Am I mental? Thinking of going back to a hardboat...

Markyboyo · 29 March 2013, 19:45

Hmmm. RIB net probably not the best place to ask this Q but I am thinking of going back to a hardboat....
I do love the RIB and I think it would be the only thing I would have ever sold with serious doubt in my mind that I wes doing the right thing. I've looked at one of these

Spectrum Boats Quality fun boats at the right price , massive savings every day www.spectrum-boats.co.uk , Spectrum 480 , spectrum , spectrum boats , spectrum pilothouse , quicksilver 500 ,

and I wonder if it may be better for my use which consists mostly of spending time cruising between pubs and beaches and fishing. The RIB goes like stink, is great in the chop and has the "Cool" factor but other than that I think a hard boat could be better for me.

More comfort/space, can kip on it for the odd night if I decide to stay out/can't be arsed / to many beers to tow it home, cheaper on fuel (Thinking of an 60 E-TEC), more social for passengers, still do 30 knots if need be, weather protection for less hardy passengers/small children. I just think I would probably use it more than the RIB.

Any constructive (destructive more likely I know ) thoughts welcome

Pikey Dave · 29 March 2013, 20:02

Horses for courses mate. If it fits your needs & the RIB doesn't, then go for it. I'd be lying if I denied wishing for a cabin now & then.

willk · 29 March 2013, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markyboyo

Any constructive (destructive more likely I know ) thoughts welcome

"Ahead of that is a little fibreglass seat where the captain can sit and under that is the battery. The helm has a footrest, a ships wheel on the bulkhead and an instrument cluster on the top."

That's from your link. I think you should go test drive one and come back and tell us what it was like. If I was buying a boat, I'd like it to be able to be "solid and secure crisscrossing other boats' wakes" too

Boats&Outboards · 29 March 2013, 20:09

Before committing come up to Plymouth and visit South West Yacht Brokers. They have some on display, I'd strongly advise checking out the build quality before making any decisions

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ www.BoatsandOutboards4Sale.co.uk ~ 07930 421007

John Kennett · 29 March 2013, 20:11

They look like quite cool little boats actually. Let us know how you get on!

Anchorhandler · 29 March 2013, 20:20

Mrs Anchorhandler is pretty well versed at taking trips out with me on whatever rib we've ever owned and in all our sorties has never been seasick.......until....
We bought a new Beneteau Antares 620 with the inboaed diesel a good few years ago now and from that day on she vowed we should never buy anything like that again. Yes, she had many a conversation with god on the big white pump flushed telephone

. She was fine on any rib but just couldnt handle the motion on the Beneteau.

I liked the boat but really missed being able to "drive" it while out in the sunshine.... (yes we did have sunshine back in those days) To me it was a bit like driving a car, comfertable yes but just not the same as feeling the wind in your face

Simon

Ian_st · 29 March 2013, 20:25

They are from ash marine in topsham, looked at one last year, and was quite impressed. At that time they were waiting for one of the fishing / boat mags to complete a review. The engines looked on the light side, and weight if you look compared to a Shetland implies that they are lightweight.

There are a couple of them in exmouth marina, if it was me I would take a test and then speak to someone who has one to see what they are like.

The build quality looked good and at the time there was room for price negotiation.

Poly · 29 March 2013, 20:35

Quote:

More comfort/space, can kip on it for the odd night if I decide to stay out/can't be arsed / to many beers to tow it home, cheaper on fuel (Thinking of an 60 E-TEC), more social for passengers, still do 30 knots if need be, weather protection for less hardy passengers/small children. I just think I would probably use it more than the RIB.

There is much to be said for a cabin or a wheel house on a boat. Realistically will you sleep in it? Its very small (and probably stinks of resin!) so you'd need to be keen to sleep in it, or more importantly you may be sleeping in it alone! Nor did I see any mention of a "head" which I think may also put off the more delicate visitors!

I wonder if the seating arrangements really makes it a more comfortable option for families?

Markyboyo · 29 March 2013, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boats&Outboards

Before committing come up to Plymouth and visit South West Yacht Brokers. They have some on display, I'd strongly advise checking out the build quality before making any decisions

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ BoatsandOutboards4Sale | Hand-picked boats & motors, fully tested, delivered nationwide. ~ 07930 421007

PM me if you have any thoughts Peter. You have obviously looked them over.

I wouldn't consider buying one without of these without a seatrial. Saying that I did when I bought the Destroyer but I knew the pedigree of the hull and had played on plenty of other similar sized ribs.

