My New Boat!!!

Jon Brooks · 23 May 2007, 20:23

Well the time has come for me to buy a boat!
After much head scratching and pondering I have made my choice!

The boat I wanted to buy is a sea safari type boat.
The reason for this is I will be running, in conjuntion with my current job, a sea safari business from Ramsgate harbour.

So what have I plumped for?

Well I had to look at what was on offer and what can I get in the timescale I have set myself.

I would like to thank all the companies I have spoken to and for all the help and advice they offered over the last few months.

The boat I am going for is a 9M Ribcraft Sea Safari.

Coded for twelve, fitted with bench seats, twin Suzuki 250hp.
I went for bench seats over jockey seats as I felt, after much thought and advice, that these lend themselves better when catering for families.

She is in build as we speak and I have attached a couple of early pictures.
With the support of Ribcraft I will try to update and post more pictures and info as the new boat takes shape.

Oh and why is it so hard to choose a boat name and no Boom Chucker Whaa Whaa is not an option!!

jwalker · 23 May 2007, 20:33

Congratulations Jon.

Biggles · 23 May 2007, 20:47

Looks like a good choice

codprawn · 23 May 2007, 20:54

There are a few of these running in Cardiff Bay - nice looking boats. I wonder what electronics you will have fitted???

John Kennett · 23 May 2007, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

Well I had to look at what was on offer and what can I get in the timescale I have set myself.

Nice boat! What's the delivery date?

John

MikeCC · 23 May 2007, 21:29

Jon,

Nice one - good luck with the new venture.

Mike

Hightower · 23 May 2007, 23:50

Thats one impressively beamy hull you have there. Looks to be about 3 meters from the photo.

Congrates and the Hightower family wish you good luck in your new venture.

Jon Brooks · 24 May 2007, 07:55

Thank you for the kind words.

Electronics well let me think...........

She will be fitted with 2 VHF's, one GX-1500 and one GX-3000.
The GX-3000 will give me loud hailer and fog horn functions to boot.
I am looking to fit two GPS/chartplotters.
First will be the CP-300 and this unit will also have the depth option fitted.
Second will be a the new CP-500 this will be used for Radar.
Both the plotters have a camera option so may look at that for the future.
The CP-500 also has video out so I could feed the camera pictures to a solid state type recorder.

Delivery time is going to be mid-end of June, fingers crossed.

Once again many thanks.

dwalters · 24 May 2007, 08:02

If you don't mind me asking, when did you order it?

Thanks

Jon Brooks · 24 May 2007, 08:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwalters

If you don't mind me asking, when did you order it?

Thanks

Well I had a lucky strike!
The fine fellows at Ribcraft had a 9m build cancelled on them.
Hull was done and staff were already booked to work on the boat.
If that had not happened I would have been looking at about 6 months lead time.

As I mentioned it should be ready for late June so just after your new boat!!

Good luck with yours

Poly · 24 May 2007, 09:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

She will be fitted with 2 VHF's, one GX-1500 and one GX-3000.
The GX-3000 will give me loud hailer and fog horn functions to boot.

must be worried about reliability if you need two vhfs

Jon Brooks · 24 May 2007, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

must be worried about reliability if you need two vhfs

Very good Pol

I am a belt and braces kinda guy also means I can have two conversations at the same time!

eupa · 24 May 2007, 10:58

Dont get me the wrong way. How much ??

Choice of motors??

jonathan

Poly · 24 May 2007, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

also means I can have two conversations at the same time!

Are you actually a woman then?

Tim M · 24 May 2007, 11:49

Jon congratulations.

I have pondered recently on a medium-longterm replacement for Evolution and the 9m Ribcraft is defiantly up there in my ponderings. A very nice boat. In fact theres some good shots of them in the Suzuki brochure. As Hightower says it looks like an incredibly beamy boat.

What colour scheme have you gone for?

Jon Brooks · 24 May 2007, 12:11

Eupa,

Like a gent should never talk about his conquest I will not talk about the deal, it would be rude!

Engines are twin 250hp Suzuki.

Pol,

Lets just say i am in touch with my feminie side and leave it at that

Tim

Your always welcome to come out for a blat once she arrives.
Beamy is good

Cheers

Nauti Buoy · 24 May 2007, 12:18

Jon,

Good luck with the new venture, will you be having the raised deck at the rear as well. Also if you would like the telephone number where I hired my liferaft from (£370 ish plus vat) per year for a 12 man liferaft including servicing etc let me know. Also what coding are you going for Cat 3 or 4?

Good luck

Richard

Tim M · 24 May 2007, 12:55

Norwest Marine (i think that who nauti got his from too) are very cheap and very good

Nauti Buoy · 24 May 2007, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

Norwest Marine (i think that who nauti got his from too) are very cheap and very good

12 Man Solas B Liferaft for £350 + vat per year from these people. They are very friendly and easy to deal with. They also supplied me with all the coding gear too, and were the most competively priced company I found.

http://www.norwestmarine.co.uk/

Dave Adams - 0151 2072860

Jon Brooks · 24 May 2007, 18:20

Cheers Richard and Tim,

Most if not all the safety kit will come from Ocean Safety.
Not sure to rent or buy the liferaft as yet.

Either way thanks for the info.

Oh and colour is grey hull (that was already made so no choice there) yellow tubes and consol, black patches.