Would you buy an excalibur rib

[Day Dream's]

Hi

I am in the market for a rib at the moment and there are a couple of nice excalibur's near me, does it matter the company no longer trade? I would be concerned about trying to sell on in a few years, the ones for sale have been on the market for a few months but saying that sales are slow in Ireland at present.

what you think?

[Poly]

If the price and boat were right it wouldn't stop me. There's not much you need to original builder for that others can't help you with - and I believe if you needed to you can track down the old owner/designer of excalibur.

I've not seen the boats you are looking at - but two observations you might want to consider:

(i) In MY view, boats in Ireland are often rather highly priced. I'm not sure why if its a Euro thing, a limited number of boats that don't need an expensive ferry or just unrealistic expectations.
(ii) Excaliburs always struck me as a bit pricey, before the bubble burst anyway.

So if those boats have been on the market for a while it probably means they are bit too expensive. Bargains don't hang around for long.

[Daibheid]

There's some stunning value in Excaliburs about lately - a combination of their sadly going bust and the recession hurting the market for big ribs. I'd have no hesitation in buying one as they were well designed and built with pride. They're GRP and Hypalon so as repairable as any other rib and the engines are all standard marine diesels or big outboards. I'd watch those older/smaller ones fitted with old school two-strokes - thirsty!
Excalibur always welcomed visitors to the factory in Carrigaline and I've never heard of any sort of quality problem with the boats themselves and seen them well used with confidence in gnarly conditions.

[Day Dream's]

Thanks for replies, agree with the comments, one thing with irish sales is the seller will normally take money off, in the UK i find there is not much room for negotiation, that has been my experience anyway.

I always loved the excalibur's, have been to the factory and nearly bought new a few years ago but went for a hard boat instead.

I am probably going to look at one next weekend in Cork along with a ribeye and a cobra

[Nos4r2]

Make sure it's got a CE mark if you buy it.

There was one involved in an accident (not the boat's fault) a little while back and the MCIB report noted

Originally Posted by MCIB report

When inspected, the RIB was found to be free from damage. There was however
no CE mark or evidence that the vessel was Recreational Craft Directive (RCD)
approved.

[Day Dream's]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Make sure it's got a CE mark if you buy it.

There was one involved in an accident (not the boat's fault) a little while back and the MCIB report noted

I have read that report alright, it is half the reason i posted, the one i am interested in has a CE mark alright.

the surveyor for my current boat that is now sale agreed is from that area, I must ask him about it.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by Daibheid

There's some stunning value in Excaliburs about lately - a combination of their sadly going bust and the recession hurting the market for big ribs. I'd have no hesitation in buying one as they were well designed and built with pride. They're GRP and Hypalon so as repairable as any other rib and the engines are all standard marine diesels or big outboards. I'd watch those older/smaller ones fitted with old school two-strokes - thirsty!
Excalibur always welcomed visitors to the factory in Carrigaline and I've never heard of any sort of quality problem with the boats themselves and seen them well used with confidence in gnarly conditions.

Would just like to correct the comment above about "going bust". Far from going bust Gael Force the builders decided to close the business down as they saw the writing on the wall with a looming recession and a decline in sales. As far as I am aware they left no debts at all and it was an orderly close down of operations

[willk]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Would just like to correct the comment above about "going bust". Far from going bust Gael Force the builders decided to close the business down as they saw the writing on the wall with a looming recession and a decline in sales. As far as I am aware they left no debts at all and it was an orderly close down of operations

Just spotted this thread. What Christopher says is correct. I understand that some of the employees of Gaelforce are now in possession of the moulds and are in a position to build or repair boats.

[two stroke mick]

fine looking ribs

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

fine looking ribs

Never seen one 'up Close'..but they do look the Part, and knowing thier 'Pedigree' I'd certainly encourage the the OP pay to have a closer look ...and from what Wilk says there could be a Bargain or two to be had!

[Day Dream's]

I do plan to see the rib, my top 3 ribs on the shopping list are in the same area, at the moment I am favoring the other 2 but only because the engine on the excalibur is a 2-stroke and I would prefer a 4-stroke.

P.S. I only said they no longer traded, not gone bust. But it is easy to see how someone could draw that conclusion giving the tough way business is these days.

[pluto2]

Day Dreamer,
Buy the Excalibur, you cant go wrong. Great dry boats & take some pounding, bullet proof really. - 'just mi too scence'

[Daibheid]

Originally Posted by Day Dream's

P.S. I only said they no longer traded, not gone bust. But it is easy to see how someone could draw that conclusion giving the tough way business is these days.

Sorry that I think was my word and I'm happy to be corrected on it, I'd have no hesitation buying one -and hope the guys keep those moulds turning over. Much too good a design to disappear in any length or engine configuration. Some of the older ones are really wearing well.

[flatout2013]

to any1 looking to buy an excalibur i suggest ye pop down to the new work shop of haven marine ( new builders of excalibur ribs) never a problem getting a test drive on any boat in the range . very helpfull and friendly service .