rib vs dory

[hector]

hi, does anyone here have any experience with wilson flyer type dorys around the 23 ft mark and how they would compare with a rib of similar size( i like the idea of a wheelhouse!). im will be upgrading my exsiting boat this year for something around that size and was intending buying another rib but it was suggested i looked at these type craft which do look like working out much cheaper than a rib. usage will be light commercial diving tasks and general cruising. any advice would be appreciated.
i do however realise the dory may require more horsepower due to weight.

thanks,
Hector.

[willk]

Welcome to Ribnet (the Open University of the Mental Health System)

I've no experience with dorys but a bit with small cathederal hulls. In no particultar order:

1. The ride will be slappy in choppy water
2. It will be a bitch to dive off (comparatively)
3. You'll get away with a smaller motor on the Dory
4. It will not be quite as stable at rest as most ribs

I rather fancy a wheelhouse too. It's the money, isn't it?

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by willk

Welcome to Ribnet (the Open University of the Mental Health System)

I've no experience with dorys but a bit with small cathederal hulls. In no particultar order:

1. The ride will be slappy in choppy water
2. It will be a bitch to dive off (comparatively)
3. You'll get away with a smaller motor on the Dory
4. It will not be quite as stable at rest as most ribs

I rather fancy a wheelhouse too. It's the money, isn't it?

My experience is...

1. The ride will be very slappy in choppy water
2. Don't know
3. OK
4. It will be nowhere near as stable at rest compared to a RIB

[BassBoy]

Hector
I have owned a 13ft Dory, a 17ft Boston Whaler and now a 6m RIB.

Without question, the RIB is by far the most 'useable' boat in any kind of seaway.

However, a cathedral hull will produce more lift more quickly and therefore will require less hp than an equivalent sized RIB to plane.

A reasonable compromise might be a catamaran. Used for years and years by small commercial operators, they are becoming more popular in the leisure market.

A friend of mine runs a 6m cat with two 15hp 4 strokes! He says he'll happily chuff along at 15-18knots all day long, on a very stable platform with huge deck space, low freeboard, a good sized cuddy, and on very little fuel!

He also has the reassurance of an 'extra' engine that's not just dead weight and hardly ever used, like an aux!

Makes you think doesn't it!
(certainly got me thinking)

[Sea Witch]

Hi new to Rib net

i have a 17ft dell quay dory with 75 hp mariner , she top 30 knots quite happily ,
it is a bang box (slappy) in the ruff , but more stable and a better diving ,fishin platform than a rib.
i go to Inishboffin , Inishturk north , Clare island off west coast of Ireland no bother in my dory.

sea witch

[willk]

Originally Posted by Sea Witch

but more stable and a better diving ,fishin platform than a rib.

Fishing maybe, diving no.


And this has to be said to all you flat bottomed guys;

Ribnet. RIBnet. RIBNET!! Not Dorynet ....

shoo! geroutofit! g'wanaway! getonwidye! ;-)

[BassBoy]

Nowt wrong with RIBS, BUT OPEN YOUR MIND!

[m chappelow]

a couple of members of our boat club have some but they are into angling in a big way ,and we used one as club rescue /safety boat many years ago ,,good solid but heavy boat ,with the correct engine they are great ,but even so i would stick with a r.i.b.,,mate of mine bought an old second hand one that had an outdrive and volvo engine and he converted it to an outboard .he also cut the cabin length shorter for more fishing room ,,,, i have dived with commercial diving equipment from the safety boat as it was fitted with a fold up ladder on the stern when we were removing some large slabs of concreate , we had a small compresser on the deck and it was fine but it was in sheltered water .if you are going to be lifting heavyish sharp/ rusty objects into the boat ,regular i would go for the wilson ,i have seen one used for crab potting with a small lawn mower type petrol driven winch bolted to the floor for lifting pots .

[willk]

Originally Posted by BassBoy

Nowt wrong with RIBS, BUT OPEN YOUR MIND!

My mind is so open it has a Garfish in it and goes here occasionally to relax. We could be really open minded and have a RIB vs Sheltie thread, or would that just be silly?

[hector]

thanks for the input guys got a few months to make up my mind . still really liking the thought of a wheelhouse though.