any rib owners? thinking of buying and need advice

[afiregirl]

Hi -
The local crack-heads stole the bottome of my boat for the aluminum melt value :-(

I can't live without a boat and am considering buying an older avon rib. The guy selling it says it's 20 years old. Does anyone have any experience with older ribs? I used to have older sibs and have great sucess with them, but this is my first rib.

I am also looking at a 20 year old nouvurania rib, or a 2 year old zodiac mk2.

any comments on these?

Thanks so much!!!

[Pete7]

Hi, and welcome to Ribnet. Whilst the Avon will be very high quality how the boat has been used and maintained over 2 decades will be the most important point. Suggest a good look at the options and take some photos.

Pete

[prairie tuber]

What are the specs on the boats you are looking at? Is the Avon a Searider? What is it's length? If it has been used reasonably and been well maintained over the past 20 years, it probably will have more life expectancy still left in it than a PVC Zodiac SIB that is only 2 years old. You may wish to keep an eye on the North American section of this forum and it's 'RIBs for sale in the U.S. and Canada' subsection.