My Carbon Rib Project

[GBR1]

So I am finally finishing off a carbon rib project. Its been a few years in the making, it almost got completed a few years ago but lack of funds brought the project to a halt. The idea was to make a 7m rib as light a possible but still being functional and robust. Adrian Thompson has designed the hull, the rib has been built out of carbon with a high density impact resistant foam. Half the reason for funds drawing short is the fact that no expense was speared on the construction and materials!

So the long and the short of it soon to be finished is a 7m rib with a 100HP Yamaha 2010 engine weighing in at 540kg. The handy thing about this is also that on the road trailer the all up weight should be less than 750KG!

There has been one other hull drawn from the mould, this had a diesel inboard added. The boat is amazing in heavy seas, better than Tornado ribs I have used in equivalent conditions.

Just thought I would share these pics with you, finished pics in a month or so!

[chewy]

How much faster or more efficient will it be than a normal GRP RIB?
Should be strong any way and looks good.

[GBR1]

Originally Posted by chewy

How much faster or more efficient will it be than a normal GRP RIB?
Should be strong any way and looks good.

The main advantage is because its almost half the weight of a normal GRP Rib I can use a much smaller engine. Most 7m ribs are using 150HP+ where I will be able to get away with a 100HP, there is also another gain in weight between the engines. Time will tell but I hope she will still make 40knots with the 100!

[PeterR]

Sounds like a great combination size with good fuel consumption ,its what most are looking for but without the expense.Will be watching with great interest

[andyxs]

Hi that looks like a really good project what did it cost in the end?, could i ask you a couple/load of questions as me and a mate of mine were contemplating building ourselvs some carbon ribs when we get some money lol but our experience is mostly in yacht building/messing around, what lay up did you use to create the strength needed? and what sort of foam did you use? did you use foam to make the deck or plywood? did you use wood in any other areas, how much carbon did you go thru in the end (that stuff is expensive lol) and did you cook it? breath lol

[Cookee]

I am interested to see how it handles in rough conditions - if it has the same underwater profile of a regular GRP boat it will have too much lift for its weight and end up in the air too often - IMHO.

We modified the hull on our race boat and did just that - had too much lift and we spent too much time in the air, we then removed part of the modifications and solved the problem - less air more drive.

[Jizm]

Looks good, loking forward to the next installment/sea trial.

[GBR1]

Originally Posted by Cookee

I am interested to see how it handles in rough conditions - if it has the same underwater profile of a regular GRP boat it will have too much lift for its weight and end up in the air too often - IMHO.

The hull has been designed from the outset with the final weight in mind, so it own mould was built! There is one other hull out of the mould, this does have a diesel inboard but it handles exceptional well, as for mine time will tell!!

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by GBR1

So the long and the short of it soon to be finished is a 7m rib with a 100HP Yamaha 2010 engine weighing in at 540kg.

Sounds like a fine candidate for the round Alderney (on 6Ltrs of fuel) race!

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Cookee

I am interested to see how it handles in rough conditions - if it has the same underwater profile of a regular GRP boat it will have too much lift for its weight and end up in the air too often - IMHO.

On the money

Weight has its advantages