XS or Destroyer

Mr Flibble · 12 March 2008, 13:34

Hi all,
Been window shopping again.

Looking for a good sea boat for diving and cruising.
Total budget for boat/engine/trailer will be roughly £13k

Like the look of the 5.3m Humber Destroyer and the 5.4m XS.
Both are similar in price.
Anyone any views on which is the best sea boat/best build quality/standard extras?
Do you know if either manufacturer accepts trade ins (need to offload the old SIB first)? I know I could ask them but thought I'd ask here first.

Thanks in advance.

Tim M · 12 March 2008, 14:06

You'd be better off selling your current boat on boatsandoutboards.co.uk

Both are respected brands. I do like XS ribs - they seem very well made, that said, so are Humbers. I would be tempted to go for the XS though.

Pablo · 12 March 2008, 14:11

I have a friend who is very disappointed with the 540 XS (which is infact 5.6m) that he bought at the end of the summer. He had a 90hp Optimax which is the recommended maximum but the performances were not up to expectations. He's taking it back to have it replaced by a 550 with 115 Opti in the hope that it'll be a more satisfying ride.

For info, he wanted to use it for spearfishing in the rough stuff at the point of Brittany.

You can see it here under "Kornog" on the Brenderup trailer

:
http://www.pneuboat.com/frames.php?u...erso/index.php

Pablo · 12 March 2008, 14:30

Here is the direct link to his site :
http://www.pneuboat.com/frames.php?u...hp&num_pp=1021

Pete7 · 12 March 2008, 15:01

For a dive rib of that length I would be looking for something like this. Superb hull although I think you will find its 5.25 but looks and feels big for its size and lots of room to kit up etc.

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F171203

Mr Flibble · 12 March 2008, 15:07

Thats a nice boat Pablo, I'd probably also go for the 90 Opti, nice photo of the Basking Shark as well. Kinda moving more towards the XS as the nose seems a bit more raised than that of the Destroyer. Performance wise I'd be content with it planing with 5 people and 4 sets of kit on board. Not too worried about great speed. I'm a bit worried that your friends boat was actually 5.6m and not 5.4m (I'd like to fit this into my garage 5.4m just would make it, no chance with a 5.6m though), but if push came to shove I'd keep it in the driveway.

Pablo · 12 March 2008, 15:15

You are taking the trailer nose into account aren't you ?

He went out just 2 up without dive sets. We're freedivers.

K&S · 12 March 2008, 22:14

Hi,

Have used the xs 540 good boat, but would recommend the xs 550 for the extra width which would be useful especially for divers.

We liked xs so much we bought a xs 650.

Hope this helps K & S.

alystra · 12 March 2008, 23:19

Well, eight seasons of good use, hard at times. No problems at all. Nothing. Moon Raker (I know, I know. It was my son's choice, and it was his boat) is as good as new. Tough. I'll be happy to get another Humber if this one ever wears out.

BruceB · 12 March 2008, 23:29

I agree, once you can get them from the factory Humbers seem to last for ever even if they aren't as "pretty" as some other makes.
In saying that XS are supposedly the replacement for Tornado (the UK built versions) and I would rate them as well if they are as good as they used to be.
names are funny things, 99.9999% of folk won't understand my choice eitherbut its an old gaelic legendary boat that required neither wind nor oars to travel around......

K&S · 13 March 2008, 10:02

Our previous boat (Hardy Pilot) was called Curach Gaelic for coracle although a Google search seems to pull up a rather tasty Irish pudding

Our current boat is called Riberty as the ski resort we traveled home from to collect the new boat was called Reberty ( Three valleys ) Again name chosen by the kids.

mark-f · 13 March 2008, 11:10

I used to have a Humber and replaced it with an XS600 with 115 opti 3 years ago, for my next boat I would definetly go for another XS, build quality is excellent and It doesnt put a foot wrong in the rough stuff and stays dry when the humber used to get quite wet at times.

Regards

Mark

mark-f · 13 March 2008, 11:12

To add to my last post saying XS ribs are good ,......... they are

but I would still like to know who actually makes them

, I know this was discussed a year or so ago but does anyone know the answer yet?

Mark

K&S · 13 March 2008, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark-f

To add to my last post saying XS ribs are good ,......... they are

but I would still like to know who actually makes them

, I know this was discussed a year or so ago but does anyone know the answer yet?

Mark

hi, i have no idea but would also likew to know especially if its sunseeker LOL

Pablo · 13 March 2008, 14:37

At thought they were made at Barnets ?

BogMonster · 13 March 2008, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceB

I agree, once you can get them from the factory Humbers seem to last for ever

Hollow laugh from down here at that remark...

9D280 · 13 March 2008, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Flibble

(I'd like to fit this into my garage 5.4m just would make it, no chance with a 5.6m though), but if push came to shove I'd keep it in the driveway.

Just a quick heads up on this one - when I decided to upsize I discovered very quicky there's not a lot of 5m+ ribs will fit in a "standard" garage - the destroyer won't go through a single door! The O-Pro 2m beam will.....just!
This thread might help - Pablo & myself have done the beam research already!
http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20895

But if parking in your drive is an option, then problem solved

As for durability, mine is rapidly approaching it's 30th birthday after an industrial life and 2 sailing clubs... I wonder if Stephen got a "Friday afternoon" boat?

alystra · 13 March 2008, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Hollow laugh from down here at that remark...

Wondered if we'd hear from you Stephen.

You've had your problems, we know, but you have to admit that your troubles stemmed from the same source that has plagued British ships, boats and seafarers for centuries. Namely, the French.

It is they that create the tube material that Humber use. It's a sad reflection on our country that these days a boatbuilder from Hull, a place with hundreds of years of ship and boat building history, has to rely on the French to keep his boats afloat - or not, in your case.

I could go on, being old enough to be allowed to be grumpy, but I'd best be careful what I say around here as they rather like our Gallic neighbours in these parts - BPC and all that.

Poly · 13 March 2008, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by alystra

but you have to admit that your troubles stemmed from the same source that has plagued British ships, boats and seafarers for centuries. Namely, the French.

It is they that create the tube material that Humber use.

mmm... not what I remember taking away from SL's numerous posts on his tubes. I am sure in his opinion it was poor design/construction of the tubes (and an unreinforced joint in a high wear/fatigue position) rather than the material itself. Or at least that was the message I got.

But if all French material is crap, then so in effect are virtually all ribs.

BruceB · 13 March 2008, 19:01

The auld alliance was always more about a common enemy than being good friends with the French. :-)
I think I have to work from my own experience on Humbers and this has been good on longevity. In fact one of the reasons I specifically bought a 5.8 is that my old dive club has been using one for nearly 15 years and it is still going strong along with just about every other one I know of, some older.
The only one I know of to give up the ghost was over twenty years old and had been clouted off something hard and had a cracked hull. didn't stop it being used for another 5-6 years as a club boat though before finally being retired.