1st RIB - old Ribtec 535

Swain Marine · 23 June 2013, 15:05

Bought an old Ribtec 535 with twin 40hp Mariners. It's well used.. but should be a bit of fun.
Have replaced brake shoes, cables, jockey wheel, wheels & tyres on the trailer and steering cable on the boat (new helm unit required shortly..)
Haven't had chance to get it out on the water yet. Might try in Christchurch one evening this week.
Am a marine engineer (diesels mainly) and have been on & around boats for the last 25 years but this is the first proper boat of my own. Last boat I owned was a Mirror dinghy when I was a teenager.

Chris Caton · 23 June 2013, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swain Marine

Bought an old Ribtec 535 with twin 40hp Mariners. It's well used.. but should be a bit of fun.
Have replaced brake shoes, cables, jockey wheel, wheels & tyres on the trailer and steering cable on the boat (new helm unit required shortly..)
Haven't had chance to get it out on the water yet. Might try in Christchurch one evening this week.
Am a marine engineer (diesels mainly) and have been on & around boats for the last 25 years but this is the first proper boat of my own. Last boat I owned was a Mirror dinghy when I was a teenager.

looks good

all you need now is some decent weather to enjoy it, good luck

Maximus · 23 June 2013, 15:25

I'm sure you'll Have some Great Fun in Her! Good Luck,and welcome to Ribnet

Nice part of the World your in!...usualy fish the ''Bridgepool'' once a year! ''Sea Trout Central''!!

Swain Marine · 23 June 2013, 19:19

Cheers, hopefully should be good fun. Might have to adopt an economical cruising speed though as I think it might be thirsty with a pair of old carb two strokes..

freespirit3 · 23 June 2013, 20:23

Boat looks and sounds great

Very envious of you living near to the coast

Boat should plain really quickly and cruise nicely, only WOT will give really high consumption.

Hope the weather gets better for you

Swain Marine · 24 June 2013, 20:40

Tides not good for an evening trip this week so fingers crossed for ok weather at the weekend.
The previous owner said it planed easily which is good to know.

Swain Marine · 29 June 2013, 17:56

Finally got out today. Great weather for a change :-)
Had a successful launch from the slipway at Mayor's Mead car park, Mooched up the River Stour a little way then headed down the harbour out into Christchurch Bay & had a spin around off high cliff then over the pother side of Hengitsbury Head towards Southbourne. Came back and anchored off the Beach Huts on Hengitsbury head spit then back up the harbour for a successful recovery..
All in all a good day out. Need to sort out the throttle controls though as they are too stiff.

Swain Marine · 29 June 2013, 18:05

Some pics:

kerny · 29 June 2013, 18:22

Nice pics, nice set up, and nice weather

Johnscubanut · 29 June 2013, 20:42

Looks like you had a good day too? I used to tow with Mazda Bongo, great vehicle! Was going to dive off the eastern wight tomorrow, but forecast is not too good? Ah well, another day! Have fun!

Swain Marine · 29 June 2013, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnscubanut

Looks like you had a good day too? I used to tow with Mazda Bongo, great vehicle! Was going to dive off the eastern wight tomorrow, but forecast is not too good? Ah well, another day! Have fun!

yeah good day was had. Bongo is super versatile, but a bit like the boat, rough around the edges.. ;-)

jezza2011 · 29 June 2013, 22:42

Welcome to the ribtec 535 club :-)

Nice I have a ribtec 535 also and love her.

22 years old and still going strong.
and yes 2 strokes are thirsty old motors.

Swain Marine · 30 June 2013, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jezza2011

Welcome to the ribtec 535 club :-)

Nice I have a ribtec 535 also and love her.

22 years old and still going strong.
and yes 2 strokes are thirsty old motors.

I have no idea of the age, but it's pretty old and engines are even older.. Ex RNLI jobbies. Removed steering helm unit & throttle/gear cables today. Once they are replaced I'll have better control over her.. Planes easily as previous owner and others had said it would. Worst problem I've come across so far is that I think all the baffles have gone as using only one valve it seems you can inflate/deflate the the whole tube! :-(

Pete7 · 17 August 2013, 18:19

That could be the very first Ribtec 535, which they used in the early advertising pictures. Two blokes sat in it, one called Alan Priddy who was the passenger if my memory is correct.

Pete

matt h · 17 August 2013, 18:32

How are they Rated? the Ribtec 535's ??

Pete7 · 17 August 2013, 18:50

I thought they were very good considering the size, had two of them at various times. Same hull as the Solent 5.4m btw. The major advantage is are small enough to tow easily and launch without needing 4x4. Perhaps a little less hard core than the iconic Avon 5.4m but the Ribtec's tended to come in nicer colours, rather than battle ship grey or tango orange.

With a 70hp 2 stroke, I would use 4 gallons an hour at about 30 knots from memory.

Pete

Mollers · 17 August 2013, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

How are they Rated? the Ribtec 535's ??

Cracking. Kernow had one.

matt h · 17 August 2013, 19:03

Sounds good. What engine would be ideal? (Not two smoke)
Yam f60?

Shit. Edit.... Its a 455 i think? 50 hp??

Mollers · 17 August 2013, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

Sounds good. What engine would be ideal? (Not two smoke)
Yam f60?

Shit. Edit.... Its a 455 i think? 50 hp??

90hp, pick yer flavour.

matt h · 17 August 2013, 19:28

Ribtec History

a bit of cut n paste...................Ribtec was launched in 1989 by Tim Wilks, whose great uncle Maurice Wilks designed the first Land Rover in 1947 as well as the early rescue RIB model Watercraft, on which the initial Ribtec rigid inflatable boats were based. Starting on a very small scale at a boatyard in Swanwick, Southampton, Wilks gradually expanded the business, commissioning a new hull from expert boat designer Alistair Cameron which formed the backbone of Ribtec range over the next decade.