New to Ribs! Would love some help!

Nuts31 · 23 July 2011, 14:51

Hi everyone,

I am a complete novice when it comes to Ribs so any help would be much appreciated. Other then jumping on friends ribs, the last boat I really experienced was grey and began with HMS!! I am looking for some advice on which rib, I have been looking at used oceans around 7 to 7.5m, I would like to use it for cruising but able to take 6 to 8 people comfortably. Not sure whether an inboard diesel is the way to go or not?

Also, (here comes the really dumb question) are there any specific certifications or licenses required to run and use a rib? Or are these more for gaining a better understanding?

Many thanks in anticipation

mike-m · 23 July 2011, 20:24

Hi Nuts!

Welcome to the forum - I am sure some of the more regular contributors will be along shortly but just a couple of thoughts...

You are definitely starting at the larger, more expensive end of the market!! A 7 - 7.5m RIB is a fairly hefty piece of kit and will require you to be pretty slick at launching and recovering if you are on your own. You may find you will need a 4x4 to tow it - my 7.5m XS comes in at around 2.5 tonnes on the trailer. You will be needing an engine of around 200hp at least and they are dear to buy and run. Do you have a budget in mind?

Other questions to consider are:

Storage/security?

Where do you want to cruise and in what conditions?

Kids?

Will the missus like it? (seriously!!)

...and these are all before you get onto which manufacturer/engine size & numbers (single or twin)/diesel petrol/cabin or open, etc....

As for certification, etc, you do not need any as the law stands - you can buy a RIB as a complete beginner and just go! However I would STRONGLY recommend that before you even think of buying such a big boat, you enroll on a powerboat Level 2 course with a reputable training establishment and have a go - that experience and the advice they can give you will be hugely valuable and will greatly assist you in making your choice.

If you want to post a "wish list" of requirements, giving as much info as possible, you will get loads of valuable advice on this site. Just remember, the more info you supply, the more accurate and specific the advice will be....

Worth getting this right from the outset, as you will need to invest a decent sum of money in a boat this size.

Good luck with your search!

Kind regards

Mike

Nuts31 · 23 July 2011, 20:58

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the advice. I currently live in Bournemouth so I am in a good location for options with regards to locations etc. Anywhere between Southampton and Poole really. I do have two boys aged 11 and 8 who would like nothing more than to spend the summer on a rib. I didn't want to restrict the number of people I could get on it comfortably to 4 or 5, the likelihood is more like 7 or 8. It maybe that 7.5m is too big to start with and I can get this number of people on something smaller.
I would want to use it go between Southampton and Poole and along the Dorset coast with regular trips to the isle of Wight. I am open to suggestions with regards to engine size and whether petrol or diesel I am probably looking for a fair compromise between fuel efficiency and a good deal of power circa 35 knots.
I currently drive a 3.0 litre diesel 4 wheel drive car, the car is fairly light but with plenty of torque. Budget I am looking for a used rib but would be looking at somewhere around £12k to £18k. I am a mechanical engineer by trade so engine overhauls are not an issue for me. As for the wife, no she hates the thought of boats but is willing to give it a go!!!

The powerboat level 2 course is something I had looked at from other people's discussions etc so this I too think would be a given.

Regarding storage, again open to advice on this, I am unsure as to likely mooring costs during the summer? Winter it would be on it's trailer blocking the drive

I hope this paints a better picture for anyone willing to share some valuable advice.

Many thanks

LyamGalpin · 24 July 2011, 23:10

Ocean Sports Tuition are selling their XS600 on here. It's a wonderful boat and if your interested in the PB2 they are a great school to do it with!

http://www.rib.net/forum/f21/xs-600-15-495-a-42506.html

http://www.oceansportstuition.co.uk/

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

Ian M · 25 July 2011, 06:24

Nuts,
How do you anticipate the RIB will be used? You indicate 4/5 and then say 7/8. What does this mean about how you will use it? Will you be going long distances with 7/8 people aboard, or is this just a maybe for short hops. Are you confident that the higher number of passengers/crew should drive the size of RIB that you are going for? Seems fundamental to me. As others have said, 7 - 7.5 metres of RIB are at the limit of what you will be able to launch by yourself, although I do not see you saying that you will be single handed?
Your budget should give you some options in whatever size you go for.
Given that the number of bodies seems important to you, I would suggest an outboard unit - an inboard inevitably eats into deck space.
Last from me, go out and try different RIBs, there are a lot of different boats out there. For me the decider was hull, and the consequent ride, for others top speed might be a factor. Yet others might go for deck space, ie beam. Then you need to look at the seating/console configurations - size of console, type of seating etc. You will need to get yourself out there to really be able to judge - it is alot to spend to get it wrong.
Enjoy the search.
Ian

Nuts31 · 25 July 2011, 07:08

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your reply, regarding the number of people, i said I didnt want to restrict it to 4/5 as it would be more like 7/8. Regarding single handed this would be very rare and there would always be at least two of us. With 7/8 on board this would be for short trips over to the IOW, I would probably restrict the longer trips to 4/5 people.
Thanks for the advice on trying different types of RIB, I am going to take the Powerboat level 2 course first before actually buying one, I am sure I will pick up a lot of advice from there.

Many Thanks
Nuts

Nos4r2 · 25 July 2011, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuts31

I am going to take the Powerboat level 2 course first before actually buying one, I am sure I will pick up a lot of advice from there.

