Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 21 December 2007, 13:00   #1
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Essex
Length: 7m +
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 17
Impossible question.....

I realise that there is no definitive answer to the question I pose but I would value your opinions as one brand appears much like any other to me. In the New Year I will be purchasing a 6.5-7.0 metre rib for use primarily with the family (6 people) for ringo pulling and occasional trips with the boys. Does any of the following brands have any issues or characteristics that means they would not be unsuitable for my needs or are generally not a recommended rib....I will not be tackling anything too rough for a while yet.....The six brands that have caught my eye are:
1) Avon
2) Solent
3) Ribcraft
4) Vipermax
5) Destroyer
6) Ocean Pro

Numbers 1,2 and 3 seem favourite but I am keen to hear your experienced views and I will also consider other options. Does anyone have a view on what my pecking order should be in terms of ride and suitability.....I'm also thinking about a 115-150 hp fourstroke.
Thanks in advance...........
__________________
mrgrumpy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 13:18   #2
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Mayfair, London
Make: RibEye/Ferretti 881
Length: 7m +
Engine: Yamaha 25/Twin MTU
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 691
For your requirements, you should buy a Ribeye
__________________
timw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 13:41   #3
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Windsor CT
Boat name: Blue Moon
Make: ribcraft 6.5
Length: 6m +
Engine: 150 hp honda
MMSI: 338051172
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 139
I've used my 6.5 Ribcraft for two seasons with great sucess. It is well mannered in any sea. We always feel safe in it. The part and build quality is high. I would recommend the Ribcraft.

www.eclecticwonders.com uncommon art
__________________
ribfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 14:00   #4
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Mighty Penryn
Boat name: Little Joe.
Make: Avon Searider
Length: 4m +
Engine: Honda BF50
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,872
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrgrumpy View Post
I realise that there is no definitive answer to the question I pose but I would value your opinions as one brand appears much like any other to me. In the New Year I will be purchasing a 6.5-7.0 metre rib for use primarily with the family (6 people) for ringo pulling and occasional trips with the boys. Does any of the following brands have any issues or characteristics that means they would not be unsuitable for my needs or are generally not a recommended rib....I will not be tackling anything too rough for a while yet.....The six brands that have caught my eye are:
1) Avon
2) Solent
3) Ribcraft
4) Vipermax
5) Destroyer
6) Ocean Pro

Numbers 1,2 and 3 seem favourite but I am keen to hear your experienced views and I will also consider other options. Does anyone have a view on what my pecking order should be in terms of ride and suitability.....I'm also thinking about a 115-150 hp fourstroke.
Thanks in advance...........
You're inviting a load of replies from guys 'bigging up' which ever brand they own. Any of the middle four are good boats. What sort of budget are you working to? Mine will be for sale around Feb.
__________________
Mollers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 14:11   #5
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Exmouth, Devon
Length: no boat
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 767
Are you planning on buying new or used?

For a RIB up to 7 metres, you'll want the higher powered engine - I'm sure others would go higher still - 200+.

Seating/console options can make a big difference to both comfort and cost! Worth looking at some of the pics on here to see what might suit. You'll probably want to get one that's got enough beam to take side-by-side seats comfortably.

You should take some of these out to make your own comparison for ride and handling preferences.
__________________
www.allgadgets.co.uk
Tel 01395 227727
MikeCC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 14:39   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Essex
Length: 7m +
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 17
Used is my preference.....the budget is 20k (ish).....
__________________
mrgrumpy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 14:42   #7
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Essex
Length: 7m +
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 17
Mollers.....is there a reason why you have discounted the Avon and the Ocean Pro?
__________________
mrgrumpy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 15:25   #8
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Mighty Penryn
Boat name: Little Joe.
Make: Avon Searider
Length: 4m +
Engine: Honda BF50
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,872
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrgrumpy View Post
Mollers.....is there a reason why you have discounted the Avon and the Ocean Pro?
If you use the search facility on this site, you'll bring up hours of 'interesting' reading on the previously mentioned manufacturers.
__________________
Mollers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 15:59   #9
RIBnet admin team
 
Nos4r2's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: The wilds of Wiltshire
Boat name: Dominator
Make: SR5.4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Yam 85
MMSI: 235055163
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,053
RIBase
Nothing wrong with Avons (as long as you buy a Searider ) though they aren't exactly 'family' boats.
__________________
Need spares,consoles,consumables,hire,training or even a new boat?

Please click HERE and HERE and support our Trade Members.

Join up as a Trade member or Supporter HERE
Nos4r2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 16:15   #10
Member
 
Tim M's Avatar
 
Country: France
Town: Côte d'Azur
Boat name: Beaver Patrol
Make: Avon Searider SR4
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,934
I just wrote a very lengthy response but my computer went crazy so I lost it, so in brief:

Ribcraft or Solent would be my choices.

