its a car no its a rib

mike100 · 18 June 2006, 20:11

Has anyone seen this rib around in the Solent, it has landing gear which enables the rib to be beached
A rib with wheels!

ALANT · 18 June 2006, 20:53

Seen it in New Zaeland many times think it was a NZ design the guy was always out demonstrating it(Showing off) look for the web page Sealegs. It had a little honda engine driving a hydraulic power pack to drive the motors on the back legs and raise lower the wheels. Front wheel can be raised lowered to make it easier to board. Seen it also at a boat show in Tauranga in NZ bloody expensive!! Biggest problem apart from cost would be lack of space.

Alex-341 · 18 June 2006, 21:20

Yes its expensive £40,000 grand expensive, for a 90Hp Rib that does 30 knots.

Ive seen the white one of it at a couple of shows and in the water in amgazines but thats it. I cant see many people turning down a 225Hp ribcraft in place of that for example.

antiqueboy · 18 June 2006, 21:22

bit james bond.if memory serves me correctly these were at southampton boat show last year, two wheels at rear one on front, lower the wheels and drive ashore on battery were the whole lot can be towed away, nice idea bit ugly though and if it breaks down you are knackered for getting it out of the water think the packages started at 30-40k

ALANT · 19 June 2006, 14:23

The one in NZ was not battery power as I have been on it when it was sitting on the beach. Nice toy if your are minted but that's it.

Scary Des · 19 June 2006, 14:45

I know the Solent boat and like many market leaders/ trend setters it is expensive, but it has got a lot of advantages over a conventional rib.
I like exploring new places but the two things that put me off doing this is dinging a prop or being left high an dry when the tides goes out, both of which aren’t a problem with this boat.
If you are worries about grounding, you just put the wheels half down and when they touch you start to motor and there are no worries about drying out because you can just drive until the water gets deep enough to use the outboard.
If they can make them more competitive I’m sure it will be a winner. Incidentally it does have a separate engine for the hydraulics / wheels but the steering is combined with the console helm

Des

adrian c · 19 June 2006, 17:29

yes
it was at osboure bay ( iow ) on sunday, not sure i would want them on my rib

AndyB007 · 19 June 2006, 19:49

Spotted one in Ocean Village being used by a wheelchair-bound guy, so price & performance isn't everything!

Andy

Stormchild · 22 June 2006, 20:12

Remember when Richard Branson did that cross channel record job in the convertable amphibious car and took the record, isnt this the vehicle used to beat it ?

paul tilley · 22 June 2006, 22:08

it is the vehicle that beat bransons record ,made in new zealand but tubed by myself and imported by nick cox amphibious ribs uk normally fitted with 90hp outboard and 15 hp honda engine to power hydraulics for powering rear wheels and raising and lowering wheels we have also supplied tubes to the french importer as neither the uk or french market likes the original pvc tubes .i have seen the boat in action and it works very well ,two owners drive theirs across a field and down a shingle beach straight into the water it may not suit everyones taste but certainly has its uses