Many Thanks
Nuts

That's probably the best course of action-nothing beats experience and actually using a boat to get a yardstick from

Poly · 25 July 2011, 19:19

There are some good reasons for a diesel engine. e.g. if you are using it in an area where dockside petrol is much rarer. There may be some other ancillary benefits - e.g. its much harder to nick an inboard; fuel economy is better and potentially cheaper (but for leisure use unlikely to payback against purchase cost in short term); potentially safer fuel load; older diesels were very simple/reliable.

On the other hand there are some disadvantages: cost of engine, space it takes up on deck, complicated to take engine off to repair, service of leg likely to be expensive, heavy, possibly lower speed (or is that just more sensible engine size)?

The comments about your wife are, I suspect, from those who have been there and done it! You'll get more time afloat if she is supportive - so its worth considering the sort of boat(ing) she might find fun. Some like a sunpad for catching some rays on, some prefer shelter and comfort, others something that looks good. Some will like water skiing, others prefer a book or a bbq on the beach whilst some will be much more into cruising to interesting places.

When you say you won't be single handed - were you counting the kids in that? Realistically even an 11 yr old probably won't be much use (certainly not till you/they have the process down to a fine art) recovering a big heavy boat.

Nuts31 · 25 July 2011, 22:04

Thanks for the advice everyone, this forum definitely seems to be the right place to start much appreciated. I think once I have done the powerboat level 2. I already think I will be looking for a 5.5 to 6m rib, petrol engine, with a sun pad as she worships the sun so that will keep her happy

as for the single handed issue it wouldn't be my 11 year old it would be a friend of mine so no worries there.

What would be the maximum size of rib that one man could handle alone comfortably?

Please could someone advise what would be considered as low to average hours for a petrol outboard and what would be high, also what sort of things should I look out for when buying a used rib?

Many thanks

martini · 25 July 2011, 22:15

I've got one of your lots old ribs, arctic 28. It's 8.5m and boat and trailer weigh around 3500kg, I have no problem launching and recovering it single-handed.

Poly · 25 July 2011, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuts31

Please could someone advise what would be considered as low to average hours for a petrol outboard and what would be high,

it depends who you ask! A recent thread suggested 1000 hrs was a lot although not universally agreed. For leisure use 50-100 hrs per annum is probably typical. If you are looking "reasonably new" it might be worth checking how much warranty is left - many engines now come with 5 years. So a 3 yr old engine with 400 hrs on it might be a better buy than a 6 yr old engine with 300!

Quote:

also what sort of things should I look out for when buying a used rib?

I think there is a thread by Nos4r2 which covers this.

Oh and ability to launch single handed depends on:

boat / trailer set up
practice / experience
slipway
weather
the number of spectators!

Nuts31 · 25 July 2011, 22:21

Thanks Polwart, I will check that out?

Nuts31 · 25 July 2011, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

I've got one of your lots old ribs, arctic 28. It's 8.5m and boat and trailer weigh around 3500kg, I have no problem launching and recovering it single-handed.

That's a bit of a monster but from what I remember (as it was a few years ago) wicked Rib!!

Poly · 25 July 2011, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuts31

Thanks Polwart, I will check that out?

Here you go:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f39/buying-...for-24685.html

This one is also worth a read:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f39/startin...ers-12892.html

Nuts31 · 25 July 2011, 22:36

Thanks Polwart, much appreciated.

spareribs · 19 August 2012, 03:28

go and rent a 4 one weekend, a 5 the next and a 6 the next , spend a day in each. You'll then know. Your gonna be spending a lot of dosh so test test test and test. Dont rib firms do test drives ?????? Do the pb2 first so you can get the most out of the days your renting. Good luck.

spareribs · 19 August 2012, 03:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by spareribs

go and rent a 4 one weekend, a 5 the next and a 6 the next , spend a day in each. You'll then know. Your gonna be spending a lot of dosh so test test test and test. Dont rib firms do test drives ?????? Do the pb2 first so you can get the most out of the days your renting. Good luck.

oh and make sure you try mooring them in as many different situations as poss, so you can have an idea of handling it by yourself because your gonna want to go out by yourself , "the others wont find it as great as you do" I take it your sons dont really want the rib, DO THEY !!! " so make sure you can handle it on your own if need be. Also try and get out when its not flat calm, an intermediate roughness of sea, just so your not under any illusions. Dont forget theres many type of sea and thus many types of handling.

boristhebold · 19 August 2012, 06:40

Reading what your wanting to use the Rib for consider a Cobra, there are a number of them for sale if you do some searching. Do the PB2, there is a good bunch of guys and girls at powerboat training uk based at cobbs quay marina in poole. There are a lot of ribs at cobbs quay, perhaps have a look round the marina and ask some of the owners about there boats which may give you some good idea of suitability.

boristhebold · 19 August 2012, 06:44

And I forgot to say, if your allready thinking 7 to 7.5 M then dont go for anything smaller, it would better to start with that size then compromise and suddenly discover 2 months later you really wanted a better boat. After a while many of us want bigger.

So as you say you mechanicly handy perhaps if cost is a consideration it might be better to find something with a good hull which needs doing up a bit then something that looks pretty now but below is a bit roapy, if you catch my drift.

boristhebold · 19 August 2012, 06:45

The word better above should have been bigger. Damn auto correct boll&&***ks