Safehaven Marine - better than a RIB for gnarly stuff?

Daibheid · 19 February 2013, 22:50

Safehaven Marine here in Cork put windows in the top of their pilot boats,

look at the video and see why

. They've a few more videos of how they test their boats around Roches Point and Cork harbour rarely in less than a Force 8 and often more inlcuding teh big stuff back in January if you look for it.
Amazing boats for when it's really crazy.

willk · 20 February 2013, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daibheid

Safehaven Marine here in Cork put windows in the top of their pilot boats.

Do you know of a company that DOESN'T put windows in the top of their pilot boats?

Nice boats. If Frank's guys ever misjudge one of those breaks (which are just off the rocks) then they'll have short minutes to recover the situation. Good viewing while it stands up. If I was buying one, I'm not sure I'd want it "tested" quite as thoroughly

Pikey Dave · 20 February 2013, 11:54

A friend of mine has a Wildcat which I've spent many hours on. Great sea boat, BUT, the finish & quality was poor-very poor in places. Especially the stainless steel work, GRP finish & electrical fit out. If I'd paid the thick end of £300 000 for a boat, I'd have expected better.

Starovich · 20 February 2013, 12:04

as to the title, need to add in the (in)competence of the helm, the best boat in the hands of a muppet will be a lemon.

tonto · 20 February 2013, 13:33

looks pretty impressive from here.

I think I will give the rough stuff a miss.

jyasaki · 20 February 2013, 15:10

What is that, close to a 50 foot boat?

I'd guess a 50 foot RIB would perform pretty well in that surf too.

As an aside, look up USCG Motor Lifeboat School in Oregon. They do some pretty crazy stuff as well.

jky

willk · 20 February 2013, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

What is that, close to a 50 foot boat? jky

Has to be. What's 50' in meters? Oh yeah, 16m. So you'd need a 16m RIB then, hmmm

Stormforce1650 - YouTube

captnjack · 20 February 2013, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daibheid

Safehaven Marine here in Cork put windows in the top of their pilot boats

You realize the windows looking up are so they can see the hull of the ship above them (and any ladder) as they pick up or drop off the pilot?

matt h · 20 February 2013, 19:30

is that the best job in the world!! imagine getting paid to wavejump!!

Searider · 20 February 2013, 19:40

I think safehaven do those films to prove a point - that they build a strong boat that can handle a sea - and are a serious alternative to some of the other, more established, builders.

Surveyed a very early interceptor 38, perhaps 8 years ago.
Finish not as good as some - but also not the same cost as a Halmatic.

Daibheid · 20 February 2013, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnjack

You realize the windows looking up are so they can see the hull of the ship above them (and any ladder) as they pick up or drop off the pilot?

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Do you know of a company that DOESN'T put windows in the top of their pilot boats?

You didn't realize it was a tongue in cheek reference? I'll remember to hoist the irony flag next time

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Nice boats. If Frank's guys ever misjudge one of those breaks (which are just off the rocks) then they'll have short minutes to recover the situation. Good viewing while it stands up. If I was buying one, I'm not sure I'd want it "tested" quite as thoroughly

I know the spot well - there are overfalls where the huge harbour drains out and against incoming wind and waves no problem to get steep breakers in the centre of the channel. I came as close as I ever want to flipping a RIB there in similar but much smaller scale conditions-in every sense. When a boat gets vertical length is not so good as your Centre of Gravity is teetering same as a shorter boat and may have enough extra windage to blow you over backwards.
I'd agree 100% on the testing especially on tight new engines and I'd expect you'd be using 100% power on running down those waves faces.

The rib reference is serious - I think a similar size rib might not have the weight vs windage ratio to be as safe cresting such steep faces with Force 9/10 following winds. These boats have savage V and power to match - nowhere near as efficient as a RIB but I think they're going to be better in these extreme conditions even if they need lots of power to do it.

willk · 20 February 2013, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daibheid

You didn't realize it was a tongue in cheek reference? I'll remember to hoist the irony flag next time

Yeah - three of us missed the bulge. Our bad...

martini · 20 February 2013, 21:55

Can't remember if it was the QHM or Southampton pilots I'd heard they prefer the old Nelson in terms of comfort and ride, quite important when you're out on an 8hr shift

BogMonster · 23 February 2013, 09:23

I'd be really interested to know how say an 11-12m RIB like a Stormforce performs in the same conditions as a similar sized Halmatic/Interceptor etc. There's a commercial Halmatic Nelson 40 and an Interceptor 42 here and the Halmatic I think is generally reckoned to be the better rough sea boat, where the Interceptors slam and jump over a wave, the Halmatics go through it.

I would be really interested to see how any 11-12m RIB would compare. I also suspect the lack of weight might make it behave quite differently, the Halmatic in that size weighs about 16 tons IIRC, though that can also make it a bit of a submarine. The drive is also a factor, shaft drive is the strong preference here, jets are a waste of time because they fill up with kelp, and sterndrives only work when the props are in the water.

An opportunity for a good Powerboat & RIB magazine article there, compare and contrast a 12m Interceptor, Nelson, catamaran, RIB and gin palace in the roughest water you can find around the UK

Daibheid · 24 February 2013, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

An opportunity for a good Powerboat & RIB magazine article there, compare and contrast a 12m Interceptor, Nelson, catamaran, RIB and gin palace in the roughest water you can find around the UK

It'd also be a great test of sealegs.
I'd love to loyally say the RIB would be OK but my experience tells me, albeit in a completely different size range, is the RIB would be more likely to go over backwards in teh extremes in the videos.
The gin palace would break up before it got to the rough stuff and teh cat would be rolled over if caught abeam.

sburt10 · 26 March 2013, 03:04

My mate has bought 3 boats from Frank, a 42, 55 and then a 16m cat. I was on the sea trials of the cat, scary but the boats are amazing.

Best 4 day trip ever taking her back home.

I am not sure I would fancy being in a rib in the sea off Roches Point on a poor day, good luck to anyone who does it.