£200k....., really !?

Chris · 18 October 2015, 19:26

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...00000614172114

willk · 18 October 2015, 19:31

A bargain beside an Atlantic 85 at £214k

Cost maybe includes bespoke launch system, converted motors, specialist nav, comms and DF gear.

It will look cheap the day it's looking for you...

Chris · 18 October 2015, 19:37

If the launch system is included then yes, Beachley is not for the faint hearted especially at Spring tides ! S

Poly · 18 October 2015, 19:42

Its an 8m Delta with a Kevlar reinforced hull so it was never going to be cheap. Here is the spec: New next generation Delta 800X Rescue RIB for Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) - Delta Power Group news, blog, information, product updates, new Delta RIB / RHIB releases

Andre · 27 October 2015, 08:46

I saw this rib not so long ago at Southampton Dry Stack and took a few photos as she seemed well equipped. I would never have put such a price tag on that rib. Why Kevlar for a rescue boat? it is not as if she has to be bullet proof like some military ribs. in my book over the top unless there is some other specialized equipment involved. Can't think what could be but suppose the government body that gave the grant can justify the expense .

ShinyShoe · 27 October 2015, 09:25

Presumably they perceive a risk of hitting hard stuff in the water (i.e. rocks) as its the glass that is layed up with kevlar. They have another Delta - perhaps they have in the past damaged it on a rocky rescue...

Did Parker not bid for it?

willk · 27 October 2015, 10:13

Kevlar? Spec says Composite Material - a jam sandwich could be thus described...

ShinyShoe · 27 October 2015, 10:19

Professor Poly - King of Materials and such things makes the Kavlar claim. Unusually he doesn't appear to have actually provided a decent scientific reference to his claim...

willk · 27 October 2015, 10:21

...."the big boy did it and ran away!"

ShinyShoe · 27 October 2015, 10:26

Here's a reference to save Poly's face:

Severn Area Rescue Association Â» Blog Archive Â» New Lifeboat on the Severn Launched - SARA is an Inshore Rescue boat and Land Search organisation covering the Severn Estuary and the surrounding area

Chris · 27 October 2015, 13:33

I don't think Kevlar weave is that expensive anyway....

Bigtalljv · 27 October 2015, 14:28

It's a government grant paying for it, that means nobody cares how much it costs and it costs twice the price. If they had to raise the money themselves it would have cost less. .... At least that's how it works over here.

Jason

willk · 27 October 2015, 15:35

On the bright side, if anyone does want a budget rescue RIB, they now know which manufacturer can knock one up for them!

Chris · 27 October 2015, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

On the bright side, if anyone does want a budget rescue RIB, they now know which manufacturer can knock one up for them!

Sod that if they want to pay 200k then I will go and order some Kevlar straight away

Poly · 27 October 2015, 17:05

The Kevlar reference was indeed from SARA's own site.

However it didn't strike me as that odd, Kevlar isn't usually used in boat building for its "bullet proofing" properties - its normally just a strength / weight argument. Increasingly common in high performance sailing boats. Its used in some of the RNLI all weather boats (possibly all the current designs?). DuPont claim it has better damage resistance and fatigue properties. http://www.dupont.co.uk/products-and...omposites.html

I don't know why they specced Kevlar (or perhaps they didn't but specced a speed / size / weight that demanded it). All out speed is rarely a lifeboat spec - but lighter hull = more fuel can be carried = longer endurance. If damage was a concern the alternative would have been to spec two boats so there was a reserve - which obviously increases cost. As Chris says the Kevlar fibre isn't that expensive, but it is more specialist to work with and means the hull has to be epoxy not polyester. Even then the material costs alone wouldn't justify the price tag - but you do limit the range of suppliers who have the skills and equipment to lay up the boat.

Is it a "waste" of government money? Difficult to say. If we accept there is a need for a rescue boat of that size in that area then you might turn to the RNLI as the "reference design" for a boat of that type. It seems that an Atlantic 85 (carbon fibre based?) is in the same ball park. Many "independent" lifeboats have "made do" with recreational or commercial spec boats (including SARA). They may well have a better idea of the true cost of ownership of boats built to a budget and driven in demanding environments.

MatFromPoland · 27 October 2015, 18:46

Friend of mine uses kevlar/aramides mats for small fishing GRP boats for strength. 4,4m GRP boats. Not sure if he even tell about them customers.

Andre · 27 October 2015, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Did Parker not bid for it?

No we did not

not to highjack this thread I will start a thread in the Gallery with some good action photos of the Parker 900 Baltic supplied via Bogi to the ICESAR. The conditions in the Atlantic up there are something and a rib of a much lesser value as you will see has been coping very well

PS: as I have mentioned Bogi as anyone seen or heard of him as he seems to have gone underground

willk · 27 October 2015, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

The conditions in the Atlantic up there are something and a rib of a much lesser value as you will see has been coping very well

It was for sale on here recently: Linky

Maybe Bogi is keeping his head down...

Andre · 27 October 2015, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

It was for sale on here recently: Linky

Maybe Bogi is keeping his head down...

Yes I know and sold after 8 years of service with ICESAR not bad. The rib as I understand is being converted to a seasafari rib .

Bogi has been keeping his head down for a few years now.

Dirk Diggler · 28 October 2015, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I don't think Kevlar weave is that expensive anyway....

no, it's not that bad. weight for weight, it's about 4 x times the cost of a decent biaxial cloth, but if you take into account that you don't need the same grammage, then that brings the cost down to about 3 times that of biax, plus, you probably wouldn't use as much.