At the moment I tend to go ashore and pitch a 2 man tent for the night and I'm sure the cabin whilst small would be better than that.

It weights 35kg more than the Orkney fastliner I had which was 3 foot longer. That was built like a brick and solid after 20 years.

Andre · 29 March 2013, 21:19

There is nothing wrong in switching to a hard boat with a cabin and a bit of comfort.
Checkout the Parker Pilothouse and Weekend boats on Sussex Boat Shop and in the latest PBR magazine there is a boat test of the Parker 660 Pilothouse

Markyboyo · 29 March 2013, 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

There is nothing wrong in switching to a hard boat with a cabin and a bit of comfort.
Checkout the Parker Pilothouse and Weekend boats on Sussex Boat Shop and in the latest PBR magazine there is a boat test of the Parker 660 Pilothouse

Believe it or not that site is blocked on the ship I am on at the moment as the web address contains the word "sex". I would love to feed our IT administrators into a blender feet first. Interestingly we had allot of Angolans here recently and they could look at any porn they wanted to as their web addresses were in Portugese.

I will check them out when I can. Do they do a pilot house in the region of 5m? 660 may be a little over the 1.5 ton limit all up for my licence.

whisper · 29 March 2013, 21:48

Am I mental? Thinking of going back to a hardboat...

Yes

Markyboyo · 29 March 2013, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by whisper

Am I mental? Thinking of going back to a hardboat...

Yes

I think that was the response I was secretly hoping for!

chris.moody · 29 March 2013, 21:54

The 550 with a 135hp on the back could be fun.

willk · 29 March 2013, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markyboyo

I think that was the response I was secretly hoping for!

That was the response I secretly gave you!

Ribliam · 29 March 2013, 22:15

In my boating career to date I have had 3 hard boats and 4 Ribs the hard boats were a 16ft Seahog, 20ft Hardy Family Pilot,and an Aquador 26, my Ribs have been Ribcraft 5.85, 6.5, & 6.8 offshore.. And my present one an Excalibur ..While I try not to say never I would find it very difficult to go back to a hard boat doing the type of boating I do , If you do a lot of dropping in and out of harbours within a short distance like I do around the South West Cork coast calling to The likes of Cape Clear ,Baltimore ,Schull etc. I found that with a hard boat you were constantly having to be careful with fenders trying not to damage gel coat , with the rib while I would still be fairly careful I find they are more suitable to this style of boating..then again if it's what suits..

Rogue Wave · 29 March 2013, 22:21

[QUOTE=Markyboyo;525949]Believe it or not that site is blocked on the ship I am on at the moment as the web address contains the word "sex". I would love to feed our IT administrators into a blender feet first. QUOTE]

Just as well the boats your interested in aren't made in Scunthorpe. Re Hardboats why not. I'd quite like a Phantom or an Extreme one day

This time last year I was working in Block 18 I.m thinking it's about 30 degrees at the moment..Say hello to the Doradoes and Manta rays for me

Andy B · 29 March 2013, 22:23

I went through the same thing last year,
although I had a budget up to £10k I couldn’t find the RIB I wanted and ended up buying a hard boat.
By the way I was out today and yes it was bloody freezing.

Bigmuz7 · 29 March 2013, 22:24

[QUOTE=Poly;525929]Nor did I see any mention of a "head" which I think may also put off the more delicate visitors![QUOTE]

Funny how it goes ?

some of our wimmen social lot would just appreciate the 'getting to where we go' and find a place to do the business.. others wont go unless its 'shanks' finest .. .. and was made in the town in which I have resided for 20years .. I think the girls need to man up a little and just get on with things, and dispense with the fluffy bits of life

Markyboyo · 29 March 2013, 22:28

[QUOTE=Rogue Wave;525970]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markyboyo

Believe it or not that site is blocked on the ship I am on at the moment as the web address contains the word "sex". I would love to feed our IT administrators into a blender feet first. QUOTE]

Just as well the boats your interested in aren't made in Scunthorpe. Re Hardboats why not. I'd quite like a Phantom or an Extreme one day

This time last year I was working in Block 18 I.m thinking it's about 30 degrees at the moment..Say hello to the Doradoes and Manta rays for me

No way. I spent 4 years on the Bourbon 101 in Block 18. I could have stayed on the Seven Pacific down there but I have moved on to Rigid Pipelay for a While. Sailing to Brazil from the North sea in a week or so for a years work but I think we will be back to Angola for a quick Job in a couple of Months.