Kit-built ribs

Tim M · 02 November 2004, 18:05

I've seen a RIB built from a kit on ebay. The current price if £3500 which includes trailer, A frame, and 70hp Evinrude. Are Gemini kits known for they're quality, and do we think this is likley to be a decent purchase?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...497154174&rd=1

www.geminiindustries.co.uk

Jono · 03 November 2004, 07:10

Tim,

Are you aware of what the kit was made from? The GRP boat on their advert in the "kit" section is actually a Shakespeare and will NOT be available for home fitting of tubes, so it must be a wooden/alloy/composite one. The Shakespeare CE aproval is for a completed Hull/Tube assembly only. Was the boat built from plans or pre-cut parts? I'd be interested to look at a "wood" built kit if you did purchase it though, just to see how the hull form looks.The advert appears to show wooden decking. Cheers, Jono

Tim M · 03 November 2004, 08:17

Jonno

I understand the hull is made from "fibreglass-sheathed marine ply".

For £3500 it seems like a bit of a bargin.....

stevetheboat · 03 November 2004, 15:17

Just remember there`s rarely such a thing as "A Free Lunch" - if something sounds "too good to be true" you will usually find that it is!

Tim M · 03 November 2004, 16:26

Quote:

Sheathed Ply!!!!

Whats the word on this: good /bad/indifferent??

slimtim · 03 November 2004, 17:35

Ply is light but you obviously get the disadvantages of the wood. You could, if not done properly get delamination of the grp from the ply but if epoxy was used as opposed to polyester then it should stay put. If its done right and the whole lot is encapsulated then it should be fine.

Apparently that rib is very light weight and so pretty fast, I was thinking of getting the kit so I had a chat with the bloke at gemini on the phone. He's a helpful bloke is keen to point out all the advantages of there kit (ie stitched tubes with inner tubes). The v is not very deep though I don't think (might be a bit harsh in a chop) and it is all a bit "rustic" so you won't get nice clean curves of a nice grp hull.

Cheers

Tim

Tim M · 03 November 2004, 17:46

Unfortunly I didn't win the auction

However, these kits seem quite cheap - even the ones with a proper ready-made GRP hull....

Jono · 04 November 2004, 07:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by timofengland

- even the ones with a proper ready-made GRP hull....

Tim, you can't buy the GRP hull shown as a kit. It is a Shakespeare boat It must have the tubes fitted as stated in my previous post, to be CE approved.
You know were to come if you want to buy a Shakespeare...

Pete7 · 04 November 2004, 07:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono

Tim, you can't buy the GRP hull shown as a kit. It is a Shakespeare boat It must have the tubes fitted as stated in my previous post, to be CE approved.
You know were to come if you want to buy a Shakespeare...

Jono, I thought the other Jono bought a shakespear hull without tubes, it was on e bay wasn't it about 6 months ago, went for £1200.

Tim, Jono has a point though without a CE rating it would be difficult to sell or if a home build have to be kept for something like 5 years. Whilst I think the concept is good, if I was to spend 6 months building the kit type I would really want a deeper V hull.

You should join forces with Slimtim, get a copy of some CAD software and produce a 6m deep V hull that can be home built by stich and glue. Make an interesting degree project and you a millionaire

given the cost of new ribs.

Pete

Jono · 04 November 2004, 08:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Jono, I thought the other Jono bought a shakespear hull without tubes.......

Pete

True, true.. but a condition of the sale was to have the Hypalon tubes fitted by Olmec/Henshaws, to satisfy CE.......

slimtim · 04 November 2004, 10:58

Jono,

I was under the impression that the RCD or CE book of words talks about CE stuff for hull and tubes (that all come CE covered anyway) but doesn't mention anything about fitting tubes yourself, therefore it didn't matter? I'm probably wrong though!

Do you have any pics of the 5.2m shakey? In action and on dry land?

Cheers

Tim

ADS · 05 November 2004, 09:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by timofengland

Unfortunly I didn't win the auction

However, these kits seem quite cheap - even the ones with a proper ready-made GRP hull....

Has been relisted Tim, you have another chance!

Ebay item:4501612463

Hyperlink won't work for some reason...

Tim M · 05 November 2004, 15:57

MMM. Im not sure about it now.....Whilst it looks like a nice big RIB for a nice price, I am concerned about some of the points raised here; wooden hull (so no nice gentle sweeping curves). The listing also says its a bit rough around the edges.

Don't somehow think my 1.2l Punto will pull that one out of the water......