What's better

[dverstege]

What’s better a Rib that sponson's “tubes” touch the water or one that the sponson's are out of the water.

[Biggles]

Here we go. A classic poser for a classic RIBNET answer. This could be a long post.

[dverstege]

Sorry don’t know what a Poser is but if this has been brought up couple of times I am new to Ribs and just trying to get educated with these boats.
Ribs have just started taking off hear in Ontario, Canada and is growing quite fast, the Zodiac dealer around here has doubled his sales in just one year. Why not they are light weight and I can pull mine (12’ metzeler) with a small Echo like it’s not even there. I was out fishing the other day and the 12-14 aluminum boats were heading in but I still felt quite save in my rib. My little 20 hp really moves this small boat and I get stopped almost every time I’m out and asked questions about it. It’s getting to the point I may be looking at opening a inflatable boat section in my friends marina.
Anyways that’s why I ask the basic questions

[Biggles]

Hi,

Not trying to be difficult. But I feel this is a subject that will cause a fair bit of discussion.

Personally I prefer the boats with tubes that touch the water when at rest. All the boats I have owned have been like that. It makes for a stable platform when at rest. Some boats I tie up to have their tubes a fair way out of the water and they seem to tip quite a lot depending on where the most weight is. I'm not sure what the advantage of that design is but I'm sure someone will be on here to tell us.

[dverstege]

Correct me if I’m wrong but it seems like Ribs that do not have the sponsons touching the water are faster, probably handles like a narrow fiberglass, and the sponsons only are used at slow speed or large waves.
This would say also that sponsons touching the water are slower but more stable.
Does this also mean that sponsons can’t take the punishment the faster high performance boats dish out?

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by dverstege

Correct me if I’m wrong but it seems like Ribs that do not have the sponsons touching the water are faster, probably handles like a narrow fiberglass, and the sponsons only are used at slow speed or large waves.
This would say also that sponsons touching the water are slower but more stable.
Does this also mean that sponsons can’t take the punishment the faster high performance boats dish out?

Thats something like I was trying to say.

But surely you can design a boat that has the tubes touching the water at rest but out of the water on the move. This would provide the best of both worlds. And from my experience the Avon Searider, Avon seasport and all RIBCRAFTs do this. People with other boats can post their own feelings.

However I do know of a boat that I have used that has tubes out of the water at rest and its got really bad handling at displacement speeds. It weaved all over the place. Luckily for you its a UK only boat.

[dverstege]

Got your interest?

I was talking to a inflatable boat sales person in Burlington, Ontario and he said that boats that do not have the sponsons touching the water do not handle like a real inflatable. He mentioned that buying a rib with sponsons out of the water I might as well buy a fiberglass boat because there would be more room with out the tubes.
True or not I could still see advantages over a straight fiberglass boat.
Does any one know of fuel advantage and pollution advantage of a rib over a fiberglass boat. I know that several groups here in Canada want to start e-testing boat motors to cut down on the pollution in the water.

[Polwart]

Any boat is a compromise between various factors:

speed - cost - size - weight - comfort - ride quality - stability - appearance - sea worthiness/safety - longevity etc

You need to work out what you want it to do.

If you plan to spend a lot of time afloat and at rest - or with people getting in and out of the water then it would certainly be preferable to have a lower freeboard/tube height. If you are looking for a boat that is about aesthetics or to increase your sexual attractiveness then it might be different.

[dverstege]

Now this is a dilemma I was looking at getting a Brig Falcon or a Caribe C13/14 with a Honda for fuel efficiency. Now I find out a can get a Rib that will give me sexual attractiveness. This old body may still have some wild oats to sow. J
But your absolutely correct a perfect compromise and some reality should help me find the perfect boat.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by dverstege

Now this is a dilemma I was looking at getting a Brig Falcon or a Caribe C13/14 with a Honda for fuel efficiency. Now I find out a can get a Rib that will give me sexual attractiveness. This old body may still have some wild oats to sow. J
But your absolutely correct a perfect compromise and some reality should help me find the perfect boat.

Just to be clear sexual attractiveness is as measured in your own head not in the head of those looking at you!