Cobra 7.5? - What Engine and What Rib!!

adams1x · 16 February 2008, 08:30

Hi, My father has decided to join the RIB world! He has replacement hips and so the seating on a RIB is really important as the jockey style seats spread his hips which is uncomfatble. Therefore the natural selection (i think) is the cobra 7.5 unless there are any other suggestions here. The next thing is the Engine, there seem to be lots of Optimax 200 or 225's around but I cant help thinking that my father would prefer the smoothness of the 4 Stroke.

What are your thoughts, A. are we looking at the right RIB and B. What are the thoughts of Optimax Vs. 4 Stroke and is there any massive difference in fuel consumption between the two.

Thanks so much in advance for your help.....
Andrew

Pete7 · 16 February 2008, 09:26

I think a V6 optimax will be quite smooth, compared to some thirsty old 4 cylinder 4 stroke thats inherently unbalanced.

Yes I think you are looking at the right size which will be much more comfortable than say 5.5m but the only way to check the seats out would be a sea tial. There are quite a few large ribs in that range for sale so worth having a good look around the market. You might find a Scorpion or revenger with different seats too.

There is going to be little in the fuel figures btw. Honda etal might claim 30% better compared to old 2 stroke carb engines but if thats 30% of 2 lph at tickover it's not worth getting excited over.

Pete

Cypman · 16 February 2008, 17:11

Hi Andy
Your thread poses lots of questions, what is not clear is whether you are planning to buy new or used. In the first instance I would recommend you go to the RIB International Magazine site and under their "Online Articles" proceed to "RIB Design" and read the very comprehensive article on "RIB Seating". This will give your Dad a very good idea on what is available with regard to seats.
I see you are a RIB owner already but I am not clear about your level of experience. If I am "preaching to the converted" with my ideas I apologise sincerely . I agree that 7.5m is a good length to select, it is not too difficult to tow, launch and recover, moreover, it remains within a "reasonable" price bracket. Obvously, if money is not an issue and the boat is to be dry stacked or similar, the longer the boat usually means a better ride, as does the deadrise of the hull. A deeper "V" hull will normally provide a softer ride.
Regarding your choice of boat there are many good models, and a few bad ones!!, on the market. I suggest you spend some time searching through this site to get ideas. You might also like to look at the Boats For Sale sites in order to get a better feel for what is currently available. To name a few of my favourites, RIB net, RIB International, Boats and Outboards For Sale, Apollo Duck Etc,etc.
Concerning engine choice, whilst I personally prefer 4 strokes, any of the new generation 2 or 4 strokes do a fantastic job and are not hugely different on overall fuel burn under normal operations.
Finally, there are lots of very experienced and knowledgeable Ribsters on this site who are only too willing to respond to any more questions you might have.
Good luck in your search, I am sure you will find a comfortable boat for your dad and don't forget a sea trial in choppy conditions is essential to validate the comfort factor!!

codprawn · 16 February 2008, 19:31

Cobras are great boats - not as hard core as some - more of a family boat.

I personally love 2 strokes - the fuel injected ones aren't really any heavier on fuel than the 4 strokes. 2 strokes are noiser - especially at idle but on the move there isn't much difference - the wind and the waves make more noise.

To be honest it comes down to price - I would go with whatever you get the best deal on.

adams1x · 16 February 2008, 19:54

Thanks for the comments, the budget is about £20-25k, and it is going to be kept in a marina but dry berthed so lifted in and out of the water depending on when it is needed. Both my father and I are pretty expereinced him with bigger boats and me with ribs for a few years now but i tend to know the boat i own well and not much else that is going on in the industry

I am interested to hear the fuel consumption is not a great deal more on the modern 2 strokes which would potentially make the Cobra 7.5's with 200 or 225 Optimax's which are 2003/4 boats seem to be around the £20k mark seem a lot of boat for your money....

Roy Smith · 16 February 2008, 22:59

Have a search though the treads I owned a 7.5 with a 225 F/Stroke Yamaha for three seasons
The engine was the only good bit of the package
If you are not going out of sight of land in no more than slight conditions
then ok.
Very hard ride in the chop, the upright standing was down right bad and if you converted them into seats the driving position was even worse.
They look great very smart, but the build quality was crap.
I took mine back to the factory in wales three times, i suppose in the end some one got a rib that was at least sorted.
My opinion is that you would be buying a flash rib not a good rib, thats my opinion from some one that as owned one.

codprawn · 16 February 2008, 23:56

I think that's rather harsh considering

A. The price compared to a Scorpion - like about 1/2.

B. The fact that many DO go out in some pretty nasty conditions. There is a commercial one that operates out of Swansea that runs trips all the time - prob works far harder than most!!!

C. There have been people on here who were quite happy with them.

Roy Smith · 17 February 2008, 10:38

I have owned one so i speak from what i know not from what i have been told
And don't bring the scorpion into it, i could name 6 ribs that are in the same price band. Humber, ribcraft etc etc that are in a different league for long term owner ship.

codprawn · 17 February 2008, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

I have owned one so i speak from what i know not from what i have been told
And don't bring the scorpion into it, i could name 6 ribs that are in the same price band. Humber, ribcraft etc etc that are in a different league for long term owner ship.

It is NOT just what I have been told - I know the bloke who runs the commercial RIB out of Swansea and have been out on it several times - often in quite choppy conditions.

I have also been out on a few 8.5m Cobras but never a 7.5.

Picton boats have been trading for over 30 years - if they were making products that bad I would have though they would have gone bust a long time ago. Many of their speedboats from the 70s are still going strong!!!

If you do a search on Ribnet you will find people who are quite happy with their Cobras.

