Salcombe Flyer?

Johnwin · 26 April 2004, 15:49

I am going to view a salcombe flyer rib tommorow, I can find very little detail about this rib either on this forum or on the web, so;

Is it really a flyer or is it a dog that I should give a wide bearth?

Any info will be gratefully received

Alan · 26 April 2004, 15:56

IIRC its based on a hardboat of the same name. Tidy looking boats but I suspect more suited to family days out in sheltered waters than the full on RIB experience. What do you want it for?

Johnwin · 26 April 2004, 16:03

I am looking for my first rib so I would be using it for the family daysout you mentioned also to get my lazy teenagers into wake boarding or skiing, however, since I have been keeping an eye on these forums some coastal cruising seems very appealing so I guess I want a bit of every thing.

oh and one more thing, must be pretty enough to convince the wife it's a good idea

Richard B · 26 April 2004, 16:22

Hi John,

Have you seen their web site? http://www.seemarine.com/

I reckon that one of these would satisfy the lazy days and wakeboarding that you mentioned, but whether it would be good for coastal cruising I don't know. I've only ever seen the Salcombe Flyer (non-RIB type) in the Salcombe Estuary, never out of it! Haven't ever seen their RIB though.

What size are you looking at, new or 2nd hand, and what made you consider this make?

Johnwin · 26 April 2004, 16:41

Hi Richard

I am looking for a 6m rib for about 15 grand give or take I guess thats got to be second hand, this one is advertised as a one year old ex demo with a 150 mariner optimax on the back and seems good value (if the boats any Good).

Richard B · 26 April 2004, 16:52

John, 15k is a realistic budget for a good 6m RIB. The Opti 150 is undoubtedly a good engine. The RIB may be great, but if it's not you may have a difficult job selling it on.

For my money, I would go with a well proven make. But than I may be ignoring a perfectly good boat just because I haven't seen, experienced or heard about it.

Are there any features about this RIB that attracted you to it? I mean stuff like seating layout, fuel tank capacity/location, etc?

Johnwin · 26 April 2004, 17:00

I am only attracted to it because it is available and not to far off budget.
I have some patiance issues that need addresing.

It seems that there is very little about at this time of year.

Richard B · 26 April 2004, 17:31

Ah, yes... the impatience factor!

And as well as there being very little around at this time of year, everyone wants a 6m RIB.

I spent a year begging rides on RIBs and saving up for my current RIB. I got a better idea of what I wanted and learnt an awful lot off others.

Have you looked at the new price of a 5.85 from Ribcraft? They are helpful because they publish their prices on their web site http://www.ribcraft.co.uk/ . Obviously there will be a lead time as RIBs are generally built to order.

Alternatively look at manufacturers such as Solent http://www.solentribs.com who have a great looking hull.

There's a couple of 6m RIBs on the HotRIBs 2nd hand section http://www.ribs4sale.com/Used/used.asp at the moment, but no 6m RIB with 6 seats that I can see.

Johnwin · 26 April 2004, 17:39

Thanks for the advice richard
I have visited ribcraft in yeovil
A new 5.85 (a very nice boat) with sensible spec is circa 22k, the biggest snag apart from the price is a september completion date for new build and second hand boats are like hobby horse sh!t

What you say about the untested nature of the boat and subsequent resale problems is valid.

swginn · 26 April 2004, 19:51

Have a look at http://www.xs-ribs.co.uk

I've got a 6m on order with an optimax 135. They are quite cheap and the cost of my boat including braked trailer & pretty much every extra they offer (boat cover, double a-frame, nav lights, hydraulic steering, under deck loom, 110l tank & gauge, bilge, windscreen, seating for 5, VHF, paddles, pressure relief valves, etc.) is circa 17k (Boat Show Deal). They are new to the market and their hulls are based on the larger 6.4m Tornados and so should be rock-solid and great for coastal stuff.

This could be a viable option, and if you take away some of the extras I have, you would come very close to a your budget!

I'll post some pics when I get mine at the end of May. I think they have a 6m ex-demo available now.

Worth a look anyway. PM me if you have any questions

The Rib Trollop · 26 April 2004, 20:59

We looked into the Salcome Flyer a couple of years ago when they first launched at the boat show. Very pretty boat but we have never come across another one!
Seems a lot of money to spend when you're not really sure. As Richard B said maybe you should spend some time on lots of other boats until you really know what you want.

Debs

PS How do you think I got my user name?

simmons0 · 27 April 2004, 05:40

Talk to Lee at Fairweather marine. I know he'll do you a 6m Solent with a 90hp tohatsu 2/stroke for 14k and that includes double width console, 4 jockey seats etc.

tim griffin · 27 April 2004, 07:08

hey SimmonsO
i thaught i was the SOLENT RIBS agent on here you will be doing me out of a commission , saw your boat the the other day coming on,, mine had to go back to be refendred as had kinks in that never came out Lee working flat out as usual Kevin beavering away great after sales service from Solent
nothing to much bother and is a great rib see you on the water
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

Cookee · 27 April 2004, 07:20

Kevin (Kitten) and I had a tour of the factory in Lodiswell the other day and we were impressed - very clean and organised with even the upholstery done in house.

It seems they are not pushing the ribs as they are quite busy enough making Salcombe flyers - the original hard boats - of which there are quite a few locally although I have no idea how far they have spread!

Good luck in buying a RIB,

philip · 27 April 2004, 07:51

If you have fallen under the Ribcraft spell (as we did) a few are also sold under the Raider brand.

Having spoken to Jason at Ribcraft these are Ribcraft Hulls and Tubes fitted out by RIBs marine in Christchurch

There is an advert for one on the Rib International Page - Fitted with a mariner 135 but not specified if its an OPTI or not.

RIBTEC RAIDER 6.5M
http://www.ribmagazine.com/index.htm
£12,750

Cookee · 01 May 2004, 09:37

The Salcombe Flyers will be at the Southampton show by now - don't know the stand number but I saw them as they were leaving yesterday!

Louise · 20 May 2004, 10:05

Hi John,

Not sure if this is too late for you but I've just noticed that Sportsboat & RIB magazine have this boat 'on test' this month. Not sure if it's the hard boat or RIB version though as I'm looking at their website rather than the actual magazine! http://www.sportsboat.co.uk/

HTH!

Cookee · 20 May 2004, 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louise

Hi John,

Not sure if this is too late for you but I've just noticed that Sportsboat & RIB magazine have this boat 'on test' this month. Not sure if it's the hard boat or RIB version though as I'm looking at their website rather than the actual magazine! http://www.sportsboat.co.uk/

HTH!

It's the 2 hard boat ones - called in again yesterday to borrow some balsa - They are busy at the moment in sunny Devon!

mark hannaford · 20 May 2004, 13:52

i hope to take delivery of my 585 ribcraft in the next couple of days.i placed
the order 6 months ago and have only seen one secondhand advertised 585 with 4
pod seats on the market during that winter period.
be extremely careful of the less known makes ,you may loose money when you
come to sell it on. i sold my 4.80 ribcraft after two years and hardly lost a
penny.
i have seen the rib you are looking at ,but i don,t know if it will handle off
shore sea conditions.
mark.