size matters

Firkin Diver · 18 April 2004, 16:45

Hi All,
my first posting so please don't shoot me down in flames!!

I'm planning on buying a RIB (on a commercial basis) to take 8 divers. I'm thinking about a 7 - 7.5m RIB Craft with a Mariner 225 Optimax. Thoughts/views/comments please.

Regards,

Mike

RIVA · 18 April 2004, 17:18

take a look at the 7m humber on www.ribsforsale.com perfect rig

swginn · 18 April 2004, 20:49

Ribcraft are very solid boats and should be ideal for what you are looking for. Can't fault the Optimax either, I've got one on order.

Have a look at this 6.8 Ribcraft with 225 Mariner Opti, just what you're looking for.

http://www.buyaboat.co.uk/boatdetail...srefno=1989001

This one is just down the road from me, don't know if you want to travel this far but its a lovely rig.

http://ribs.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=15391

If it were me I'd go for a tornado, especially for diving as they have high lift hulls and I know of a lot of dive clubs who swear by them. This one below is a beauty. 7.5m Tornado with a 225 Optimax and 2 many extras to list!!! Laurence Lock the sales guy knows his stuff about rigging dive boats and I'm sure he will fit anything you want (bottle racks, boarding ladders, etc.)

http://www.boat-finder.com/12460/ind...1&page_id=5925

Pete7 · 18 April 2004, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIVA

take a look at the 7m humber on www.ribsforsale.com perfect rig

Nice bit of advertising there Riva, you wouldn't happen to work for ribs for Sale would you ?

Not sure how well a 7m rib with 8 people on board is going to go with 120 hp, but could be proved wrong.

There is an 8.5 m Prosport about somewhere with a 225 opti at 21k.

Pete

tue · 19 April 2004, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Not sure how well a 7m rib with 8 people on board is going to go with 120 hp, but could be proved wrong.

Pete

Not sure you could get 8 divers on a 7m RIB with an inboard Diesel

RIVA · 19 April 2004, 18:32

i can honastley say i dont. although i know them very well , and perhaphs keeping this post at the top is going to gain evan more advertising for www.ribsforsale.com thanks pete . riva LOL

Pete7 · 19 April 2004, 20:53

So Riva, you are recommending a 7m rib with a Vauxhaul astra engine as being perfect as a dive boat for 8 divers are you ?

May I enquire why you think this boat will take 8 fully equipped UK divers and what sort of speed it will do with 120 hp ?

Past experience of an 8m ribcraft showed a Yam 240hp engine only managed 20 knots with 8 divers.

Pete

Alan · 19 April 2004, 21:32

Well I'm sure those pictures, luverly as they are, will be of bugger all use to Firkin Diver in his pursuit of a dive rib!

< Edit -- I moved them to a new thread JK >

In an effort to get back on topic....

FD,

Suggest you read the some of the posts on the commercial forum. Sounds like with the fuel tax reclaim petrol outboard is the way to go so you are on the right track!

Ignore all second hand ready fitted boats with lots of nice seats. What you need (of course you know this) is lots of nice deck space, bottle racks and nice comfy tubes for divers to sit on.

7.8m Ribcraft supposed to be good boat. Garygee has one (albeit diesel) so he can comment. Imagine it would be good teamed up with 225 Opti or larger. (Theres the whole 2 vs 4 stroke debate to be had of course.)

Other thoughts might be a big 'umber (8m?), Tornado, mebbe an Osprey or one of those nice Polish BW...sorry Parker 7.5ms!

Or if you are well wadded up and want your customers to experience the best a 7.5-8.5 Scorp!

Probably would go for a major make and avoid some of the ahem, more leisure orientated budget ribs so that it stands up to the commercial use.

Cheers,
Alan.

EDIT Ooh, just noticed that I now appear to talk sense as well as being a salty old seadog. Thanks JK!

Nick Hearne · 20 April 2004, 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firkin Diver

Hi All,
my first posting so please don't shoot me down in flames!!

I'm planning on buying a RIB (on a commercial basis) to take 8 divers. I'm thinking about a 7 - 7.5m RIB Craft with a Mariner 225 Optimax. Thoughts/views/comments please.

