The right Ribcraft/ RIB?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Poly

I thought you were from Yorkshire - those technicalities all hurt your pocket far, far more than the pain from any solent chop in a 5m boat :-)

We did actually downsize for some of the reasons you mentioned, we wanted something easier to launch & tow. Once on the water though, I wish she was bigger & more powerful. But needs must

[gpsguru]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

We did actually downsize for some of the reasons you mentioned, we wanted something easier to launch & tow. Once on the water though, I wish she was bigger & more powerful. But needs must

I assume that you went from the 6.4 to the 5.4 ....... ?


If had still had the 5.85 would you have kept that in preference to the 5.4 ?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by gpsguru

I assume that you went from the 6.4 to the 5.4 ....... ?


If had still had the 5.85 would you have kept that in preference to the 5.4 ?

The 5.45 suits our needs in terms of easier to launch & tow. There’s just the 2 of us & the missus is 8.5 stone wet through, so holding a big heavy boat on a lumpy slip was a challenge. We get about a bit & launch in unconventional places from time to time so we need something manageable. The 545 will go anywhere the 585 would & maybe even further. Of the 3 RC boats I’ve had, the 545 has the softest ride. The downside is lack of space, it’s perfect for long ranges with just the 2 of us, cosy with 4, and that’s its limit.

[Andy_Rs600]

I've got a RC 6.8 that's currently for sale here on the forums:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f21/ribcraf...1-a-79425.html

It is a 2001 hull and has some cosmetic bits that need sorting (although it's away getting some work done this week actually) but it certainly is structurally sound with a sound engine.

As has already been mentioned you might be pushed to get a more modern 6.8 for the budget. The 6.4 (or 6.3 depending on when they were built) is not the same hull and on the narrower mould. It's not quite a good a sea boat in the rough, but is a fair bit lighter and that will save you some engine size or gain you some performance like for like so your budget might go further.

Both are reasonable to launch single handed if you know what you're doing, and both tow fairly easily although the 6.8 being wider is sometimes a tiny but more of a handful.

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I always have a little smile to meself when I hear the infamous “Solent chop” mentioned. You never hear anyone harping on about the “minch, Irish Sea, North Sea, Alderney, sound of Jura etc. Chop”
Solent chop, meh!

It’s real enough and the short steep waves make for a pretty uncomfortable ride quite a lot of the time. Unfortunately as it’s not big and scary you don’t even get an adrenaline buzz to make up for it.

The Solent has lots going for it in terms of easily accessible destinations, but there are plenty of more comfortable places to go in a RIB.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

It’s real enough and the short steep waves make for a pretty uncomfortable ride quite a lot of the time. Unfortunately as it’s not big and scary you don’t even get an adrenaline buzz to make up for it.

The Solent has lots going for it in terms of easily accessible destinations, but there are plenty of more comfortable places to go in a RIB.

Try the 'chop' off of Lizard Point on a flood tide. It's taller than a boats length, with a vertical face and an over hanging crest. Get it wrong and you're rolled end over end.

The Solent is boating lake stuff.

[John Kennett]

That’s pretty much my point. Like I said it’s not big and scary, just uncomfortable.

[Fender]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Try the 'chop' off of Lizard Point on a flood tide. It's taller than a boats length, with a vertical face and an over hanging crest. Get it wrong and you're rolled end over end.

The Solent is boating lake stuff.

There's overfalls around the island that a small boat / RIB couldn't cross in certain conditions and I'm sure that's the case at hundreds of location around the UK

(Oh, my waves are bigger than your waves )

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

That’s pretty much my point. Like I said it’s not big and scary, just uncomfortable.

Although I don't often agree with Mollers ....I know what I find more "comfortable" John ....

If we're talking about Narly places the Overfalls near St Vaast on the French Coast need the upmost respect and care to navigate when it's wind over tide in a big Sea!
....You can Forget about keeping on any sort of bearing