Hello

[CGFR]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum. Done a bit of ribbing over the years with friends, did the PBL2 last summer and have now decided it's time to take the plunge and get myself something. Still undecided on what but thinking a Ribcraft or Ribtec 585 would be a good fit. Usage would be Solent / Devon / Cornwall and nothing too demanding. Main challenge is that I have 4 kids (8 to 14) so I need something that can seat us all / fit us all (wife included) though in reality the boat will mainly get used my me and my eldest son. So the extra seats would be like the spare room - costs a lot more to have it but hardly ever gets used... The search starts here!

[Maximus]

Welcome to Ribnet!
Good luck with your search!...Both good Boats

[tamsbairn]

CGFR welcome and enjoy the forum. ����

[Dry Run]

Welcome CGFR Hope to see you out and about in The Solent sometime.

Steve

[pilotwillie]

I share your pain with the 4 kids (ages 12 - 4) !
I got my hands on an Osprey Viper 5.25, '94 hull, totally solid but very tired. It was a single seat console, faded blue colour. I spent a few ££££ with Mike Whitham and he did a total refurb (except tubes which are still original) and got him to add the 4 single jockeys. Seats 6 when needed with one on the anchor locker cushion, but similar to you it's normally just me or +1. It's a handy size for 1 person launch / recovery and I think it's a great RIB, works really well for me.



There's a Ribcraft 585 at Bembridge Marine (only viewed online so might not be there anymore) and with a few ££££ spent could be turned into a great RIB the way you want it.

All the best.

[CGFR]

Thanks to all for the welcome messages.

Pilotwillie - interesting to hear your experience / approach. I have seen the R'craft 585 (online not in the flesh) but have no sense of what I would need to spend on a refurb and how that stacks up vs buying something newer / all sorted and ready to go. What do you reckon based on your experience?

[CGFR]

Ps I mean the one at Bembridge Marine you mention above

[pilotwillie]

Sadly, it's all down to £'s, but you'll soon get used to that as a boat owner.
If you're on a tight budget then obviously you're probably gonna have to be happy with whatever's out there e.g. the 585 mentioned. Yes, there will probably be 'a few' things wrong with it / not to your liking but it'll get you out on the water and if the hull is sound then a great platform to start with.
If you've got a modest budget e.g. the 585 price plus the same again, then I think you could do an awful lot of good to that boat to get it up to a v good condition and, maybe more importantly, to a spec / layout that you / your family needs.
If money's no object, buy new to exactly how you want it.
I could'nt have got (at the time) anything like what I have now for the money I've spent, and more importantly for me the layout. With a small bit of effort (towing it to Mike's place from Glasgow) I was happy to give a 21yr old RIB a new lease of life, as he was ! Yes, I'd love a shiny new 4 stroke hanging off the transom but I'm sure that'll come, especially if I use the 'it's for safety, darling' reasoning as mentioned in another recent thread !!! Having said that there's absolutely nothing wrong with the 2 stroke lump I've got (outboard, not wife &#128521.
I'd definitely do it all again. It obviously will have to be bigger though !!!

[Bucksribster]

Ribeyes fit a lot of seats. A 5.5 can seat six behind the consul.