Best RIB Tube Color! - Page 2

Alan Priddy · 10 August 2005, 16:31

If you want a boat that looks good all the time, the only colours to go for are white hull and grey tubes. The white never goes off colour and the grey only goes greyer. Everything else changes colour. as for being seen at sea from above, I thought that flares and smokes are used for this. Alan P

roycruse · 10 August 2005, 17:26

The guy at the ribcraft factory said grey tubes are the ones that stay looking good for the longest.

personally i like the dark blue which looks specially nice on a white hull with a light grey rubbing strake.

(at least thats the colours ive picked for my new boat)

Hightower · 10 August 2005, 18:17

I quite like my Red tubes with white patches, white hull and orange console with two pedastool seats.

RIB must be over 10 years old and dosen't look faded at all.

If I had to choose then, white hull, Orange seating and console with Blue tubes with large light grey patches to form a distictive pattern (AKA: Like the Avon syle) with grey rubbing strake with blue inset.

ashbypower · 10 August 2005, 18:40

For Me Blue Toobes with Grey Wear patches and White Glass.

Brian

Chopppywaters · 10 August 2005, 20:49

I was thinking of gettin the tubes and console all black but then i would still have a white hull unless i wanted to pay 440 to paint it and i dont think that would look good...Grey tubes white hull black strakes and console looks nice too i think

wavelength · 10 August 2005, 20:57

everything black for us -but always with pressure relief valves (no matter what the colour really) it makes life so much more relaxing-especially when you leave it on a campsite somewhere and then the sun comes out strongly when you're miles away

White hulls are the sensible choice though-so much easier to get gelcoat repair material that matches no matter where you are.

RibRoy · 10 August 2005, 20:58

Next time all black or black tubes/grey hull. Regret i didnt order that. Also think my present RIB would have looked better with yellow hull on the outside.
Or what ?

Regards

Roy

RibRoy · 10 August 2005, 21:01

Had to adjust the size on this pic

hard1 · 10 August 2005, 21:37

I love the black & yellow combo - this was my first RIB, but, as a previous poster stated it is essential to have pressure relief valves if you are not to pop your cones on a hot day! Also, impossible to keep looking clean on a charter - salt just builds up so you spend all day wiping the tubes down. Yellow + grey are the 2 colours that fade least. Red and blue seem to fade worst.

My current Cobra is grey and keeps it's appearence OK.

My 2 pence.

Oops, forgot the attachment:

tomfalla · 10 August 2005, 22:01

All black is the only way forward if you want a rib that looks the business, and it doesn't get as hot as people make out. Pressure relief valves are a must, but as far as I know Pro-Sport fit them on all tubes regardless of colour.

Once you go black, you'll never go back!!

tomfalla · 10 August 2005, 22:07

Sorry, this pic should be a better size

prairie tuber · 11 August 2005, 00:47

It's looking like I will be acquiring one of these in the next few weeks, so another vote for black. If not black, then grey like my current one.

rbw156 · 11 August 2005, 06:40

I ordered two colour tubes. The top sides is grey (as this fades the least), the under side is dark blue, with a black rubbing strake. The seats will match. I went for a white hull so that it is easy to colour match!

Jelly · 11 August 2005, 07:29

Hey Prairie
That looks like the Zodiac inflatable air drop version, I had the MK5 HD with the aluminium floor. When you are checking it out items to look for are the compartment valves abd the engine mount height.
The brass vale outers rotate so you can select to put air into either tube section either side of the baffle or both at the same time and you can shut it off to avaoid leaks also. They are also pressure relief units. One thing to check is that some people put all the valves to free flow between chambers and then attach an air line to fill it up.
With the Futura hull (tubes under the main tubes like runners) make sure they hold air the valves can be fun is some one cross threads them abd check the engine hieght as once on the plane they run on the futura tubes and you can often find if the engines been mounted to the transom. Thus being the wrong height to put the power on when on the plane.
They are bomb proof but if left in the sun the black tubes can be rather hot on the old bottom!!
Have fun
Jelly

hannah · 11 August 2005, 07:53

i go with yellow , looks very smart and original

benc · 11 August 2005, 08:07

I'd go with orange. It's funny how many people slow down when you are near them in an orange rib

It does look official

ollyit · 11 August 2005, 08:08

Although my boat is grey, I think yellow also is cool after seeing robins, its weird how a rib pulls it off so well, but it looks crap on 98% of cars

robin · 11 August 2005, 09:15

Cheers Olly.

prairie tuber · 11 August 2005, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelly

Hey Prairie
That looks like the Zodiac inflatable air drop version, I had the MK5 HD with the aluminium floor. When you are checking it out items to look for are the compartment valves abd the engine mount height.
The brass vale outers rotate so you can select to put air into either tube section either side of the baffle or both at the same time and you can shut it off to avaoid leaks also. They are also pressure relief units. One thing to check is that some people put all the valves to free flow between chambers and then attach an air line to fill it up.
With the Futura hull (tubes under the main tubes like runners) make sure they hold air the valves can be fun is some one cross threads them abd check the engine hieght as once on the plane they run on the futura tubes and you can often find if the engines been mounted to the transom. Thus being the wrong height to put the power on when on the plane.
They are bomb proof but if left in the sun the black tubes can be rather hot on the old bottom!!
Have fun
Jelly

Good eye

Specifically, it is the Zodiac FC470 (Furtura Commando). A friend acquired some through a U.S. government auction. The valve system works just like you described. Apparently the main sponson & and speed tubes are all holding air very nicely, but the floorboards and inflatable keel need some work. Given that I should be able to pick one of these up for a fraction of it's new price, I can deal with that.

The transoms on these 4.7m are designed for short shaft outboards with maximums of 40-60hp, depending on the floor configuration. From what I understand my current 25 hp motor will move it quite nicely under moderate loads. I might eventually get a 40-50 hp Honda outboard for it. It has a maximum payload of 2756 lbs (1250 kg) so it should be great for 1-2 week moose hunting trips. As for the fabric, it is an 1880 weight hypalon. I might paint the tops of the sponsons grey or a camo pattern to minimize burning my bottom on hot days.

What are your impressions of the futura hull system? Is it a major improvemnt over a conventional SIB inflatable keel? (There is a boat manufacturer in Brittish Columbia who has built aluminum hulls specifically for these sponsons to convert them into bonafide ribs. However that would necessitate a trailer - which I'd rather not be committed to since it would drastically reduce back country lake/river access).

Apologies for the thread hijack.

Chopppywaters · 12 August 2005, 01:09

ok um.....whatever mr prairie just said ummm diregard it lol....Anyone have an all Black RIB? How does it look (does it fade quickly? easy to clean? etc.) Im debating between all Black, or Grey tubes black console, seats, and hull, or Navy Blue tubes orange console, seats, and hull. Possibly Blue hull and seats and black tubes too.....dunno to many choices lol