ribcraft 5.3

hector · 30 September 2010, 20:48

hi all,
been looking at a used ribcraft 5.3 on boatsandoutboards its a 2007 boat and with a suzuki DF70! Question is, is the boat going to be ok with this outboard or would i be looking for more power? Boats going to be used for diving (2 divers plus kit plus one other on board) as well as some hopefully longish cruises 2 or 3 persons on board!

thanks in advance

GJ0KYZ · 30 September 2010, 21:37

It might be a good idea to ring Ribcraft and ask their opinion; they'll have a good idea as to what's best for your needs.

Maximus · 01 October 2010, 07:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by hector

hi all,
been looking at a used ribcraft 5.3 on boatsandoutboards its a 2007 boat and with a suzuki DF70! Question is, is the boat going to be ok with this outboard or would i be looking for more power? Boats going to be used for diving (2 divers plus kit plus one other on board) as well as some hopefully longish cruises 2 or 3 persons on board!

thanks in advance

Depends on you realy,I had a 75 four stroke on my 545 and found it hard to keep up at times on cruieses[31 knots] and alwaysys seemed to be balls out everywhere!Not kind to the enigine,and not too economical for what I had. Then changed up to 130e-tec and started to enjoy my Ribbing again!!

Ray Dormer · 01 October 2010, 08:07

The Ribcraft 5.3 is a beauty, I have had mine for six years; try to find one with a bigger engine, otherwise you might be disappointed.

Pikey Dave · 01 October 2010, 09:10

Underpowered! Fine as a safety boat for a sailing club.

PS just occurred to me, why do the superior WAFIs need a RIB for safety?

BogMonster · 01 October 2010, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

PS just occurred to me, why do the superior WAFIs need a RIB for safety?

Dare you to post that on a yachty forum

Pikey Dave · 01 October 2010, 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Dare you to post that on a yachty forum

Nah! Not another forum, I've got enough on my plate here & annoying the cousins over on etech

HUMBER P4VWL · 01 October 2010, 13:10

Not quite the same but we hand old carbed mariner 75 on a SR 5.4 and that went fine. skiing, fishing, 4 up etc.

We then got a 90 opti, modern two stroke and that was the maximum on the transom (so it said) that flew to the point of chine walking at 3/4 throttle with one up.

I'd imagine a 75 would be fine unless you are just a speed freak. If you are a cruiser/fisher/ or safety boat etc, whilst not a flier, i would imagine imho it will plane fine and pull skiers etc.

Eddy Stone · 01 October 2010, 17:10

I am very happy with my Ribcraft 5.3 with Suzuki 90 for cruising with 2/3 people and for waterskiing but I think a 70 would be significantly underpowered

bosun · 01 October 2010, 17:13

Er .....whats a whafi??

Pikey Dave · 01 October 2010, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosun

Er .....whats a whafi??

Wind Assisted F*****g Idiot, aka Rag & String merchant, or Sailor

bosun · 01 October 2010, 17:38

Ah
Sorry about this but as a powerboat instructor and also the holder of an international certificate of competence for yachts up to 24 meters I have to say that in my experience sailing well takes a bit more skill than driving a small motor boat.

My boats;-
Humber assault 70 evinrude
Osprey mk4 racing dinghy full carbon rig etc
Beneteau oceanis 331 clipper.

Driving a rib is easy but sailing a quick racing dinghy cannot be learned in two days (unlike PB2)

I'd offer you a sail in the Osprey but that would be like having your first driving lesson in an F1 car.

But each to his own!

HUMBER P4VWL · 01 October 2010, 18:56

theres some element in your statement, however;

comparing passing pb2 with sailing your carbon racer is a mismatch. I'm sure an offshore powerboat racer might teach you a thing or two about racing but could easily sail a laser quite proficiently in two days.

Secondly, just because it could be argued that sailing is more technical sport on the more race orientated rag and sticks, you can still be the FI bit of WAFI.

Though there are obviously FIs in RIBs too, there seem to be more snotty nosed WAFIs than RIBBers that even under engine power think they rule the water because they are a member of the sailing club.

Ultimately there are FIs everywhere.

Jizm · 01 October 2010, 19:11

I had the use of an RC 5.3 with a suzuki 90 and although a bloody good boat I would agree it would have been transformed into a fantastic boat with the application of some more ponies....

Poly · 01 October 2010, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosun

Ah
Sorry about this but as a powerboat instructor and also the holder of an international certificate of competence for yachts up to 24 meters I have to say that in my experience sailing well takes a bit more skill than driving a small motor boat.

You seem to have taken some offence - I think you'll find that the term is generally used round here as a term of endearment with no real offence intended (there are very many people here who were or still are WAFI's (including its seems our great leader who's just become a blow up WAFI

)). On some other forums it is certainly used as an insult, but usually here its a parody of those forums (and indeed sailing forums who have similar terms for powerboats) rather than sailing itself. I have to say I've never heard an ICC presented as though it were a major achievement before

but then doing that and getting pompous about your greater skills is kind of the attitude that gives rise to the WAFI term in the first place

.

willk · 01 October 2010, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

(and indeed sailing forums who have similar terms for powerboats)

Hmmm, "No-neck skin-heads", IIRC

To which I take grave exception, having as I do a neck that could have been sculpted by Michelangelo and a respectable crop of follicles, many of them on me head

C'mere P., do we have to stop slagging Humber Insaults now too?

lakelandterrier · 01 October 2010, 21:58

Hi,
I've been looking at that size recently - including the ribcraft 5.3. I'd think you'd want a 90-100HP in the back.

Why not go to the Ribcraft w/e at weymouth next weekend & try the 5.3 out - or phone them?

Pikey Dave · 01 October 2010, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosun

Ah
Sorry about this but as a powerboat instructor and also the holder of an international certificate of competence for yachts up to 24 meters I have to say that in my experience sailing well takes a bit more skill than driving a small motor boat.

My boats;-
Humber assault 70 evinrude
Osprey mk4 racing dinghy full carbon rig etc
Beneteau oceanis 331 clipper.

Driving a rib is easy but sailing a quick racing dinghy cannot be learned in two days (unlike PB2)

I'd offer you a sail in the Osprey but that would be like having your first driving lesson in an F1 car.

But each to his own!

Ah! so you damn well knew the answer to the question before you asked, I walked into that one didn't I

bosun · 01 October 2010, 22:13

Ha Ha
s'pose I deserved that
on re-reading it it does sound a bit pompous,must have been wearing my hat with the anchor on and my yacht club blazer! (if I had one that is which I havn't)
Most sailors only hate jet skiers,never met one yet that had a downer on ribs.Might need a tow one day!
My point is though that personally I found learning to drive a rib easy and learning to sail bloody difficult as has anyone that I've tried to teach either to.

Pikey Dave · 01 October 2010, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosun

Ha Ha
s'pose I deserved that
on re-reading it it does sound a bit pompous,must have been wearing my hat with the anchor on and my yacht club blazer! (if I had one that is which I havn't)
Most sailors only hate jet skiers,never met one yet that had a downer on ribs.Might need a tow one day!
My point is though that personally I found learning to drive a rib easy and learning to sail bloody difficult as has anyone that I've tried to teach either to.

's ok, I dislike jetskis with an intensity that you could never imagine

No doubt someone's going to come along now & say "Oi, Pikey I've got a jet ski as well as a RIB"...... Welcome to my world