Soft, hard or both?

[operator]

I was always told RIB's are more seaworthy because the tubes deform on impact with waves.. We're now seeing manufacturers put hard noses on RIB's and tubes down the sides. Now (and I know you won't like this) if we make the tubes out of say aluminium and make sure they're sealed. Is it any less seaworthy??

I know that inflatable collar has a 100's of other uses, but I'm only taking about the ability of the boat to handle rough seas.

[codprawn]

How long is a piece of string??? Very tough answer!!! Maybe 6 of one and half a dozen of the other???

Tubes that never touch the water are a waste of time - hard noses are I suppose to stop the tubes being ripped off.

Probably the best boats ever built to take rough water are the ones built by ocean dynamics - I just love the "no transom design"!!!

http://www.ribworker.com/

Personally I think a lot more thought should go into making boats better balanced - lower c of g - better fore and aft balance to avoid "pitch poling" etc.

But as to the actual inflatable nature of the tubes themselves - yes they do absorb shock but then the hull takes most of that before the tubes hit!!!