fancy batteries. Any other economical battery options? Suggestions?

Fenlander · 05 December 2018, 09:08

Hello Sois, welcome to the forum.

I didn't know Fribs had reached the USA, hope you get on with it well.

Re the outboard... is the choice of elec or propane as you have no-where to store fuel? Going for either prevents a choice of so many efficient modern 4-stroke models.

Those Torqeedo's are a superb concept but as you say... the cost! And the range is so low... about 6mls per battery.

Propane outboards are exceptionally rare here, the main brand I hear of is Lehr. Surely they give you the hassle/risk of storing gas cylinders?

I know nothing of the Long Island area waterway's re tides, currents, wind etc but normally you'd be looking at pairing an Frib 360 with a min 10hp and ideally 15-20hp for some fun performance.

Sois · 05 December 2018, 10:01

Thanks Fenlander,

Yep, there’s finally a Torqeedo dealer in Miami.

Very good points on the motor. My main reason for wanting an electric one was portability and space. I don’t have access to outdoor storage, and I don’t think I have room to keep an engine upright in my small apartment. My wife has already “demanded” it stay out of view and has voiced concerns of our place smelling like a garage and leaking oil... so that’s what I’m working with ;-) Please let me know if you know of any gas motors that would mitigate those, I’d be all ears!

I’d only take it out on relatively calm days, but definitely want something powerful enough to get me to safety should the swells or tide change. The Torqeedo Cruise 4.0 gets 8 to 9.9hp equivalent. Is that generally enough based on the open seas in your area?

I am new to boating, and really just been immersing myself in trying to understand all the needs. Any suggestions or advice would be great!

Max... · 05 December 2018, 12:04

Hi Sois, Fen' says it all really - you will find virtually zero love for electric on here but if you want/have to go that route then it will have to be a high tech motor preferably with a Li-ion battery and that is going to cost serious bucks.

Even a small petrol 6hp would be way more preferable, cost peanuts and be easily hidden from the other half with a little ingenuity. Keep the small can of fuel outside and you're sorted.

Pikey Dave · 05 December 2018, 12:17

Do you have a balcony on your apartment?

neil.mccrirrick · 06 December 2018, 12:46

Or a car. Go 2 stroke and You can safely store it in the boot anyway up

Highland Haggis · 10 December 2018, 06:53

Tell the wife it's me and boat or bye bye [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Pikey Dave · 10 December 2018, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highland Haggis

Tell the wife it's me and boat or bye bye [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

https://youtu.be/9X_ViIPA-Gc

Xk59D · 10 December 2018, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

Or a car. Go 2 stroke and You can safely store it in the boot anyway up

"Safely" store a what, 20-40kg? engine in a boot long term is madness, not only will it stink but if you are unfortunate enough to crash then people in the cabin may have a big problem when an outboard comes flying through.

neil.mccrirrick · 11 December 2018, 14:31

What are you looking for a perfect solution? He has no space. My comment re safely is on respect of the outboard.

Having said that I carry one in the boot plenty do. Strap it down and open the window if it offends [emoji106]

The_Phew · 21 December 2018, 16:20

I use an Epropulsion Navy 6.0 (10 HP equivalent) electric outboard on my 3.1m Zodiac Cadet Aero SIB. I think Epropulsion has much more compelling offerings than Torqeedo, FWIW. I bought a 7.2 kWh 48V lithium pack from GTK (via AliExpress) that weighs only 28kg, and cost less than the motor. It has the same Farasis NMC cells as the new Zero electric motorcycles.

This combo can keep me on plane for roughly two hours (at ~10 knots), which is plenty for how we use the boat. Top speed is ~14 knots on this boat with ~250 lbs of people and gear aboard, but would be much faster with a RIB. Here's a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33Pa...ature=youtu.be

Unless you need hours of run time on plane, I think electric is finally a viable option for small outboards. Like you, I had no desire to deal with fuel/oil/fumes/noise/maintenance, etc.

I do wish we had the F-RIB 330 instead of this boat; air floors are a PITA at planing speeds. You have to add air to the keel and floor on the water when the water is cold, or planing stability goes to heck (terrifying!). So you are on the right track with the F-RIB! Although 10 HP is probably a bit low for the F-RIB 360, but I don't have firsthand experience. The Maxi Marine Lifters are a good option to get underpowered inflatables on plane:

https://www.maximarine.com/products/lifters/index.html

I have some, but haven't tried them yet (trying to figure out how to fit both lifters and launch wheels on the transom).

Wozizname · 21 December 2018, 23:02

I've previously owned a FRIB360 with a 4stroke 20hp for 3 years which performed remarkably well. As I recall the max speed was 28 knots in a slight chop with 150kg loading, me, fuel and equipment.
Hope that helps with your calculations.

Sinistre1 · 22 December 2018, 23:29

Wow, Feeling a lil less crazy now. Just kidding. There are a few of us apartment boaters in NYC/ NY area. For a little while I had a club going ... 8 boaters with SIBS. All but one of us were apartment dwellers or lived in an apartment in someone else's house. I am in a one bedroom in Bklyn. Not sure how to embed videos but if you look up Jamaica bay inflatable club or Slim Dune postings you'll see some of our videos. Unfortunately pretty much everyone else moved. I still go out solo and I still have a boat. Just replaced my Saturn a couple months ago.. Old one was getting beat up. Lol. I have a 20 hp Suzuki that lives in a closet 7-8 months out of the year. No fuel smile and if so it dissipates really soon. The zuki is clean burn, doesn't use oil mix (the 2 stroke Johnson I had would smell for a couple of days). I'm in a one bedroom with quite a few closets so I dedicated one to boating gear. I leave the gas tank down in the garage or in the back of the truck. That's the most likely culprit for any fumes with that specific engine. I don't, but if you ran the ngine dry or drained the storage chamber and threw some water over it Im sure by the time you got home there would be no smell at all.

The point of all that is to say if you are planning to do this for a while, get the gas motor. You will be happier long run. Not sure if you are planning to just cruise but if you envision any fishing you meed to be able to get around and if you get in the sound.. you need to be able to boogie if the weather changes. Ask me how I know.

I tend to stay in the bays but even then you may need to cover a lot of ground against tides, etc. I just wouldn't feel very comfortable in an electric.. and I considered it. I also really considered the F-rib and I hope you post some videos when you get to use it. At the time it was ever so slightly less practical for me and cost a fair bit more than the Saturn. That said im always chasing those last few MPH and that hull could make a difference.. and i'm somewhat easily swayed. lol

If i can figure out the embedding ill add a video.