Which roofrack for 3.5M RIB (Ford Ka)

[Firstrib]

Hello, I am going to buy my first RIB soon to use on the Thames in Fulham(when I find a cheap one the right size). No trailer as no drive, so will have to be a roof rack on my small Ford Ka 2005. Any recommendations? I know it will be huge but can it be done? This RIB, when I find it, will deflate and be walked THROUGH my flat to the garden, thus the need for balancing fibreglass hull and size.

[Fenlander]

Do you mean a RIB as in inflated tubes with hard hull... or a SIB which is all inflated??

Your use sounds like you need an air floor SIB which would probably go in the back of the car and be easier to manage at the flat.

BTW... welcome to the forum.

[Firstrib]

Hi Fenlander - thanks for the welcome. I may be being too ambitious, but am looking to squeeze a RIB rather than SIB through the doors on its side as it seems a proper fibreglass hull with an angle and a bit of depth to it will glide along the Thames at speed and take a larger HP motor. But I might be being too ambitious. The For Ka is small but does take a roof race. I am hoping the boat can overlap width ways and length ways legally. I am planning to do VHF licence and buy lifejackets on Ebay. If this all is impossible I might have to go for a pack away boat with electric boat inflator. Any thoughts?

[Fenlander]

That's going to be a real faff whichever way you do it with a RIB... if it is possible at all. Most RIBs of that size would weigh around 180lbs and be very unhandy to try and take through a house on their side... even assuming their depth would fit through a door.

I very rarely advise the exact SIB I have because it doesn't suit everyone... but I reckon a Bombard Aerotec could be ideal for your use if it's just a fun boat for 2 or 3 folks.

Packs away small and very very light for a 3.8m... takes a 25hp and has the deepest V hull of any SIB which "glides" better than any other SIB I've used in choppy conditions. A doddle to set up too with an elec inflator.

A Honwave 3.8 air floor would similarly fit the bill.

BTW just seen your wanted ad... are you expecting a 3.5m RIB and 15-30hp outboard for £800 max? You might need to double that at a minimum!

[willk]

I'm a bit out of things, Thames-wise, but I understood that there was a fairly rubbish speed limit? Maybe not so much 30hp "gliding"?

[ShinyShoe]

You'll knacker your boat roof-racking it inflated.

Its also going to be heavy. I mean REALLY heavy. 3.5m Glass Rib will be 80-100kg with nothing.

You may well be over limit for the roof - would have thought it'll be 50-75kg. If not getting it up there will be a challenge. See Camp4Ever - 3.5m Kimberley Hypalon Alloy RIB - this is a ALLOY rib not glass, so is lighter and they still use a fancy rack for it, and use the 3.1m.

You engine will fill the Ka. How many people are you moving? By the time you've but oilskins, life jackets, anchors etc in the boot is there room for the engine without seats down?

That roof rack is designed not to put pressure on the toobs. a standard roof rack will cause wear on the toobs.

You aint going to enjoy moving it through the house.

If you don't want a SIB is a RIB and storage on a trailer elsewhere possible? (Caravan storage place?)

[Firstrib]

Thank you very much Shiny Shoe for your advice. I think with Fenlander's advice and walking through the flat again and looking at the small KA, I am going to struggle. I see the Kimberly boat, but it is too much new. It's all about budget and storage in Fulham/Chelsea is at a premium. The fun of this project is doing it on a budget and storing in own flat near to river. So I might have to go for a pack away SIB solution.


Thanks for the advice on the weight and roof rack. I will keep this alloy boat in in mind.

[Firstrib]

Hi


There is a speed limit through the pool of London but after Tower Bridge, until the Thames Barrier, it's much quicker. The Thames Clippers go over 30MPH. I have all of this to learn and will need to register the boat.

[Firstrib]

Hi Fenlander. Your posts have grounded me, I think I now have succumbed to the fact that I need a SIB and one that that has a reasonable hull and solid floor, even though inflatable and that I can blow up via the cigarette lighter in the car.


Budget too. I like the fact that I can use a 25HP motor in the model you name and that there is a model that cuts through the waves on the choppy Thames. That's good. I think I will need to pack it away as you describe. I will look into this as a second hand option for a Bombard Aerotec, I think I am looking for 3-4 people so it should work. I will research this and the Honwave 3.8 air. If you have any pictures of it in action, do let me know or similarly, if you see any adverts let me know.

[Fenlander]

Google is your friend for images and videos... like this one...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBDZu7Jx3RE

And the air floor 3.8 Honwave...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMNIpnkzvqs