why are ribs good

[Brian]

Mark
This MA photo was taken on our way back from The Orkneys at the end of August last year. i.e. AFTER your experiences in the Bay of Biscay with her.
MA developed a serious puncture (approx. 1 inch by .5 inch rip) about 20 nmiles north of Peterhead. Details I believe covered on another thread.

[Brian]

Here is another shot of her before repair in Peterhead Marina.

[gtflash]

hi guys, thanks some very diplomatic and interesting replys, maybe i miss led you slightly. Im not concerned about sinking, my reason for the interest in ribs is i currently have a hard boat and am looking to upgrade and possibly cross over!! i need a fast boat for me but my boats ride is to hard for the missus as she has a back defect and the moaning from the passenger seat sometimes gets louder than the v6!!! I was told ribs are a softer ride but the only one i ever been on shook the s**t out me, all be it at 50 odd mph. Ultimately ill be waiting for ribbex as thats my play area and i know the rough bits to get a good demo but i was very interested in what the hard boat guys had to say squashing the generalisation that all ribs are soft riding, rekoning that i could find a hard boat that rides as soft as a rib...

ta gt

[Mike C]

Just to add my two pence....

I don't think any small fast boat is particularly soft. If you want a softer ride then you probably need boat that either pierces the water, (I seem to remember there was something about new wave piercing RIBS somewhere) or a slow displacement vessel that’s glued to it. If you're going to jump waves fast then at some stage it will hurt!
The tubes may soften some wave impacts but gtflash, don't expect magic from them. Some RIBS are much better than others as far as softer rides go but that's more down to the design/shape and particularly length of the hull.... As usual the longer the better!
To my mind the reason RIBs are called the 4x4 of the sea is that they are bloody hard to sink. Its the only type of boat that is short enough to fit in my front garden, I can tow anywhere, manhandle on the trailer AND if it blows up a force 6 or more I will still feel safe.... (If bruised battered and pi***d off). The main effect of the tube is safety through a fantastic amount of buoyancy, not necessarily a softer ride.
To my mind, you will need a much bigger 'ordinary' boat to be as seaworthy... not necessarily to be softer. Ask Ageing Youth!
As someone said earlier, the last thing you buy a land rover for is a smooth ride!


Mike C

[Keith Hart]

If you're going to jump waves fast then at some stage it will hurt!

I can vouch for that! At least the inflatable floor of a SIB saves your bum!!!

Keith Hart

[Jklingel]

(1) For many years I ran "solid" boats; Lake Erie, rivers, ocean some, etc. Several years ago I bought a 16' Zodiac; not a RIB, but close. My first trip to the ocean sealed my faith; I fished and poked around in 6'-7' swells and never even considered leaving. The stability was amazing, and if I would have filled with water in some freak way I would have still floated. Many hard boats went to shore: I caught halibut and relaxed while doing so. My hull is "flat", so I will fix that with the purchase of a RIB. (2) What is used for rescue boats? Ever see the Coast Guard's collared patrol boats? Nice stuff. Hope this helps. john

[Keith Hart]

A mate of mine has an Avon Searider, it is 30 years old and in perfect condition. He uses it every week in all weather.

He's replaced the tubes three times and the hull twice.

Keith Hart

[houser]

here's another old general article that discusses this to some extent.

best
jtm

[Rogue Wave]

GTF I'd blag a ride of someone with a Scorpion, Revenger Pascoe or test drive a phantom Evo or a Pascoe. If you want speed. Scorpions are very well mannered and I am told the phantom's are also