Advantages of a RIB over a powerboat?

[Superjetjim]

I recently purchased my first boat (Picton Royale 185 with Mercury 150 V6) we visited the Solent at the back end the season and noticed most people now had RIBs and power boats are few and far between. The old man even commented 'We've bought the wrong thing son!'

Question I have is 'why' one over the other?? What are the pros/cons?

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Superjetjim

I recently purchased my first boat (Picton Royale 185 with Mercury 150 V6) we visited the Solent at the back end the season and noticed most people now had RIBs and power boats are few and far between. The old man even commented 'We've bought the wrong thing son!'

Question I have is 'why' one over the other?? What are the pros/cons?

1- its really hard to really fully sink a RIB
2- you can have a deeper V and thereby a smoother ride with a RIB hull/tubes
3- the tubes take energy by deforming when they hit stuff/ the water
4- you can bounce off stuff better !

Just a few thoughts for starters...

[piranha580]

My last 4 boats have been 'hard boats' if you want to call them that and I only just purchased my first new rib.. All of the above points are what turned me to a rib
They're usually lighter too.. Which means better fuel economy.. Quicker take off.. Faster top end.. No need to over power a rib either with a huge engine like you have to on a rigid boat! They're like the 4x4 of the sea!! 

[willk]

If you ask the shower on www.boatmad.com (aka The Darkside) the same question, you'll get a whole different answer...

Maybe

[piranha580]

I'm a convert anyway.. I'm sure they'd come around with some persuasion!! 

[willk]

Originally Posted by piranha580

I'm sure they'd come around with some persuasion!! 

Yeah, just after the Taliban take Holy Communion

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by willk

If you ask the shower on www.boatmad.com (aka The Darkside) the same question, you'll get a whole different answer...

Maybe

love the link!

[martini]

I didn't bother clicking the link before!

[chewy]

Originally Posted by willk

If you ask the shower on www.boatmad.com (aka The Darkside) the same question, you'll get a whole different answer...

Maybe

Naughty Willk!

[GJ0KYZ]

The main disadvantage of a rib is that most don't have a cabin. My previous boat was an Orkney 23 and that had a cabin and two vee berths up front. The cabin meant my warrf would come out when it was choppy or raining safe in the knowledge she wouldn't get her hair mussed. Last year she came out in the rib twice.

However, the problem with the Orkney, and the reason I sold it, was that it had a flat hull aft and used to land very heavily is anything above a F3. My rib can handle much rougher condx and more importantly can maintain a higher speed. For instance, the other day when Martini II and I came back from France it was a good F5. We were able to keep up a speed of 20-25kts; in those seas the Orkney would be down to 7-10kts, i.e., it would have taken twice as long to get home. Ribs mean less time spent at sea in rough conditions and for that reason alone I think they're safer than comparable rigid boats.