Buster aluminium boats

[BogMonster]

Has anybody on here ever seen one of these (or better still own one/used one):

http://www.buster.fi/?id=796

Seems like an ideal sort of thing, a nice open boat vaguely in the style of a RIB but with an alli hull and no effn tubes, but still unsinkable and apparently not too heavy so should scoot along fairly well with a 100-150hp motor

Had a bit of a look on Google but found nothing much, and the makers website is not that informative as the only tests that are listed are all in Swedish or German! I wonder how they compare with a RIB of a similar size...?

I suspect they might be rather pricey looking at the photos - looks to be pretty well built - interesting

[jyasaki]

Might check these out: www.acbboats.com

True sealed aluminum chambers rather than inflatable tubes, odd-looking, but very robustly built boats.

No idea on pricing, but I'd expect towards the upper midrange on the scale.

There was another New Zealand manufacturer doing roughly the same thing, but I can't recall the name right now.

jky

[codprawn]

http://www.allyduck.co.uk/

Went on one of these at the Southampton show a few years ago - great fun and very much a RIB - without the I. Great fun and what I really liked was the "tubes" were filled with empty plastic pop bottles so couldn't sink!!!

Also has a built in trailer.

I have been out in a few small aluminium boats - they are ok but tend to ride hard.

[jwalker]

I've seen an all alloy rib with a tube repair!

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by codprawn

http://www.allyduck.co.uk/

Went on one of these at the Southampton show a few years ago - great fun and very much a RIB - without the I. Great fun and what I really liked was the "tubes" were filled with empty plastic pop bottles so couldn't sink!!!

Also has a built in trailer.

I have been out in a few small aluminium boats - they are ok but tend to ride hard.

That looks quite interesting

sent off to all for more info, will see what comes back.

"Hundreds of sealed flotation devices" sounds much more technical than "a bunch of 2 litre coke bottles" wonder if they rattle though

[BogMonster]

Buster have a UK dealer

http://www.howardmarine.com/

On their website there isn't much info but it says £13400 for the XXL which is less than I thought it might be - though I doubt that includes engine

I'd have half of that already if I hadn't wasted it on Beelzebubble

[MarkM]

Member Arwin had one before.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by MarkM

Member Arwin had one before.

Thanks I've PM'ed him but doesn't look to be a regular so hope he has email notification of new PM's

[Polwart]

stephen - have you thought about a moulded plastic boat? I would have thought it was cheaper than an Aluminium one. In fact you could probably have a 4m boat for less than the cost of new tubes.

e.g. www.atlanticfocus.co.uk
www.marinerevolution.co.uk (look at video clip - even you will struggle to burst those tubes!)
www.polimoon.com (steadyboats)

of course with any of these, or Ally or GRP its shipping that will be the killer for you.

[MarkM]

@BogMonster: he works in shifts, but I'll contact him.