Ribcraft 585?

Jon Brooks · 06 October 2005, 10:27

Am looking to buy of these at the mo.

Don't know the boat so am looking for some advice.
Good?
Bad?
Best engine set up?
Pro's and con's?

All info would be a great help.
Many thanks in advance.

Regards

Jono Garton · 06 October 2005, 11:38

About the best RIB in its size, in my opinion.

Suzuki 140 4 stroke match's the boat well

tim griffin · 06 October 2005, 11:45

Have a look at the new Solent 585 coming into production could be one worth considering .

rads · 06 October 2005, 14:00

Got one.

Very well built, good "handling".

Ours is underpowered (for a fully loaded divin rib) with a Yamaha 90.

Test drives available in return for free radio stuff

David

Alan · 06 October 2005, 14:29

Talk to Bern Hanreck or JCW (Jason) who have one or Mike C who used to have one. Good hull, universally highly regarded for its size. I did PB2 in one many moons ago powered with 150hp 2 stroke. 150hp max and excellent performance. 135hp would be perfectly adequate performance, 90hp as has been posted poss. a bit underpowered. Actually thinking some more, you could ask Geoff (boatlaunch) who has/had one and has cruised pretty extensively.

hannah · 06 October 2005, 15:05

we got a 5.3 ribcraft , never had any troubles , handles really well , built for deep seas in my opinion

marknj · 06 October 2005, 15:44

I've got one with a Mariner 90 four stroke, If you are in Cornwall and fancy a trip give me a shout. I'm very pleased with it. Best to have a larger engine if it is to used fully loaded a lot.

Mark

JCW · 06 October 2005, 16:18

Alan sums it up well. The 5.85 is a excellent Rib. Go for a 40 gallon tank and four Jockey seats and you have a good set up with a long cruising range. We have a 100 HP Yam 4 stroke on ours. At times you can do with more power, say a 150. However as an example on a trip to the Scilly islands we averaged 20 Knots as this was comfortable. So on an average day 100 HP is fine, just those calmer days you could do with a 140 /150 HP.

Simon Hawkins · 06 October 2005, 19:32

Jon

I had a 585 for 3.5 years and have been in some pretty severe weather in it. Always sure footed and comfortable. I had a 135 two stroke on mine which suited the hull well, with only having a little chine walk when trimmed out at about 40 knots.

I have now gone for a 7 meter which again is a very good boat, taken her in a force 8 without a worry.

Simon

Rogue Wave · 06 October 2005, 20:19

the boats are xery well spoken for and well built. The 135'160 opti s a proven powerful and well behaved lump and the trade price is attractive. the Etecs are well spoken for but still newish but I am thinkig I might get one to replace the Opti.

Good thing about a Ribcraft is they seriously hold there resale value so you wont drop a huge amount when you come to sell it.

It is important to look at the length of the warranty on you engine cos they do break down and bits and mechanics are expensive. MercMariners are three years Etec are three years dunno about suzi and I think Yammies are a year ( but they are superb engines) Hondas are 5 years which might make them attractive

I seem to recall they are pretty beamy boats so you be able to fit twin 70s only one engine for me in that Power range and it aint a four stroke

However horse power aint cheap so the engine size is really down to what you want to use it for

jim68585 · 06 October 2005, 21:50

got one with a 90 hp Honda - great boat but agree with the comments that perhaps a touch underpowered witrh this engine. Had fairly lumpy trip to Poole last weekend and coukd have done with more oomph to deal with the big swells and waves on top. That said the boat never feels troubled and gives great confidence.

Jon Brooks · 07 October 2005, 07:49

Cheers for all the advice guy's and girls.

The boat I am looking at will have no engine so the advice there has given me a few idea's.

If the boat was just for me to play in I love the idea of twin engines but......

The boat will have two roles.
Firstly I want to use it to run power boat course in, Level I up to Safety boat.
Second role is for me and the family to play about in!

So I need a happy medium there.

It has a single jockey consol at the moment.
I would like, if possible, to change that for a double consol.
Anyone know if that is possible?

The reason for the double consol is that my daughter, 8, is about to do her Level one.
Like her dad she loves being on the water.
When out with her I want to sit beside her when either of us is at the helm.
Its a safety thing with me!

Once again thanks for all the help so far.

Best regards

philip · 07 October 2005, 08:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

It has a single jockey consol at the moment.
I would like, if possible, to change that for a double consol.
Anyone know if that is possible?

Jon,

I would ask Jason or one of the other guys at Ribcraft. I have found them very helpful.

01935 411846

sales@ribcraft.co.uk

Cheers

Phil

Rogue Wave · 07 October 2005, 15:53

If its a family boat hen 100 to 120 would do fine If i remember correctly yammie to a nice 2 and 4 stroke in tha size Benc has 2 0f them on his tornado.

You could also talk to Lee at leeway composites he is a truly good laminator and has a nice range of consoles and would do a good job of fitting them

Swifty · 07 October 2005, 16:14

Jon,
We shall have the Scouts 5.85 down at Whitstable this weekend doing a level 2 course. You may have seen it around, -twin 50 Honda's

. Its a very good boat if a tiny bit underpowered.

Anyway, one thing to concider for your budding skippers is that they can see over the console. Its quite high and is not something everyone thinks of checking.

ATB.
Tim'mers.

Chopppywaters · 07 October 2005, 21:17

i just ordered a Ribcraft 5.85 wit a 115 Honda (i knoooww its heavy) double console 2 jockey seats hydraulic steering stereo vhf all taht fun stuff, and am lookin forward to next summer! hah its all black too which is pretty cool

They are going to balance out the boat for me so the stern heaviness isnt as bad but i still might add smart tabs or something.

Hugh Jardon · 07 October 2005, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chopppywaters

i just ordered a Ribcraft 5.85 wit a 115 Honda (i knoooww its heavy) double console 2 jockey seats hydraulic steering stereo vhf all taht fun stuff, and am lookin forward to next summer! hah its all black too which is pretty cool

They are going to balance out the boat for me so the stern heaviness isnt as bad but i still might add smart tabs or something.

hey chops

you will love the honda, they are fab engines, i know a lot of ribbers are not that keen but mine has been faultless so hopefully you will get a lot of enjoyment from it. not the instant power of an opti but great reliable engines
have fun and post a pic when you are all sorted. hopefully will all be balanced and running well

cheers

chris

roycruse · 07 October 2005, 23:25

Here are a couple of pictures of my "undressed" Ribcraft 585 that I took when visiting the factory today

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11646

Chopppywaters · 08 October 2005, 03:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hartley

hey chops

you will love the honda, they are fab engines, i know a lot of ribbers are not that keen but mine has been faultless so hopefully you will get a lot of enjoyment from it. not the instant power of an opti but great reliable engines
have fun and post a pic when you are all sorted. hopefully will all be balanced and running well

cheers

chris

Ill definetly post pics when all is up and running! Hows the fuel economy and overall speed wit the hondas do you know? Thanks again

Hugh Jardon · 08 October 2005, 07:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chopppywaters

Ill definetly post pics when all is up and running! Hows the fuel economy and overall speed wit the hondas do you know? Thanks again

well on the honda 90 the economy is superb, cant fault it, but have no information on how much it uses on the plane etc but is pushing a huge boat for the engine, but hondas are usually around the best for economy looking at some tests etc