Aquarius ribs

[deano52]

Hi

This is my first post on here so hopefully I have posted this in the right place.

I am looking for my first rib and need a bit of help.
I have seen an advert for an Aquarius rib which they state is South African, it has been retubed (they state rubber) and has been epoxied. Are these a reasonable first time buy. I'm a bit cautious as the price seem a bit cheap.

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks

[Ovey]

Hi, and welcome! I've not heard of Aquarius but Ribeye are made in SA too. There doesn't seem to be any difference in the quality so if the price and spec is right - go for it!

[Ribshop]

Originally Posted by deano52

Hi

This is my first post on here so hopefully I have posted this in the right place.

I am looking for my first rib and need a bit of help.
I have seen an advert for an Aquarius rib which they state is South African, it has been retubed (they state rubber) and has been epoxied. Are these a reasonable first time buy. I'm a bit cautious as the price seem a bit cheap.

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Welcome to Ribnet.
I would say approach with caution. If a boat has been epoxied it could well be covering something up. It’s also the main treatment for osmosis so I would be asking was it dried out properly, what products were used and who applied it.

[deano52]

Originally Posted by Ribshop

Welcome to Ribnet.
I would say approach with caution. If a boat has been epoxied it could well be covering something up. It’s also the main treatment for osmosis so I would be asking was it dried out properly, what products were used and who applied it.

Thank you for your help I was going to have a look today, is there any obvious signs if it is a cover up?

[deano52]

Thanks or your help I am going to take a look today

[Ribshop]

Look for spotting or small bubbles under what ever has been applied. It may also be worth wile asking who made the tubes. We have a Rib in at the moment that was only re-tubed a few years ago and the seams are already giving up.

[Ribandmotorhome]

Originally Posted by Ovey

Hi, and welcome! I've not heard of Aquarius but Ribeye are made in SA too. There doesn't seem to be any difference in the quality so if the price and spec is right - go for it!

I have not heard of aquarius either.
No offence ment to satisfied ribeye owners but Google the problems they have had, I have never owned a ribeye but wouldn't touch one with a barge pole from what I have read!!

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by Ribandmotorhome

I have not heard of aquarius either.
No offence ment to satisfied ribeye owners but Google the problems they have had, I have never owned a ribeye but wouldn't touch one with a barge pole from what I have read!!

thats a bit harsh, maybe some early ribeyes had issues, but i doubt you would find much wrong with more recent ones! any rib can have tube issues, when we bought our brand new Revenger it had to go back to get leaks sorted in the seams and the Avon SR4 I bought last year needed to be re-tubed due to the tubes being knackered, but bought it knowing that so no complaints from me

[Ribandmotorhome]

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

thats a bit harsh, maybe some early ribeyes had issues, but i doubt you would find much wrong with more recent ones! any rib can have tube issues, when we bought our brand new Revenger it had to go back to get leaks sorted in the seams and the Avon SR4 I bought last year needed to be re-tubed due to the tubes being knackered, but bought it knowing that so no complaints from me

Well as I say I never had a ribeye and if they are improved. Great!
Mind you I have yet to see one afloat with out the top of the tubes all sun faded and shabby!!

My dad bought a revenger 27ft powerboat (not a rib) in the early 90s and all the transom cracked within a month but to be fair they had it back repaired and strengthened it up and it's still going strong today without a mark on it!

I have had 2 sr4's and on my third Avon. Never had an issue. Not saying they dont as you pointed out! :-)

[Ribandmotorhome]

Originally Posted by deano52

Hi

This is my first post on here so hopefully I have posted this in the right place.

I am looking for my first rib and need a bit of help.
I have seen an advert for an Aquarius rib which they state is South African, it has been retubed (they state rubber) and has been epoxied. Are these a reasonable first time buy. I'm a bit cautious as the price seem a bit cheap.

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Hi deano.

What sort of size boat are you thinking and what do you call 'cheap' for the Aquarius??

[deano52]

Originally Posted by Ribandmotorhome

Hi deano.

What sort of size boat are you thinking and what do you call 'cheap' for the Aquarius??

Hi

Its a 4.2m with a 50hp tohatsu 2 stroke engine 2005, its up for £4500.
I was looking at sea riders myself unto 4.8m as I don't have room to store anything longer. My budget is around 5k and everything in this bracket seemed fairly old.

[Ribandmotorhome]

Originally Posted by deano52

Hi

Its a 4.2m with a 50hp tohatsu 2 stroke engine 2005, its up for £4500.

Not too bad if the boat isn't too old either!

I would suggest not spending loads on your first boat, just incase!

I have a 4.25 Avon seasport with a 60hp mercury. I paid £1400 for it!
Between the 1st of June last year and 31st October. I used it every weekend bar 2.
And 6 times since then, last time a week or so back for the nacho run.
(Where I had comments on what good nick it was in for its age!)

This is my 5th rib between 4m and 5m. The most I ever paid was £2500.
And sold them all 2 or 3 years later for profit!

So it can be done cheaply if you hunt about a bit for the right one! :-)

[deano52]

yes I can understand what you mean, its just a bit mind blowing with whats out there as to which ones are worth a look. unfortunately where I'm based in essex it seems like I'm going to have to travel a bit as well.

[Ribandmotorhome]

Originally Posted by deano52

yes I can understand what you mean, its just a bit mind blowing with whats out there as to which ones are worth a look. unfortunately where I'm based in essex it seems like I'm going to have to travel a bit as well.

Yeah point taken.
I have seen some 2 year old boats in worst condition than a 15 year old boat!
But they always look ok in pictures I looked at 15 boats before buying my current one.

I did spend 18k on a boat once but I sold it after 2 years. I was so worried about looking after it etc.
For me I have found I have more fun with smaller boats and if they are not expensive I don't worry about them at all!
Granted a always end up tinkering and improving them whilst owning them but



I enjoy that!

My seasport is a 1994, so it's 20 years old this year and I was asked if it was a 2008 buy a marine engineer in Christchurch last year. (Plonker!)

[Ribandmotorhome]

Mind you cost is immaterial if your happy paying it and get what you want out the boat!

I would consider a 4m searider if I was you as its easy to handle etc.
If you like it knock it on and buy a bigger or later boat if that's what you want!
But always find the new boat first, nothing worse than not being able to find one on a sunny day!

[Roflhat]

Aquarius make some of the best thundercats, I've not heard feedback on their solid hulls boats though