RIb upgrade - suggestions please

[_monkey]

Hi all
I’ve had the Futura for around four years and we are wanting to be more adventurous, but it is seriously uncomfortable if there is any chop. In fact, we don’t venture outside pool harbour for this reason.

I’ve had an Avon adventure 560 a long time ago and found it too small and it didn't handle the chop so well - so I think a 6-7m makes sense with 150/200 motor.

I will keep it in a trailer park on the river Frome - 100m from the slipway - and trailer it to a lake in France once a year. My car can tow 2T, so ideally, I’d like to keep the total rig weight down to 1.6T.

There will be four of us and occasionally 6, we will use it for watersports in Poole harbour and Studland and would like to venture out; Isle of wight, and down the Dorset coats, nothing too serious.

[_monkey]

I’m looking for suggestions on make/model which is family friendly and not too industrial looking ;-) and where's the best place to start looking?

[Tim M]

Sounds like a Ribeye would tick most of your boxes! Ribs for sale (trading name of JBT marine) usually have a good selection of used boats. Good websites are boats and outboards and Apollo duck.

[_monkey]

Originally Posted by Tim M

Sounds like a Ribeye would tick most of your boxes! Ribs for sale (trading name of JBT marine) usually have a good selection of used boats. Good websites are boats and outboards and Apollo duck.

Thanks Tim, I'll take a look.

I didn't indicate budget, which is £18K - having look at those sites it looks like this will buy something 8+ years in the spec I'd like.

[GordyP]

Someone was selling a 7m Ballistic on here recently which sounded very nice.

[gareth9702]

Before you purchase a 7m rib you need to check the weight. I guess a Ballistic 7m and the trailer will weight about 1.8T. Although this is legal with your 2T towing limit, it is not necessarily a good idea for long distances. I towed my Revenger 23 with an X-Trail and it never felt comfortable. I now tow with a Ford Everest (3.5T capacity) and there is a significant difference in the feeling of safety. Remember that a rib has just about the worst possible weight distribution with much of the load concentrated at the very far end of the tow.

[_monkey]

To close out this thread - I purchased a used Ballistic 650 (Yam 150 / 80 hours) and love it. I’ve just returned from holidaying by a lake near Bordeaux, the Ballistic performed as I’d hoped for.

I had to purchase a twin axle 2T trailer from de Graaf which towed smoothly and serenely through France, it was an unpleasant experience towing to/from the Eurotunnel to home in Surrey due to the quality of the roads. The reality is that I’ll keep the boat in Poole and tow it once a year to Bordeaux, so I’m not sure this justifies a more agricultural tow vehicle to cope with UK roads.