what do you dislike about current RIB.

[kitten]

Get your thinking hats on, for the sake of disscusion. What features would you like to see on your new rib, and what in your view constitutes a GOOD RIB?

[Bilge Rat]

Having just bought my first rib and i suppose this doesn't count really as the rib is second hand but i'd just like to say i've spent a lot of money already on bits that really should have been supplied with the boat and trailer and at the moment more specifically the trailer.

So far i've had to buy tie down straps (just to get it home) a spare wheel, Wheel jack and brace, trailer lock and light board and finally a prop cover.
Now in the grand scheme of things these bits constitue a vey small amount of the final fitting out budget but if you add them all together comes to the same amount as a brand new Garmin 126 GPS, so with this in mind i know what i'd rather have spent the money on but the bits for the trailer are a must.

Must also point out that i did knock the previous owner down quite a bit too, but i'd have rather in hind sight paid £100 or so more to have got all the bits and pieces listed.

Suspect though if one buys new all these bits would be included in the new boat and trailer price unless the boat and trailer are bought seperately.

R

[Daniel]

Fuel filler - do not under estimate importance of a well-thought out one.

Mine was under seat - stupid place - spilt fuel straight into bilge!

I've moved it to front of consul but now it takes ages to fill the damn tank, pump safety jobbies cut out all the time....

Tornado, however, (and others i'm sure) have an angled filler with a straight path into the tank - much better idea!

[Bilge Rat]

Have to agree with Daniel about the filler location, my searider has an inbuilt stainless steel tank under the seat, the filler pipe has conveniently located at the back of the seat and rises up from the top of the seat, when i first saw it i thought it was somewhere to locate an arial mast or something but its the pipe to fill the tank, anyway makes it very easy to fill up the tank without spilling petrol all over the boat and as the petrol pump handle is the correct angle does not keep shutting off the kill switch.

Being my first boat i'm unsure if this is a good thing or not but i've been told by others who know its a really good idea, downside of course is i've no under seat storage area at all and everything either has to go in the front consul or on the deck.

R

[dimitris]

> what do you dislike about current RIB.

Length, 2 or 3 more meters would be a nice feature.

[dgpw]

white deck. Nightmair to keep clean. I want a steel floor I can egnore.

[David Hickman]

"A" frame that does not break.
Bilge pumps that last more than 1 year.
Water proof hatches that are waterproof.
Water proof electrical system even if it costs a bit more in the first place.
A trailer that does not need maintenance after almost every dunking.
Fit for the purpose comes to mind!

[Mike Garside]

Originally posted by kitten
What features would you like to see on your new rib, and what in your view constitutes a GOOD RIB?

Wide, clear through-bulkhead ducting giving plenty of space for alterations and additions to the initial electrical plan.

Very few boats I have ever come across are designed with alterations in mind.

When designing a GOOD RIB (or any other boat come to that) I would start from the inside and work outwards.

[kitten]

Ihear yeh used to work for a company who glassed the wiring to the underside of the deck, then glued in a moulded headliner, short sighted or what?

Keep the ideas coming, you must all have been out on the water and thought I wish this boat had a? then probably fitted it, took it off, or reshaped it,what was it?

[Bilge Rat]

i've oftern watched and thought how good it would be to have a trailer with a section that extends out from the back with two small jockey wheels to take the weight of the boat on a shallow slip way or for beach launching thus saving the wheel bearings, this could easilly be a small frame with a set of rollers at boat height that will sit on a ledge under the boat in transit and once onto the slipway can be slid out and attached to the very end of the trailer with small wheels supporting the extensions weight at the bottom end, this will add about three foot or so to the end of the trailer and once the whole assembly is reversed into deep enough water to float the boat the wheels should still be high and dry on the slip way saving the bearings.

Ok so may just be easier to make up a rope and attach to tow bar and trailer hitch then just slowly lower the trailer back into the water but still means getting the wheels wet, imagine never having to worry about wheel bearings again.

on a lighter side it might be nice to have a small micro wave built into the front consoul, i've oftern though a backon buttie would be a nice thing to offer your soaked crew after a soaking.


R

[Brian]

Several properly waterproof lockers/cubbyholes/places to put "things". Preferably with thick, rubber, removable linings.

Good windshielding for crew.

Proper, strong grabhandles.

And.......an autopilot that correctly docks the boat for you, hands free, when you enter a marina....

[mstacey]

I'd like a totally waterproof submersible trailer light board so I did not have to remove the thing before dunking the trailer in the sea to launch the boat.

[Bilge Rat]

I'd like a new wife, one that does not moan when i spend the day boating or cleaning the thing, are all wives like this to start and do they get better as it slowly sinks in that your new Mistress in the garage is there to stay.

So with my new boat i'd like a wife that does not moan, says "sure spend the day boating with your mates, and when you get home i'll have your dinner ready on the table, the football on the tele and i'll even wash your boat down for you" is that too much to ask, forgo all those nice little boxes and toys for an easy life.

R

[thorper]

I would like a trailer with brakes that don't stick, and a bigger anchor locker box - the one we've got is just slightly too small.

I would also like it to go faster

Ricky

[Daniel]

Originally posted by Bilge Rat
i've oftern though a backon buttie would be a nice thing to offer your soaked crew after a soaking.
R

Surely this should read...

i've oftern though a backon buttie would be a nice thing for the crew to offer me after a soaking????

After all what else are crew for

[Windchill]

Tidy, professional, waterproofed wiring looms with spare capacitty for navionics etc. NO SCOTCHBLOCKS!!!. Draw strings to be left in all ducts (x2 at least).

Proper waterproof hatches.

Galvanised grating on trailers to allow one to walk down without looking like one shouild be wearing a tutu!

Properly thought out arrangements to fit and stow an auxiliary o/b.

Hydraulic steering that doesn't have to be stripped completely just to grease the engine tilt!

Professional fit and finish.

Correctly positioned grab handles.

WATERPROOF lockers.

Agree entirely re- fulelling too

and more...

[Daniel]

Correct height jockey seats!

Been out today and mine is far too low. I've known this for ages but just been reminded...do check this before you buy.

[Manos]

I don't know whether this has been mentioned but these are the following would likes on a RIB

1. Ample storage space - this is a very important factor for me - with some dry space if poss
2. V-type berth and sitting arrangement on the bow
3. Comfortable and safe sitting arangement
4. upholstery that does not look like is 100 years old after you used the RIB once
5. Bimini
6. bildge pump
7. PROPER waterproof panel and light switch arrangement
8. Cleats (I assume they are called like that. These are the things you tie a rope on usually made of SS) on bow and stern
9. Ski towin arrangement aft
10. SS lighter soket/s
11. Battery cut-off switch

...and probably much more if I put my brain in deep thought gear (not likely right now though LOLOL )

I would have gone about trailers but this a question about the boat I recon and not the trailer

[kitten]

You're right it was supposed to be more about boats, but what the hay airing ideas is what forums are all about.

Good list so far boys and girls, but fairly predictable,go on go wild.

Manos not too sure about the SS rope, Knots are a problem.

[thewavehumper]

I am very happy with my Rib,

but I am beginning to think that Ribs should come with ballast systems that you can adjust. I.e. shift between front and back..

Also new ribs should come with Digipics of everything that is under floor inc wiring