Ribcraft: very solid, more expensive than Solent, more rugged. Overall - very well made boats.

Solent: bit more leisure oriented. Very fast (well, mine is!), look nice, bit cheaper, annoying niggles, although the two boats I know of with similar niggles have had a lot of use and abuse.
__________________
Tim M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 16:16   #11
Member
 
Erin's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: A large rock
Boat name: La Frette
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200 Suzzy
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 2,893
I had Ribcraft, Osprey and Solent on my list, but I was buying from new and wanted to be specific about spec.
__________________
Erin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 16:18   #12
exspyrd trayd membir
 
The Garfish's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Town: inn wiliks hed
Make: Redbay 6.5
Length: 6m +
Engine: Twin Etec 90hp
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 962
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim M View Post
I just wrote a very lengthy response but my computer went crazy so I lost it
sow ther iz a godd arfter orl

gaRf
__________________
luk arfter numbir wan, downt stepp inn numbir too
The Garfish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 16:27   #13
RIBnet supporter
 
C2 RIBS's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Hants
Length: 8m +
Engine: 300hp plus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,072
which RIB

Not sure you will find the answer here as we all have our own preferences and some views will be driven by business links and finance. I would say that a visit to The London Boat Show in January to view everyones RIBS and their layouts might give you the final choice.
__________________
C2 RIBS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 16:48   #14
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Bristol
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 4,299
Ribcraft Ribcraft Ribcraft!!!
__________________
matt h is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 December 2007, 16:54   #15
Member
 
Country: Ireland
Length: no boat
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 6
Having used different boats alot over the years ( avon, humber, osprey, lencraft, ribcraft) the boat i'd go for is the ribcraft. my mate bought a new ribcraft in july and i since after getting one, there a fantastic boat very solid and the finish is very good on them, but thats my onw personnal choice, you'll just have to see what boats come up in you budget range
__________________
apinspo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 December 2007, 12:19   #16
Member
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: Southampton
Boat name: DynaMoHumm/ SRV/deja
Make: Avon8.4, 5.4 & 4.777
Length: 8m +
Engine: Cat3126 Yam 90 &70
MMSI: 42
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,562
When you say six brands have caught your eye 5 and 6 I presume is one brand i.e Humber? From your indented use I would say that rules out an Avon Searider and the Avon Adventurer isn't a great boat in the water.

Which leaves it to Solent, Ribcraft or Osprey which are boats with superior quality to the Humber. ( humbers are cool boats though)

Ospreys are superb sea boats
Solents are very nippy and well made boats
Ribcrafts are a good mix between the two

Engine size I suspect you'd find the perfomance of a 115 4 stroke limited after a while so I'd at leat look for a 140 4 stroke, but then I'd prefer a 150 Opti for that size boat

If you are looking at the used market with 20 k in your pocket Don't discount the Ribtec or XS 6.5 If new then Parker are well worth a look If you could go to 7.2 then the Shakespear 720 is a cracker and could fit in your budget.

When buying used only allow for 25% of the electronics value in the price you pay, As it's likely to have been superceeded and is out of warranty

Also The Solent is a splash of the Tohatsu one design which was a very well made boat. Laminating by Porters and toobs by Henshaws , so it may well be worth piclking up a good Tohatsu and slapping a new lump on it
__________________
Here it comes again, I don't stand a chance
Soul possession, Got me in a trance
Pullin' me back to you - Deja Voodoo
Rogue Wave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 December 2007, 12:47   #17
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Mighty Penryn
Boat name: Little Joe.
Make: Avon Searider
Length: 4m +
Engine: Honda BF50
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,872
[QUOTE=Rogue Wave;231596]
Ospreys are superb sea boats
Solents are very nippy and well made boats
Ribcrafts are a good mix between the two


Within those three it's probably best to go for a boat that best suits your needs in all other depts. ie. engine, seating, console etc., rather than go for one of the above and narrow your search criteria to a point where you'll need the services of Paul Daniels.
__________________
Mollers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 December 2007, 14:34   #18
Member
 
biffer's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: swanwick/hamble
Boat name: stormchaser
Make: custom rib
Length: 8m +
Engine: inboard/diesel
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,848
as a rib manufacturer i would suggest you go and try some of these boats to form you own opinion, biff
__________________
biffer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 December 2007, 18:51   #19
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Essex
Length: 7m +
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 17
I intend to.....It never hurts to have the list shortened by people who have a great deal more knowledge and experience than I do though. Salesmen can make you believe all sorts of garbage.
__________________
mrgrumpy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 December 2007, 18:54   #20
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Essex
Length: 7m +
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 17
I'd like to thank you all for your time, guidance and extensive knowledge....much appreciated by this rib virgin.
__________________
mrgrumpy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 12:17.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.