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20624

Just because you were disappointed it doesn't mean everyone would be. After all I remember a commercial user on this site having problems with his Scorpion and switching to Revenger - it doesn't mean that Scorpions are bad boats!!!

Roy Smith · 17 February 2008, 17:12

All boats and ribs have they off days
I remember the tread about the scorpion,
I also remember the tube coming adrift on a revenger that HMS was bring back from the channel Islands, but you never bring that up.
You have never owned a 7.5 Cobra so your comments are irrelevant.
I ask you the question
Would you be happy to take your New Rib on a return to base warranty
Back to the Factory three time each trip being a four hundred mile round trip journey, in the end i was so fed up i had even more work done at my own expense.
I am not turning this into something personal, but i tend not to give advise or opinions unless i can verify what i am talking about.

nugent · 17 February 2008, 18:13

think i qualify to add a comment,
i own a 8.0mtr with twin lumps,on the arse end, no complaints to date, and have been bugged for some 4 mths now to sell it, when ever i leave it in the pontoon i get admirers all the time, possibly more concerned with my fuel consumption but i can sell it today at a considerable mark up, Ian Sharlot, says if it was his it would be sold, must admit keeps crossing my mind,
in breif, the bristol channel is god damn nasty at best of times and i have felt very safe and secure in all weathers, few bits i would change, but you buy second hand the damage has allready been done in the set up, some on else req,
all in all a good boat, there are better and faster hulls out there and possibly cheaper, but they are well built by what i can see,

timw · 17 February 2008, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by adams1x

Hi, My father has decided to join the RIB world! He has replacement hips and so the seating on a RIB is really important as the jockey style seats spread his hips which is uncomfatble. Therefore the natural selection (i think) is the cobra 7.5 unless there are any other suggestions here. The next thing is the Engine, there seem to be lots of Optimax 200 or 225's around but I cant help thinking that my father would prefer the smoothness of the 4 Stroke.

What are your thoughts, A. are we looking at the right RIB and B. What are the thoughts of Optimax Vs. 4 Stroke and is there any massive difference in fuel consumption between the two.

Thanks so much in advance for your help.....
Andrew

Consider a Ribeye 750/785 with a smooth quiet 4 stroke Yamaha.

Available with a bench seat for skipper, sea kindly, not particular hard core, but an excellent RIB.
I also believe the Cobra to be excellent, as I know a happy owner of a 7.5.

adams1x · 17 February 2008, 20:10

Very interesting comment, I was not aware they could come with a bench style seat. I am a Ribeye Playtime 600 owner and very pleased so I will investigate this further....

timw · 17 February 2008, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by adams1x

Very interesting comment, I was not aware they could come with a bench style seat. I am a Ribeye Playtime 600 owner and very pleased so I will investigate this further....

Yes my RIBEYE 750 Sport has a bench seat. It has a swing back which means that as alternative to the driving position, the back rest can be swung forward to make a sociable seat facing the rear bench seat

Sadly she will be for sale in the not too distant future.

Chris · 17 February 2008, 21:16

I cant comment on the best rib as I have only ever owned one and although its great I think your dads New Hips would end up as ear rings if he spent any time out in my boat being that it is only a little un

I would have thought some good bolster seats would be worth looking at as they give a variety of supported seating options from standing to leaning to sitting. The Scorpion ones look excellent and are electric as well so easy to adjust on the move.

I would certainly pay a visit to RIBEX this year unless you need to get the boat sooner as it would give your Dad the chance to try out some seating options.

Chris

Nos4r2 · 17 February 2008, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw

Sadly she will be for sale in the not too distant future.

This isn't being forced because of the current speed limits furore is it?

codprawn · 18 February 2008, 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

All boats and ribs have they off days
I remember the tread about the scorpion,
I also remember the tube coming adrift on a revenger that HMS was bring back from the channel Islands, but you never bring that up.
You have never owned a 7.5 Cobra so your comments are irrelevant.
I ask you the question
Would you be happy to take your New Rib on a return to base warranty
Back to the Factory three time each trip being a four hundred mile round trip journey, in the end i was so fed up i had even more work done at my own expense.
I am not turning this into something personal, but i tend not to give advise or opinions unless i can verify what i am talking about.

I never bring "that" up because I never knew about it!!!

Just because you have never actually owned something doesn't tend to make the comments irrelevant.

I would also be annoyed at what you experienced BUT when you buy a specialist product I suppose most things would have to be done back at base unless there are a network of dealers.

timw · 18 February 2008, 08:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

This isn't being forced because of the current speed limits furore is it?

I think a limit will be imposed but only in a limited section like Westminster to Tower, which won't be a huge problem as easing down in this busy section is not such a daft idea.

The RIB is going to be sold because of a new nipper, and spending more time on the slower part of the Thames up at Richmond, and a cabin cruiser is on the cards.

RIB Snapper (famous for being the lead camera boat for the filming of Harry Potter 5) is going to be sold.

A deep clean and light refurb is planned and then it will make someone a super fun RIB

MAHA · 18 February 2008, 14:38

Hi Andrew, I bought a 7.5m Cobra with a 225hp Optimax last year second hand (2005 model year).

The reason I bought the Cobra was for similar reasons to you. I have a very young family (four & one) and felt the Cobra bench seat was not only a more comfortable ride for the kids, but also safer as you sit in the seats as opposed to on them, with no chance of falling off the end as with a lot of other ribs.

This is the first rib I have owned so couldn't comment on how it compares to others but we are very happy with it.

We havent experienced any problems with build quality, quite the opposite it seems very well finished.

We dry stack ours as well which I can highly recommend.

We're not far from you at Southampton so if you or your Father wanted to have a run on the boat I'm more than happy to take you out.

PM me if you want to discuus further.

Tim.