Regards,

Mike

Mike as someone who has done a fair bit of diving from Ribs & Hard Boats
I will give you my 2-penny’s worth!
You will want a seat but the divers want deck space & are happy on the tubes when under way, the more spaces the happier the divers. I have never liked bottle rack as they take up space & do not always fit the bottles being used, twin sets etc. but I know some people like them!
As for engine clean burning outboard nothing as bad as kitting up with diesel fumes filling up your lunges or smell old two strokes!
Stability you want something that is stable at rest when the divers are kitting up!
As for size the length is no good if it is some sleek pointy things, you kneed width as well!
For instance I have an Osprey Viper 5.75 with 100hp this is not the longest boat but it copes well with 6 divers + skipper with second cylinders on board. I t has coped with 8 divers but this gets a bit cosy.
Hope this of some help.
Regards
Nick

Rene · 20 April 2004, 10:29

Hi Mike

As a diver and diving instructor, I can only agree 100% with Nick

I have a Osprey Viper 5.95, and I have observed the same things as Nick. Go with deck space, width, and the tubes need to rest in the water when the boat is not moving. Go for a bottle rack or don't dosn't matter.

Just my thoughts
Rene

RIVA · 20 April 2004, 18:19

o look deck space , my advice is only take thin divers if you can find one

and keep the fuel bill down. CHARGE THEM PER WEIGHT loads of profit

but start it at 14 stone as i aint seen a thin one yet LOL LOL hold on to your hats this post is about to go big

tue · 20 April 2004, 18:37

That must be a Destroyer, as it doesn't look beamy enough to be the more realistic 2.6m beam Ocean Pro.

Even my 6.5m Ribtec looks Wider

RIVA · 20 April 2004, 18:48

extream it says on the papperwork , from humber . come on divers i baited the lobster pot, and no one has been good enough to rush in and defend your bubble blowing bretherin . is there a thin one out there. all in good taste

maybe a pic of you obviosly not side on LOL or just to prove some people wrong .that you can all fit on a rib . perhaps someone will re post the pic of all those irish lads 14 i remember on the red bay

tue · 20 April 2004, 19:03

No names but he'll see and probably hate me. There are SOME thin divers out there. (Thats me on the right

)

Pete7 · 20 April 2004, 19:24

Oh look, telephone number of the previous owner, could always ring him and ask abut the startling performance with 8 divers and twin sets. Although I agree with Riva at 4 knots the fuel consumption will be good.

Pete

Pete7 · 20 April 2004, 19:30

So come on Riva what commission is JK going to get from ribs for sale for all this advertising ?

Pete

RIVA · 20 April 2004, 19:31

PETE YOU CANT BE A DIVER CAN YOU? i mean thats pritty intelegent stuff

useing a phone i mean LOL yes i stand corrected there is one thinish diver around o phrays be to alla . and back to the top again

by the way did i mention www.ribsforsale.com

Pete7 · 20 April 2004, 19:54

Riva, you still haven't answered the question, why did you recommend this boat as a perfect rig for 8 divers ? or is it that you stand to do very nicely out of selling it.

I don't have a problem with you selling boats so long as those reading the post know. You could have said "we have a boat for sale that might be suitable, why not come down and trial it".

34k for sarf african ex race rib, pleeeease!

Yes I have done some diving in my time.

Pete

RIVA · 20 April 2004, 20:22

OK PETE I HAVE BLOWEN A FEW BUBBLES ON A VERY SIMILER RIB AND IT WAS VERY CAPPABLE WITH 8 ON IT .

the fact is i know the lad who used to use the rib if thats ok . and its waiting for a good home , as for commenting on any other ribs i would suggest you look before you leep down that road my freind .as personaly ive seen some very good dare i say evan better workmanship from s.a. than some european things that seem to be raved about . all i can say is look at things for what they really are and dont be branded by the hype

make your owan mind up i do mine only when i look at it though , the same way as you may not think a bentaly is worth 200k until you look at it

Pete7 · 20 April 2004, 20:38

Riva, I am not knocking the quality just the price! but I suppose it might have driven gently for the first thousand miles and therefore you could describe it as "Just run in" when you advertise it. Would this make you sound like a dodgy estate agent, oh sorry.

Anyway best of luck selling it, do let us know what it eventually goes for as we really would be interested.

Pete