Solent Ribs Opinions

TimMcC · 06 June 2007, 07:32

Hi All

Any opinions on Solent Ribs , the 5.4m in particular . I have done the usual search on this forum here but didn't turn up much . Do they have a deep or medium V ?. Dry , sea going capabilities ect .

Thanks

Tim

Tim M · 06 June 2007, 08:38

They generally have a good reputation, but I'm not sure I would buy another. I don't think they are particularly well put together. So far, I have had the following "niggles" with mine:
Poor quality wiring: spade and bullet connectors used all over the place. They kept coming off the back of the switch panel which meant all electronics would go at sea. This was a real pain as I had to open the console up to sort the problem. Not ideal. I have since soldered all the connections to stop it happening.

Backrests: I have had one break on me, and most of them work loose very quickly and require tightening. I will have to fit a pair of locking nuts to each bolt I think to stop this happening.

Fittings: a hinge on the console broke recently, probably a result of it being opened a lot due to the wiring problem.

Issues with the deck at the front: this is a problem that I know at least one other person has experienced as well as my self. The deck at the front (around the anchor locker) is very weak and badly put together. Both my boat and the guy I am talking about has suffered damage to that area. On both occasions it was were a lot of weight was applied. In his case he stood on the area (heavy chap) and went through the deck and took out the hatch. On mine it was when something was dropped. Again took out the hatch and damaged the deck to the side. I'm my opinion this is a massive design issue and needs to be addressed.

Apart from that I'm pleased with my Solent. She handles well and is relatively dry, although not as dry as others due to the low down tubes.

simmons0 · 06 June 2007, 09:17

Never been in a 5.4 but I can tell you its a warped V hull, fine entry becoming shallower. Heard some good reports of it.

Tim I know what your saying about the console, we've replaced a few hinges. The design of their console I don't doubt is great for working on and fitting out, but puts a lot of stress on the hinges holding it together and they break.

We've always found ours to be an incredibly dry boat for its size, and have had no such problems with the electrics, backrests or deck over the last 2 seasons.

TimMcC · 06 June 2007, 10:05

Hi

I started off looking for something around the 5.3m with seating for 4 preferably using jockey seats and deep V . Ideally a Ribcraft or Humber but not easy to find this time of year ( or at the price I am willing to pay

) . A 4 stroke or direct injection would be nice but I am getting carried away now .
Solents seem to tick all the boxes , but are just a bit of an unknown for me .

Tim

simmons0 · 06 June 2007, 10:56

Go and take a sea trial, the 5.4 gets a different console to the 6m+ so you won't have our faff with hinges breaking all the time. Other than the console, we haven't had 1 quality issue since we bought the boat. *touch wood*

They are fast as anything else on the water and ride fantastically well at speed.
Give Fairweather a bell and book a demo

Tim M · 06 June 2007, 11:06

I should add that mine is used commercially and therefore is subject to quite a lot of abuse. For normal leasure use you should be fine; the Jackeens on here have a 6.5 which they have taken over the channel many times and I believe they are very happy with it.

BogMonster · 06 June 2007, 11:38

A bit worrying if you can fall through the deck just for being fat

Zippy · 06 June 2007, 13:57

i too am interested in this.

not immediatly but some time in the future i will be upgrading and looking at maybe a 6.5 or 6.9 meter.

I have been on 6.5 meter solents many times and always been impressed. very fast but at the expence of a slightly harder ride.

i thought they had a new design console now with stronger hindges??

Does anyone know if lee is still open to a little custom modifications?

TimMcC · 06 June 2007, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmons0

Go and take a sea trial, the 5.4 gets a different console to the 6m+ so you won't have our faff with hinges breaking all the time. Other than the console, we haven't had 1 quality issue since we bought the boat. *touch wood*

They are fast as anything else on the water and ride fantastically well at speed.
Give Fairweather a bell and book a demo

I should have clarified that it is a used rib I am looking for .

Tim M · 06 June 2007, 14:29

There is indeed a new design for the console but I don't know if it has stronger hinges.

They are happy to customise; mine is heavily customised, with the console at the back rather then the front, the jockey seats are removable to allow the boat to be used for camera work etc, the front jockey transforms into a 4 bottle rack and there is a little ledge at the front which was specified to keep a bucket in place.

simmons0 · 06 June 2007, 14:29

Had a look at the new console at Ribex, does look like a big improvement.

Tim is yours the all black one with a 140 Johnson?

RIVA · 06 June 2007, 14:48

nice boat , make sure you get built in tanks .

brucehawsker · 06 June 2007, 16:21

I am extremely happy with Farfetched. No problems with falling through the deck! All boats have their minor niggles - especially if you drive them like I do

. I disagree with the comment about hard ride - I am very impressed with the ride on the 6.5M. Quite honestly, and of course I am biased, I like her most of all the 6.5Ms I have been on - and I have trawled the field!

Any queries please PM me.

Zippy · 06 June 2007, 16:29

Bruce,

when i say hard ride i compare it to my 6 meter Coastline and there is simply no comparison! That said, my Coastline is relativly slow.

The Solent hull and its origins are well documented, tried and tested. the only down side i hear at moment are the hindges on the console. (have not seen the new design yet but when i can muster the funds i will be talking to them seriously)

Mbryant · 06 June 2007, 17:19

I did my PBI course on a Solent and it was very nice, handled the waves very well (when it was being properly driven, by the instructor, not me) although we did have electrical problems and trying to access them was a big problem with the console design. Also been out on them on Ribex and they were very nice and very very fast.

steve b · 06 June 2007, 18:18

I am very happy with my 6.5

a few niggles (nothing is perfect) nothing major

just like a new car bits need adjusting

But what about the after service ?

first class both Lee and Kev are great

I had a problem over a weekend - no problem - it was sorted

Iam looking at the 9 mtr infact , but thats another story

steve

Tim M · 06 June 2007, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mbryant

I did my PBI course on a Solent and it was very nice, handled the waves very well (when it was being properly driven, by the instructor, not me) although we did have electrical problems and trying to access them was a big problem with the console design. Also been out on them on Ribex and they were very nice and very very fast.

Just out of curiosity was it a black one?

Jimbo · 06 June 2007, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

Just out of curiosity was it a black one?

It was. It was yours, with Alex instructing

Mbryant · 07 June 2007, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

It was. It was yours, with Alex instructing

Oh ummmm well Alex was driving when it broke!!

Tim M · 07 June 2007, 22:24

Arh yes that was an example of the crappy wiring being a pain. As I said I have since soldered all those connections to stop it happening. IMHO they should solder them in the first place.