Outboard power

[Portholme]

Could do with a bit of impartial advice. I'm after a second hand six meter leisure oriented RIB. Something like a Ribeye 600 Playtime and I would like some advice on outboard size. We are a family of six, effectively three adults and three kids. We enjoy estuary trips, blasts out to sea for an hour or two and the odd coast hop. East coast and south west mainly. will also tow ringos very occasionally, usually with three others in the boat.

Not looking to cruise at much more than twenty five knots but I would like reasonable acceleration with the whole family on board, especially out of the hole. Top whack not that important. Our other boat is a Boston Whaler dauntless 180 with a yamaha 150. If any of you can compare performance to that I would appreciate it. That tops out at thirty seven knots regardless of conditions, trim etc.

Seen six metres with nineties up to two hundreds. What are your thoughts????

Thanks

Richard

[GJ0KYZ]

I have a 225 ETec on my Ribcraft 6.8 but I reckon you'd be fine with a 150hp four stroke. Several manufacturers make lean-burn models that are reliable and fuel efficient.

[willk]

I'm guessing, to some extent, but I think with a fast hull like the Ribeye, a 140/150 will see similar performance to the Whaler. If you want a bit of oomph, 175 would be ideal. 200 would be OTT.

[Nos4r2]

Look at it this way.

If you go for the biggest available, you can always close the throttle a bit. It's hard to open it up if you think it's underpowered.

[CJL]

Leisure ribs IMO appear to be suffering from a trend of lowering HP on their boats - Ribeye do appear to be one of the principle culprits.

Personally if I was starting out on a 6m rib I would look at 135-150-175hp given the load you're going to have onboard.

Chris

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Look at it this way.

If you go for the biggest available, you can always close the throttle a bit. It's hard to open it up if you think it's underpowered.

At last, a man after my own heart. I always thought I was a lonely little voice out here in the max HP wilderness.

[Crusher]

Just a thought........ You may find a 6 meter rib a bit cosy for 3 adults + 3. Not sure what age the 3 others are, but they have a nasty habit of growing up very quickly. Especially if you want to throw a ringing in the boat you may well find yourself short on space very quickly..... ??

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Look at it this way.

If you go for the biggest available, you can always close the throttle a bit. It's hard to open it up if you think it's underpowered.

Totally agree. Often the more economical route as well, if you can control your throttle hand that is

Originally Posted by Crusher

Just a thought........ You may find a 6 meter rib a bit cosy for 3 adults + 3. Not sure what age the 3 others are, but they have a nasty habit of growing up very quickly. Especially if you want to throw a ringing in the boat you may well find yourself short on space very quickly..... ??

Yes, for a leisure RIB that is plenty. Would not want to regularly carry that many on my 6.5 metre. Mind, I have had 13 divers on a 6 metre, but there were certain limitations

[clydeoutboards]

Hi

Most people who buy engines always end up wanting a bit more and trade up and though it is good for business I would start with a 150hp min. If you can max the hp for the boat even better as you have no speed limits and you will crave the extra power.

Good luck

[Portholme]

Thanks guys. How do you deal with insurance when the max rated HP on a ribeye 600 is 120??