avon 560 adventure as 1st rib?

dubrus · 16 July 2010, 11:32

as some may know i've been looking for my first rib.

i've put a deposit on a mint avon adventure 560 with mariner 100hp 4 stroke and due for a test "drive" next weekend. it has every extra they make on it and really is a smart rig imo (not knowing much about ribs)

someone made a comment in another thread ( 2 RIBs stolen- both mine. Dorchester, Dorset) and i gather they are not too impressed with it and was wondering why this maybe the case?

fyi the boat will not be used on the river clyde and loch lomond which are both sheltered heavily compared to a lot of other places.

any info on the package or reasons not to buy this would be listened to?

i should also say 5.6 is about the max size i can go with where it will be kept.

cheers

chewy · 16 July 2010, 11:35

I think what DHD was getting at is there is better handling RIBs for the money. Whilst this doesn't affect you with where you want to use it, it may limit your market when you come to sell.

dubrus · 16 July 2010, 11:47

thanks for that.

i have no doubt there maybe better handling ribs but finding them is tricky as most will know. if i could afford a new one then fair enough i guess. it would have been better for me as a newbie to the forum/ribs for a more indepth explanation from a senior member than implying it maybe better to have the rib stolen :-(. maybe one for people to remember to help attract other new users to a great site.

i've been looking for quite a while now for something with 4 single jockey seats atleast, 4 stroke engine and ofcourse within budget (12k) and they are thin on the ground.

cheers

matt h · 16 July 2010, 11:57

i can understand your predicament, all i can do is give you info of what i thought of mine, b------s

enclosed are some pics of mine,
the first thing i really noticed was how bad it was in the rough, I mean 2 foot waves threw it all over the place, the hull was very thin, coupled with the outhill fixtures and fitting which in my opinion were also made of paper, the seats i chose were so soft, you could (scuse the pun) bottom out. it was an awfull boat, very noisy, slappy, and not at all a capable rough water rib, you could almost hear every droplet of water to hit the hull, it was terrible. Engine was superb tho, 45 knots if you dared.

overall i would not want to take it wavejumping as i could not trust it, it was not what i was looking for.so i sold it with 8 hours on it!!

Also i found the rubbing strake just peeled off, for a new boat!!!

what is your upper budget???

dubrus · 16 July 2010, 12:03

excellent pics there!

again thanks for the info, can i ask what RIB's you had before this?

the reason i ask is i'm used to a 1980 cabin cruiser for pottering around in and i can guarantee that ANYTHING i buy will handle better. 2 ft waves would be a luxury!

i'm trying my best to weigh up a few facts and it's difficult to do-

1. never been on a rib in my life
2. these things are hard to find if you want something decent
3. even if i helmed a crap rib it would be infinetely better than what i've had for the last 15 years so i'd still think it was the business. so as you can imagine it's very difficult to decipher the weed from the chav.

i can't believe that a well know manufacturer would make a rib that is so poor though? surely some owners love them? i have looked on google etc and the comments are thin on the ground. i did see some comments which say they are poor and some which people love it so again i'm guessing. some owners seem happy but i fully understand it is hard for people to critise what they own and again need to try and factor that in!

the joy of life eh...hehe.

cheers

chewy · 16 July 2010, 12:11

You'll find that someone who has just spent a shed load of money on a new RIB will be reluctant to admit its pants.
Get a Searider.

matt h · 16 July 2010, 12:15

Its Ribnet that discussions like this take off, and there are many people on here that really know what they are talking about, and have a look at the boats they own

Ive had many different boat over the years and each craft serves a different purpose.
Without knowing your particular situation i would probally be looking at Osprey Vipermax (ps osprey ribs have a superb 6.5 for sale) bit bigger i know,

Ribcraft. 5.3 /5.5
Humber destroyer (quality is much better so ive heard)
Solent ribs
shakespeare
ribtec
coastline
delta (bit commercial)
Tornado
XS ribs
etc etc

All the above will and can take British waters and do the job.

There are many others but i guessing out of budget like shearwater, capelli,

stick me neck out here.

ones to avoid,

Valiant ,Zodiac,seapro, gemini, monarch,