Surfer's Rib Towing

[Locozodiac]

Hello Ribnetters :

Have a client who has been surf towing using a inflatable 380/25 HP sib for about a year. To offer towing services once on water to surfers the sib has to cross a corduroy sea of about 8 to 10 surf waves at a time with heights between 3 to 9 feet high depending on time of the year. Because of hard work abuse, time and extreme water condition use the last aluminum floor section that lies against the transom is beginning to bend so its lateral joiner that holds the other small aluminum stripes which makes a complete floor. The sib has 5 sections

Would like to know which of these two possibilities to use when rib entering corduroy waves, keep in mind that these waves are already rolled (white water) are not wall surf waves.

1-Just run through the wave with small, medium engine power, or
2-Run to the wave base, stop and once the boat has risen/fallen power the engine to the next wave and so on.

Have no experience whatsoever with ribs, just with sibs, would like to know if ribs are likely to experiment hull stress in this type of work. The recommended rib proposed to my client will be a 420/440 Rib with a Tohatsu 30/40 HP 2 strokes, short tail tiller handle. The rib will be use completely empty, so surfers will sit on the tubes and the surfboards will be placed inside the hull. The hull weight will be between 170 to 180 kilos for each version. Only 2 light budies will drive the rib through the surf with no passengers on board, passengers will be picked up once in the surf field.

Any ideas, experiences to perform well this towing services will be highly appreciated, some pics to have a clear idea of the service.

Happy Boating

[codprawn]

Have a look at Zapcats or similar - they are well suited to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJizy1PCCo8

[Locozodiac]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Have a look at Zapcats or similar - they are well suited to this.

The intention is not to jump, is to tow surfers once on water, besides already have the engines, a Zapcat will need a 50 HP engine, one big problem we have with sibs is that sand can be a real hazard literally rubbing off the fabric against the side joinners which is starting to happen, that's why a rib will be better compared, nothing to rub against on the interior and washable friendly.

[tim griffin]

Most surfers that want toe ins use a jet ski as easy to launch from beach and very manouverable and fast .
A rib would be harder to launch compared to a sib .

[ian parkes]

I reckon the most economical way to make use of the motors you have would be an air floor sib like the honda. Soft to land in too if it goes a bit wrong and no abrasion problems . The 3.8 is only about £900

[Locozodiac]

Originally Posted by tim griffin

Most surfers that want toe ins use a jet ski as easy to launch from beach and very manouverable and fast .
A rib would be harder to launch compared to a sib .

The problem with jet ski is that you can only tow one person at a time, is more expensive than a sib, eats gallons of gasoline which is expensive down here, costly to maintain/service. On the other hand a 420 rib can take as many as 6 surfers + captain including surfboards. You only need to cross once a day the corduroy waves, the rest of the time you are towing surfers at the back of the waves, the get out is a piece of cake, cruise behind the white water straight to the beach and onto the trailer.

Anyway thanks for the propossed water towing alternatives.

Still not answered thread: Do ribs have hull stress problems with waves.

Happy Boating

[codprawn]

It all depends on how well the hull is built. Something like an old Avon will last for years no problem at all.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Locozodiac

the get out is a piece of cake

Not if you entangle the prop with the tow line and stall the engine!

I guess you are talking about tow ins on >15ft waves so I really wouldn't want that on my head if the worst happened, let alone have to swim in if you did get one on the head.

I would think long and hard about the possible risk using a propped engine, of course jetskis don't have this risk and would be more suited IMHO.

Shaggy

[tim griffin]

Originally Posted by Locozodiac

The problem with jet ski is that you can only tow one person at a time, is more expensive than a sib, eats gallons of gasoline which is expensive down here, costly to maintain/service. On the other hand a 420 rib can take as many as 6 surfers + captain including surfboards.

Happy Boating

I am not sure it's a safe practice to do multiple toe ins as each surfer is picking their line and it is going to be congested surfers can wait on there boards beyond the break and then get picked up one at a time. A much safer way is the individual tow its only a short distance for the speed to get up surfer releases and you break for the shoulder on a ski no problems with a trailing line on a rib or sib if you don't recover line quick it could lead to a problems also you may need to acelerate hard to get out of trouble a ski is going to have that power over a rib and outboard .It's only my 2p worth but I think I would favour the ski over a rib or sib for tow ins.
Regards Tim

[Tom]

I use a surf cat for this very purpose in north devon and cornwall. I use a Ceasar SurfCat. This craft does not jump if you dont want it to, but uses the thundercat hi-jacker system. Handles very well and great for launching and tow ins... having said this the Jet ski is always the best. With the surf cat you dont need big power, like a zapcat or thundercat it goes fine with a 30hp. You wouldnt want any less power in surf.