Viking Ribs

[Baggins]

Anyone know the history Viking Ribs and where they fit into the Tornado / XS story? Assume they have PU tubes but are they after the seam issues that blight early Tornados? Any help / insight gratefully received. Is the hull layup the same as a Tornado?

Just sold my Searider SR4 and looking for something bigger but still want to run an unbraked trailer. Having driven loads of ribs the high bow of the Tornado is favoured.

[JimRib]

The Viking was an off the shelf design boat made by tornado, when they changed the tornado hulls they used the old hull design for the Viking, they were a cheaper option than the tornado as they used cheaper materials but still a great rib and just as strong. We have a 6.4 in my dive club and the tubes are doing well after 15 + years. XS ribs were born after BARNET marine and Tornado went there different ways. You won't go wrong with any of the 3

[Baggins]

Many thanks Jimrib. As the boat I am looking at is post 2000 I assume the seams are welded and not glued which I believe is the problem with the earlier Tornados. Intrigued by the idea of cheaper materials in the Viking. Given boat will be kept on a trailer, osmosis would not be an issue. Am I right in thinking Tornados have some Kevlar in their lay-up?

[treerat]

We've a 5.4 2004 Viking in the dive club, well used and a great boat.

[JimRib]

I think the cheaper material was the tubes ! I was told the grey was cheaper than the orange and you didn't get as many tube top handles, think there is kevlar in them both they just never made a big marketing thing out of it.