Solent ribs opinion

betty7091 · 09 February 2021, 14:45

hi im looking for a 6 to 6,5m rib to mainly use to shuttle crew (6 total) from hamble to cowes. I saw a Solent 6.5 2015 for sale but couldnt find any information onn sea keeping qualities, build quality etc. Any information or advice would help.
thanks jon

Pikey Dave · 09 February 2021, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by betty7091

hi im looking for a 6 to 6,5m rib to mainly use to shuttle crew (6 total) from hamble to cowes. I saw a Solent 6.5 2015 for sale but couldnt find any information onn sea keeping qualities, build quality etc. Any information or advice would help.

thanks jon

Drop Neil McCrirrick a PM

Lee argyle · 09 February 2021, 15:59

Never heard anything negative regarding the Solents - seen a few on the water and they look good. There’s one or two makes that have a questionable reputation on the south coast but not the aforementioned brand, good luck

betty7091 · 09 February 2021, 16:02

sorry pikey how do i pm him
jon

Pikey Dave · 09 February 2021, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by betty7091

sorry pikey how do i pm him

jon

Use the search function, type in “Neil” & scroll down the list.

beamishken · 09 February 2021, 17:02

I bought a 2010 5.4m solent last year that had been sat neglected for several years & once cleaned up its in pretty good shape considering, we did some pretty long runs in some unsavoury weather at times and it performed & handled very well, build quality & finish seem good & all in all im very pleased with the boat

neil.mccrirrick · 09 February 2021, 17:30

I’m here. I’ve a 6.9. Hull is narrower than most but it’s built more for speed. I’ve a 225 Optimax and accelerate up to circa 55mph quickly. That means cruise speed is comfortable anywhere between 20 and 35 mph

Ride is smooth and handles chop well. All boats slam but this seems to ride wave tops well and keeps up fine with Ribcraft of a similar length on runs

It has an outhill console well made and it flips open to get to all the electrics which is very handy

Build quality is good. Double a frame been out good sized under floor trunking etc

Ask away and I’ll answer as honestly as I can.

I’ve been in and on boats for 30 years I’m happy with this and bar trading up for something newer I’m happy does all that is asked and I have and am content with handling etc if out in f5/6

Ribtecer · 09 February 2021, 18:16

I had a Solent 5.4 I bought new in 09, I was delighted with it in everyway.

There was a great team working there back then, and they really knew what they were doing and were very excited about how they did it. Now I think its largely shut down.

I regret selling my boat actually, i sold it to move over to a sailboat which was great but the family preferred the Rib.

I'd buy another

betty7091 · 09 February 2021, 18:46

Thanks everyone sorry Neil ive pmed you before i saw your reply. Im afraid i dont know much about ribs, it seems relatively easy to see the right price for common boats like ribeye etc but hard to try and workout going rate for solent?

Pikey Dave · 09 February 2021, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by betty7091

Thanks everyone sorry Neil ive pmed you before i saw your reply. Im afraid i dont know much about ribs, it seems relatively easy to see the right price for common boats like ribeye etc but hard to try and workout going rate for solent?

The Ribeyes/Brigs will command a premium from the un-initiated, particularly on the south coast brokerages.

Wight · 09 February 2021, 20:29

I too have a Solent 6.9. Had experience of plenty of other ribs in the past and been very impressed so far. Mine is a 2005 model and I have had it since about September. Decided to get a survey done last month before I invested in a new engine and it came out glowing, so very happy with that.

betty7091 · 10 February 2021, 08:37

there is a ribeye 600 with a 100, would the 100 be big enough to get going with 6 guys onboard?

Pikey Dave · 10 February 2021, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by betty7091

there is a ribeye 600 with a 100, would the 100 be big enough to get going with 6 guys onboard?

No...

Wight · 10 February 2021, 11:44

Agree with Pikey....

I had a 5.5m RIB for a few months last summer with a 90hp on the back. It was fine with 2 adults 2 kids, but 6 adults it laboured a bit. I know that’s not the same as a 6m with 100hp, but pretty close.

Moving up to the Solent 6.9 with a 150hp made a big difference. Space, comfort, and speed...

... although I am going to stick a new 200hp four stroke on it I think! [emoji12]

treerat · 10 February 2021, 12:45

Guessing this will be for work and not social? So think coding needs too.

betty7091 · 10 February 2021, 13:11

no just friends sailing

treerat · 10 February 2021, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by betty7091

no just friends sailing

That's good - saves you a load of effort

Ferryman · 10 February 2021, 20:36

I would have a Chat at the RSYC in Hamble, the members have loads of ribs running to Cowes and back.
It’s a great run back in the middle of the night - as long as your the sober designated driver, anyway!
Strictly IMO you need at least 150hp and preferably 200 with 6 adults.

Maximus · 11 February 2021, 11:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

I’m here. I’ve a 6.9. Hull is narrower than most but it’s built more for speed. I’ve a 225 Optimax and accelerate up to circa 55mph quickly. That means cruise speed is comfortable anywhere between 20 and 35 mph

Ride is smooth and handles chop well. All boats slam but this seems to ride wave tops well and keeps up fine with Ribcraft of a similar length on runs

It has an outhill console well made and it flips open to get to all the electrics which is very handy

Build quality is good. Double a frame been out good sized under floor trunking etc

Ask away and I’ll answer as honestly as I can.

I’ve been in and on boats for 30 years I’m happy with this and bar trading up for something newer I’m happy does all that is asked and I have and am content with handling etc if out in f5/6

Fast ...Well laid out and well made Boats IME

Tim M · 11 February 2021, 17:28

Worth searching some more on here for Solent RIBs or ask Ribshop in Hamble what they think.... I used to operate two for charters. The first one was an early model and was terrible in terms of build quality. The early ones are well known for being lightly built - transoms, decks and fuel tanks are known and common issues (I had all three). Ribshop have undertaken numerous deck replacements as Solent didn’t use marine ply to start off with.

The second one (9m) was a much better beast, but I saw on Ribshop’s FB page they overhauled it (same boat) last year including a new deck, ten years on, so I guess that was rotten.

So if you are buying one tread carefully. Check the integrity of the deck (the undersides of the deck aren’t sealed in many cases so have a look in the anchor locker and see if you’ve got bare ply and see if it’s solid. Check the bilges - most had a hatch just forward of the bilge well. Open it up and check for any evidence of fuel - this area is at the back of the fuel tank. A number of the stainless tanks cracked in use. Also check the areas around the transom knees carefully - again this has been a reported issue several people have had (cracking).

If you’ve got a good one then they handle pretty well - they’re quite a sporty hull. All models above 5.4 and below 9m I believe are the same - just a shorted version of the same hull which I believe was originally a Paul Lemmer design - the same ripped off design was also used by Tohatsu RIBs and Porter Brothers.