What 6.5m Rib PLease help????

[whisper]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Forget the bench, you have the ideal arrangement. That arrangement in a well put together, nicely spec'd 5.8 Vipermax would be the best boat of it's size.

I did look at a 5.8 Vipermax but it sold later that day and I also looked at a 6.5 Vipermax, I definitely made the right decision overall in the end for us.

I did make sure that I got a sea trial though which is very important when choosing a boat for that kind of money, luckily we had also had a go in a 585 at the Southampton Boat Show

Ian M took me and Mrs W out in his 6.5 Vipermax to have a good try and that helped a lot.

It all depends on what you want, who's going to be in it and where you are going to go

The RC585 and the 6.5 Vipermax are very different ribs

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by whisper

The RC585 and the 6.5 Vipermax are very different ribs

Certainly are.

[iberfoptic]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Certainly are.

In what sense different??

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by iberfoptic

In what sense different??

The 585 is bow light and prone to bouncing in chop. The 6.5 is as solid as a rock in chop, but not the fastest in flat water.

[iberfoptic]

Originally Posted by Mollers

The 585 is bow light and prone to bouncing in chop. The 6.5 is as solid as a rock in chop, but not the fastest in flat water.

Thanks for that how do u think a 6.5 vmax would go with a 150hp yam on it in terms of performance etc?

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by iberfoptic

Thanks for that how do u think a 6.5 vmax would go with a 150hp yam on it in terms of performance etc?

Good,I had a 6.5 with a 150 Opti. A 200 makes for a whole lot of fun on a 6.5.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

A few boats stand out for me and I've seen a few now after 3 years of the Anglesey cruise and spent TOO MUCH time on here. Though I am no expert, not in the trade and have not skippered all that many. On balance of cost/build/resale/reputation:

For a sub 6m for towing and launching. A 585 ribcraft or 5.5 Delta Dash (rare as rocking horse poo) with a max hp Opti or 140 suzuki for the 585 and then a 125hp Opti for the Delta.

For a 6.5m an osprey V max, but I'd want a 200 + 2 Stroke, or bigger 4 Stroke. (Not sure what 4 stroke it would take though)

(2nd choice, We run a 6.3 Humber Ocean Pro, with 175 Opti. Nice boat, awesome hull, lovely engine, but an Osprey would edge it, it's a bit more £ though so our Humber is second choice.)

If I had unlimited money I'd be heading to Scorpion and then on to Goldfish with a lottery win

(Point to note, I like a high sheerbow (the Delta and our Humber have that). It was a pet hate on our old Sea Rider 5.4 that at displacement speed even in a small chop or in the rough water at speed water comes over the front. A bigger problem on the smaller sub 6.5m boats)

I'd also have two jockeys with a bench behind. Just a good balance of seating, unless you long distance cruise a lot with adults 4 or more, then take 4/6 jockeys. For fair weather boating and family, I'd have a bench behind.... As we do. Either wrap around at the rear or a switch back for watching skiing etc... As we do.

[thomas]

I have a 2011 Ribtec 655 with a Yamaha 150 for sale which is well in budget and in the for sale section.

[Solent Ranger]

Originally Posted by thomas

I have a 2011 Ribtec 655 with a Yamaha 150 for sale which is well in budget and in the for sale section.

I can vouch for what a good boat this is. Have used it in the past and it is well specked .

[Ian M]

You can post as many queries on here as you like; you are not going to know what is right for you unless you go out and try them! I spent quite some time trying different boats, in my case it was definately the handling characteristics and hence the hull that mattered to me, particularly in the less than flat calm stuff.
Just make sure that you compare like for like - you have said 6.5m so try different boats of that length. I do not know what your particular limitations are and why you chose to go for a 6.5; in my case it was the biggest I could get parked up where it is stored!
Or, is it just the seating options that are important to you, nothing so wrong with that, but as has been said, if you go second hand you will be limited by what others have decided is their optimium arrangement.
Get out there, try the different options and decide what is right for you