Humber RIB's

Garygee · 09 May 2002, 11:28

Does anyone have any comments about the Humber Ocean Pro and Oean Pro Offshore RIB's or humber RIB;s in general

The sizes are the 6.3 Ocean Pro, 6.5 & 7.0 Ocen Pro Offshore/extream with inboards.
Comment on build quality, handling, sea keeping life etc welcome.

Also Humber are offering the Ocean Pro extream 7.0 with the 1.7 TDI, 120Hp option.
Does this size engine look under powered for a 7M RIB, with say 6-8 people on board ?.

One week to Ribex then its make my mind up time!

Thanks Gary

Alan · 09 May 2002, 12:28

Suggest you talk to Mike Carson (who posts here). He has been looking at the Humber 6.3 / 120hp Diesel package.

Cheers,
Alan

Garygee · 09 May 2002, 20:23

Thanks Alan will drop Mike a e-mail

Gary

Charles · 09 May 2002, 21:59

I had a Humber 6.8m DivePro some 5 years ago and was extremely happy with the hull, build quality and dry ride. No problems there.......only comment is the huge bow which made seeing ahead a bit of a problem at times. Cannot comment on the diesel inboard as I had a huge 150 Yamaha on the transom.

seafariskye · 09 May 2002, 22:02

Gary

I have 2 Humbers, the Ocean Pro 8.5 and the Newer 7m Ocean extreme, both with diesel inboards, in the 8.5 a volvo Kad 44 and in the 7m the Kad 32.

The 8.5 is now in its 3rd year, with about 1200 hours on the clock! the 7m is newer and i am very pleased with the both of them.
They are used commercially, but well looked after, would now not go for any other make - the difference i found with humber was the service, both before buying and after - I asked all the manufacturers and no-one compares.

Have had them both out in a force 10 (not by choice) and regularly work both off the west side of the western isles- the waves do not get much bigger -

Mail me with your questions, and will answer away - and take your cheque book to Andy and his crew at Ribex -

Cheers

Pete

seafariskye · 09 May 2002, 22:03

Nice to have a big bow when the waves are bigger though?

Pete

Phil · 10 May 2002, 05:20

I am very pleased with my Humber-there is no doubt that the hull is a winner.

I understand that there have been some problems with the inboards where water has been sucked into the airvents? but that the set up has been modified.

Overall build quality is good and robust although I found locker covers a bit lightweight.

As with any boat you always find things to change after you have bought

Garygee · 10 May 2002, 12:14

Thanks everyone
It would appear that should have no real concerns about Humber.

Pete
Your 7.0M Ocean Extream has a KAD 32 which i think from memory is about 170HP. How does it peform and from having the KAD do you think the 1.7TDI/120HP would be to small.
We are likly to be 6 people with camping gear etc so would be quite heavy (or not as i dont know how bigger boats peform when loaded)

Thanks Gary

seafariskye · 10 May 2002, 16:19

Gary

The Kad 32 is 170hp, I have the boat licenced for 10 (12 incl driver + crew, with this rather big load on, it is fine, both boats get up on the plane really quickly, which is why i went for them.

I testdrove the 6.8 (Ithink) with the 1.7 Merc in it and was very impressed - give Andy at thumber a ring, because when i was down collecting the 7m there was a dive boat going out with the kind of package it sounds like you are after, and see how they are getting on.
I went for another Volvo because of the reliability of my first, and didnt want to mix the 2 engine types - otherwise it would ahve been different -
Full marks to the 1.7 mercruiser though, it is really small, and not noisey - would advise you to fing out how the ones that should now have higher hours on the clock are getting on - Best thing is it has Not got a Bravo 3 leg on it!!

Pete

Garygee · 10 May 2002, 20:12

Thanks Pete

Do you have bad reports of the Bravo 3 leg as that is what is fitted to the Ribcraft I am also looking at

Gary

seafariskye · 10 May 2002, 20:17

Gary

Depends, on what engine it is attached to - have lots of bad ones about it being on with the yanmar 300hp, to much HP through the leg- think you can fry an egg on it when you are going along?? you certainly cannot touch it anyway (but can cook breakfast)
- not so many bad things if it is attached to the mercruiser engine- what HP are you looking at ??

Pete

Garygee · 10 May 2002, 21:01

Pete the engine is the Yanmar 240HP, so it up there on HP

Is 240 high enough to generate the heat ?.

Gary

seafariskye · 11 May 2002, 14:59

Gary

I think the problem originated that they were trying to put 300hp through the bravo 3 leg - by 'beefing up' the bearings, but in the experience that i have had it did not work very well - hence the reason they have replaced it now with (i cant remember the model of the leg) but i know people who are getting on ok with it.

My thoughts would be it seems to be ok, with Its designed HP running through it, it may be worth putting a new heading on this, and get the people that actually own one and get their views, as nothing is better than the feedback from the owners, I am sure between everyone on this someone has a few!

Hope this is a wee bit of help to you, Its all rather like buying a mobile phone.......... Which one do you get ?

Cheers

Pete

Garygee · 11 May 2002, 20:44

Thanks Pete

very helpfull, real ffedback for an owner is work 1000 sales leaflets.

At present its looking like the 7.0M humber xtream (with the non tapered tubes) with the 120HP, but still open
I will put a post on for the bravo 3, if things sway toward this.

Yes it like picking a mobile, it just that mobiles dont cost quite as much

Thanks Gary