Hello all and advice choosing first RIB

[lakelandterrier]

Some smaller boats esp Ribcrafts do have a large premium.

If it were me, for my first boat (again) I'd take advice as you are doing off this forum, buy something within budget- but not your dream boat, work out after a season how much you use it and how much you enjoy your time on the water, and after some less than perfect (maybe) experience then decide whether to invest in something else (larger / "better"). You never know, the initial £5kish whatever you buy might tick all your boxes.If not, a good boat will always sell.

Focus on the hull / tubes & configuration you need - upgrading the engine or electronics at a later date is relatively simple.

Good luck

PS there willl be a rather well equipped SR going for auction later this year

[Jizm]

The video was filmed just off Saxon wharf on the itchen if that helps.

[9D280]

Some high level thoughts to throw into the mix......

- Why 5m? If it's for a garage be aware most standard trailer drawbars will add a good m to your LOA. Likewise most standard single doors limit you to 2m beam (and be careful of your trailer (axle) choice!) (and having lived with what evolved into the O-Pro 5m / 2m beam for a few years now it's an awesome sea handler (can stay seated and / or hack 25 knots + in the lumpy stuff in relative comfort ), but a tad limited in places to put seats, so it's maybe handy that Mrs 9D is a fair weather sailer!

- What about a phased upgrade? e.g. SR4/30Hp then mothball the 30, buy a 50. Then buy a bigger hull where 50 is at it's lower end of it's useful HP, punt the original setup to fund the big hull. Run the 50 for a while, then repace / PX the engine for a 90..... You get the idea.

Is old bad? What you see in the box to the left of this post is a 1984 hull and an engine that started life in the 70s on a 1960s design...... OK, I like tinkering with stuff like that but the engine is now 1990s spec, and talks NMEA2K to the plotter. Tatty looking doesn't necessarily mean rotten in the commercial rib world, but does come with increased risk / rebuild entertainment!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by bingosucks

i`m hoping you have some boating experience as its still hard work finding your way home out there
pb2 is no substitute for experience i would opt for a cheaper boat because your gonna prang it .
and my best advice buddy up for your first few outings i still struggle with channel markings

Maybe you should have picked a better pb2 school?

[bingosucks]

Originally Posted by Poly

Maybe you should have picked a better pb2 school?

haha you cant blame the sea school for my lack of skill they were very good and improved my skillset 10 fold . wibs has been very helpfull on my outings pointing out channel markings explaining cardinals etc . and following chris moody a pb2 instuctor even me and wibs are in awe

my point being we watched someone `crash` her 10k rib into a pontoon by warsash trying to recover and panicked she got out of her seat and tried to push herself off like yeh right your gonna shift that the scariest aspect was she had removed her killcord and could have cracked herself right on the knappa leading to a very nasty situation . now i`m sure she had pb2 and could very well be on the forum but after 2 days a skipper you are not

people need to recognise their own limits ,we all have a timeline to our own rib mine is a 3msib 10hp to a 3.5sib15hp to an sr4 50hp . am i finished upgrading now ?

[6950rpm]

Thanks for all the advice.

I have today been out in an 5.4m Searider with a 60hp Yamaha 4 stroke and have agreed a sale with the owner (a friend of a family member). Was lovely and calm out on the Solent but could see the bad weather heading towards Cowes so got back before it got too nasty.

Hope to get it out on the water for the weekend!

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by 6950rpm

.........but could see the bad weather heading towards Cowes so got back before it got too nasty........

Should've stayed out & given it a "proper" trial, then you'd see what they can do

[bingosucks]

Originally Posted by 6950rpm

Thanks for all the advice.

I have today been out in an 5.4m Searider with a 60hp Yamaha 4 stroke and have agreed a sale with the owner (a friend of a family member). Was lovely and calm out on the Solent but could see the bad weather heading towards Cowes so got back before it got too nasty.

Hope to get it out on the water for the weekend!

great stuff im out carb testing sat hopefully launching warsash 10.30 ish

[6950rpm]

Collected it today. Really really pleased with it!

[bingosucks]

cool you will have some amazing fun