Request for Armoured Rib

[brucehawsker]

No, this is not a joke. I have a client who is looking for some fast small patrol boats for use off desert coasts. No, don't ask where and yes, he is legit. Probably 8.5M or even less. Wants very strong tubes and an armoured glass shield 3/4 around the helm. Anyone any ideas who might do this stuff? Delta? Ribcraft? He has a serious budget it seems but I have no idea what the armouring elements might add to a commercial build..... Andre or Paul??

[jyasaki]

I'd be looking at foam sponsons.

Something along the SAFE boat lines.

SAFE Boats International


jky

[willk]

Redbay have built a number of bespoke boats for the Fuzz, Customs and Drugs Enforcement types - but other than machine-gun mounts and a bit of reinforcing, I don't think they've done armour. Still, glass enclosures are something they do very well
I know that they have been experimenting with D profile sponsons, so you'd think foam wouldn't be too tricky...

[karlT]

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[martini]

MST would be my first port of call or even Halmatic or whatever they call themselves these days

[Dry Run]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

No, this is not a joke. I have a client who is looking for some fast small patrol boats for use off desert coasts. No, don't ask where and yes, he is legit. Probably 8.5M or even less. Wants very strong tubes and an armoured glass shield 3/4 around the helm. Anyone any ideas who might do this stuff? Delta? Ribcraft? He has a serious budget it seems but I have no idea what the armouring elements might add to a commercial build..... Andre or Paul??

Did you say the "desert" coast or the "Dorset" coast? I hear the Olympics can get pretty ugly!

[BogMonster]

I would have thought Delta or BVT (what used to be Halmatic) if he has a telephone number budget.

If it isn't an off the shelf product the R&D costs on developing something that somebody will certify will be pretty horrific, assuming it needs to be designed properly rather than lash a bit of armoured glass round a jockey console.

I think I read somewhere recently that Zodiac did some US military work but the ones they had pictured didn't look to be armoured as far as I recall.

[paul tilley]

tubes can be kevlar coated , but would loose a lot of flexibility or you could use air / foam tube which may reseal to a low pressure if a bullet passes through .if you want more info email paul@tidel.biz

[Starovich]

zodiac does an Armorflate for its crrc could uses something similar

[Rokraider]

Other than some armour around the consol and outboards / engine, it is a waste of time armouring the rest. Your biggest problem is incendary rounds. It is better to try and stay nimble and elusive.
We designed and built a concept vehicle for a certain well known regiment. It was decided it was better to leave it soft skinned, light and manouverable allowing the rounds to pass through, rather than covering it in heavy armour that had limitations on what it could actually stop.