New Boat Advice

[Willwors]

I'm after a small RIB or inflatable, mainly to use as a tender for my dad's boat but also for a bit of fun as well. Would like something quick, probably tiller steer due to cost, with about 15hp and around the 3.5 metre mark give or take on either side. What boat and engine is good?

[bogib]

You could look at Valiant

www.ibs-boats.com

Bogi

[Willwors]

they look a bit pricey. what are views on the zodiac cadet 340.

[bogib]

Pretty sure there will be possible to do good deals at Soton show

Bogi

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by Willwors

I'm after a small RIB or inflatable, mainly to use as a tender for my dad's boat but also for a bit of fun as well. Would like something quick, probably tiller steer due to cost, with about 15hp and around the 3.5 metre mark give or take on either side. What boat and engine is good?

i have a quicksilver aerodeck with inflatable floor and low hours yamaha 15 hp, boat is two years old and looks much like new, yam also in superb condition with proper wheels etc that are great to pull it along with, is a superb combination of ride, quality, speed, have three props for it, all as new, but for acceleration, combination of two and high speed cruising, would highly recommend, maybe open to offers

chris

[Willwors]

if you have any pictures that would be great. whats the floor like, is it hard? i have a flat floor on my present rover 260 which i hate. main reason for selling, want something that feels more sturdy and gives more speed. send pics to wills888@hotmail.co.uk

thanks

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by Willwors

if you have any pictures that would be great. whats the floor like, is it hard? i have a flat floor on my present rover 260 which i hate. main reason for selling, want something that feels more sturdy and gives more speed. send pics to wills888@hotmail.co.uk

thanks

i would say the rigid floor version are probably firmer than a pumped up version but they weigh more and more fuss putting together nad transporting

floor is pretty good i would say to be honest and i would certainly recommend a quicksilver over other small ribs i have had

will pump up tomorrow and put engine on for some pics for you if weather permits

chris

[Willwors]

thats great, thanks.

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Willwors

small RIB or inflatable, mainly to use as a tender... also for a bit of fun as well. Would like something quick... about 15hp and around the 3.5 metre mark

This is quite a common question, so have a search (it'll keep you busy! ) but here goes anyway...

You need to decide if you want a solid hull or a fully inflatable. Solid hulls start at about the 3.5m mark, if I remember correctly, but they aren't very deep V. This means that they will have limited sea-keeping ability (ie they will slam into waves). Fully inflatable boats (we commonly refer to them as SIBs) have an even flatter profile, and even with an inflatable keel they don't go into waves particularly well. However, they are still much better than the type with slatted wooden floors, which have a completely flat hull.

The biggest difference between solid hulls and fully inflatables is storage. If you need to store in a car boot, or in limited space on board (or back at home) then a fully inflatable boat is the one to go for.

I reckon that the best compromise at this size is a fully inflatable, with inflatable keel and floor. Zodiac make a good boat, they are the standard by which others are judged. Quicksilver make a good boat too. My personal favorite, after looking at many different brands is Lodestar http://www.lodestardirect.co.uk

As far as engines are concerned 15hp will make a 3.5m inflatable go like stink. 4-stroke if you only ever use it as a tender, 2-stroke if you intend to transport it in a car boot, and a two-stroke will be faster too - in fact it will probably scare you!

Look carefully at weights - the best package is the lightest.

HTH!

[Willwors]

I will probably keep the boat in the garage but to be honest a 260 roll up fits in my car just about with my tohatsu outboard so i dont think it matters if its fully inflatable or rib cos ill have to trail it anyway. How much speed would i get from a 15hp motor. incidently i have been offered a cadet 340 with a yamaha 20 brand new for 2395. is this ridiculoulsy fast? any idea of speeds? i have also seen the Avon Rover Riblite 310 which will take a 10hp motor. any idea of speed there?