Gemini tubes

Nickbotnia · 17 August 2010, 09:17

I know that this has been covered by others, but I thought I'd put my experiences with Jack on too.
I bought the Sam Robinson/Gemini tubed rib some 4 to 5 years ago.
Sam told me it was a Ring 21 hull & he had bought the moulds from Mike Ring.
Gemini Industries supplies the tubes to Sam who fitted them.
I left it in my garden uncovered that winter.
during the cold spell, the tubes simply fell off the rib!
I then got a company in essex to fit the tubes properly, they warned me about the issues with these tubes.

For reasons I now can't explain, I did nothing with the rib till last week, when I decided to assemble it.
Me & my 12 yr old son took it out last saturday at Rye, first time the rib had seen water, all very exiting!, no leaks, floats well, looking good: engine runs well (150 Mercury XR6)
go out to sea, had a long run in her, very impressed with performance (I think the boat is pretty light for it's size 7+m)
We were out at the Fairway buoy, when the coxwain says "Dad is the tube meant to flap like that", sure enough the starboard rear tube had deflated.
This was a new experience for both of us, quite character building in fact.
Making sure we kept planing, we zoomed back into Rye (sorry Mr HM). (Boat stayed afloat even when statonary...)
Stitching had failed on both cones, on starboard side, the innertube had burst, the port one close to failing, with innertube showing.

Spoke to Jack at Gemini Industries, "stitching had rotted due to me leaving boat outside & I had over pressurised the tubes". He offered to send me patches & stitching to repair it my self. "the factory is in Belgium & we dont have facilities to repair here, & I only returned to England to retire"
The tubes were underinflated if anything, as I couldn't find an adaptor to pump them up, nothing came with the boat.
Their website says stitching is good for ten years....
Moral: buy cheap buy twice
Been quoted £4k for hypalon, anyone got any ideas??

martini · 17 August 2010, 09:30

Yes you should never leave a boat outside, that's just asking for trouble. What were you thinking?

bedajim · 17 August 2010, 10:56

Get a few more quotes and see how they stack up

AndrewH · 17 August 2010, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedajim

Get a few more quotes and see how they stack up

Yep and make sure that Paul Tilley is one of them !!

doggypaddle · 17 August 2010, 11:16

Yep, make sure you speak to Paul, He is genuinely really helpful, He talked me through repairing my tubes several times, probably wasted hours of his time

I can't comment personally on his tubes, as i have never had any, but his reputation speaks volumes.

You certainly wont need to keep a Tilley tubed boat in the dry

Pablo · 17 August 2010, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewH

Yep and make sure that Paul Tilley is one of them !!

I'll second that. Great chap who does a great job !

He is on here and here's his site : http://www.tidel.biz/

BogMonster · 17 August 2010, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

I'll second that. Great chap who does a great job !

He is on here and here's his site : http://www.tidel.biz/

Thirded

Poly · 17 August 2010, 14:35

I wonder if it is worth filing a report with the MAIB (you are under no obligation to). Total failure of a tube is clearly a safety incident (although fortunately most ribs will float without a tube attached).

I don't expect they will take an interest in a single case (although they might) but failure of manufacturers to secure jockey seats has resulted in their investigations in the past - so equipment failure on leisure craft is something they will look at. If everyone who has major tube failure at sea from Gemini (or any other brand) reports it - then a pattern will emerge which I am sure would raise an eyebrow.

There may also be questions about the CE ratings of any rib supplied (new) with defective tubes. Although technically that is an issue for trading standards MAIB seem better placed to ask the questions.

A.C. · 18 August 2010, 17:38

[QUOTE=Nickbotnia;365482] I know that this has been covered by others, but I thought I'd put my experiences with Jack on too.
I bought the Sam Robinson/Gemini tubed rib some 4 to 5 years ago.
Sam told me it was a Ring 21 hull & he had bought the moulds from Mike Ring.

Not sure who Sam Robinson is but I know Mike Ring and Mike has never sold any moulds to Mr Robinson or given him permission to copy his design.

steveplumber · 18 September 2010, 08:29

that man talks utter bollocks he is very much working. he told me he cuts the patterns and
his wife sews them. seems to me every tube he sells/ makes are faulty if he was retired he wouldnt be updating his website and taking calls. he is a crook. his poorly made tubes and promises put lives at risk just so he can make a quick buck i hope somebody gets hold of him and make his life hell.

dave9960 · 18 September 2010, 10:16

seems like the gemini web site has a picture of my boat, which was a sam robinson bodge about 4 years back.. i had to have the tubes redone

http://www.geminiindustries.co.uk/EPSN0045orange.jpg

dave9960 · 18 September 2010, 10:20

cor and another photo of my rib with the bloke standing up in the orange rib and the two people in wet suits at the front... i recognise that little a frame anywhere
http://www.geminiindustries.co.uk/rib%20rib%20kits.htm

Nos4r2 · 18 September 2010, 10:53

Do you think this guy has made ANY tubes without problems?!

dave9960 · 18 September 2010, 22:44

in fact here was my new rib jan 2007 with sam robinson on board..

Nickbotnia · 19 September 2010, 06:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

Yes you should never leave a boat outside, that's just asking for trouble. What were you thinking?

Thats nonsense! I have a Yam 380 SIB I have owned for 3 years longer than the aformentioned RIB, & it has spent ALL its life inflated upside down outside.
Not only has nothing ever gone wrong with it, I have NEVER even had to inflate it!
It goes a bit green sometimes, but it easily cleans off: used it as a (very large) tender for the Isle of Wight festival this year.

Nos4r2 · 19 September 2010, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickbotnia

Thats nonsense! I have a Yam 380 SIB I have owned for 3 years longer than the aformentioned RIB, & it has spent ALL its life inflated upside down outside.
Not only has nothing ever gone wrong with it, I have NEVER even had to inflate it!
It goes a bit green sometimes, but it easily cleans off: used it as a (very large) tender for the Isle of Wight festival this year.

That would have been sarcasm, directed at Gemini....

steveplumber · 19 September 2010, 09:25

i think his tubes are more suited to tenders low usage boats maybe for use in swimming pools ! kind of like those bought at the seaside for £20, which brings me on to my next point i bought a rubber ring / doughnut 3 years ago only a cheap one about £35 it cost me i dont have to put any air in it at all all season so if a cheap jap ring can hold air why dont his tubes!

when i bought mine they leaked from even before fitting to the boat ! when i took the inner tubes out the "new" tubes had patches all over the seams and the seams still leaked ! his words were he was surprised that they leaked as he takes great pride in his inner tubes !

i think he even says on his website he has only ever had two complaints ! what a load of balls!

martini · 19 September 2010, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

That would have been sarcasm, directed at Gemini....

You'd have thought a Botnia owner would recognize humour?

Mollers · 19 September 2010, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

You'd have thought a Botnia owner would recognize humour?

A boat, where the position of the steering wheel is the only clue as to which end is the front.

willk · 19 September 2010, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

A boat, where the position of the steering wheel

Itself only slightly to Starboard of the cooker hob, IIRC. Disaster if a feckin' RIBnut cuts a rip through the marina my dear and spills your bouillabaisse orl over the Raymarine