X-Ribs

Bilge Rat · 28 January 2004, 09:43

Hi all

Does anyone know or have any information about X-Ribs, from the website http://www.x-rib.co.uk/ they look ok and fairly seaworthy boats, would be interested to hear any comments anyone has or has any one any direct contact with them.

Richard

Cookee · 28 January 2004, 10:34

If you do a search for Falcon ribs I think you'll find a lot of people have opinions on them!

Bilge Rat · 28 January 2004, 10:48

So are they Falcon ribs in disguise then...... heard the hulls are made in SA.

The Jackeens · 28 January 2004, 10:51

Importer of Falcons
and re badge

Cookee · 28 January 2004, 10:53

Yup

chrisallse · 28 January 2004, 10:55

Are you thinking of RIB-X? http://www.rib-x.co.uk

Bilge Rat · 28 January 2004, 11:00

Guys i was thinking of X-Ribs not Ribx..... i believe Ribx are the masked Falcon boats built in SA and shipped over here re branded to fool us !!.

X-Ribs on the other hand look a whole different kettle of fish and much more like a ribcraft, can someone shed any more light on this manufacturer.

The Jackeens · 28 January 2004, 11:13

sorry

Cookee · 28 January 2004, 11:21

OOOOOPS!

simmons0 · 28 January 2004, 11:29

OOh, ive got the brochure downstairs, ill go get it.

edit: cant find it anywhere, my house is just a big pile of catologues and magazines at the moment.

Anyway, i went to see them at LBS and the boats looked alright, the fitout looked alright, but there were pricey.
I rejected them on the grounds of being way too expensive for what they are. Humber has been one of the cheapest makers we looked at. £17k for a 6m with 90 suzi, only one cheaper is rib-x.

thorper · 28 January 2004, 11:31

If you look at the site they are being sold by Barnet Marine, who also are the distributor for Tornado ribs. The sales guy (Laurence Lock) might be able to give you some more info on where they come from.

Ricky

Bilge Rat · 28 January 2004, 12:49

Thanks guys i too had a look at them at the boat show and could see bits of just about every manufacturer on the market, if i can recall correctly the consoul and seats are bonded to the deck just like ribcraft do, plus the cables and fuel line run in ducting under the deck, for the 5metre boat they are asking for 3.5 ish k for basic lay out and consoul, that seemed very cheap to me when most want at least 5 ish for the same thing.

swginn · 23 February 2004, 23:37

I've just ordered an x-rib 600 / merc opti 135 from Barnet Marine after seeing the boat at the LBS. Personally I think the craft are pretty much a cut price Tornado. If you look at both the Tornado Voyager and the X-Rib 600 on www.ribs.co.uk you will see that the hulls look identical, as are the centre console, A-frame and tube fittings. Power ratings, hull dimensions and boat weights are also identical.

Having talked to Laurence Lock, Barnet Marine sales rep at the show he told me that the x-rib is built by Barnet Marine and that the hull is built by a major uk manufacturer and that they are built to commercial spec.However, he would not tell me who make the hulls. Also he said that the reason for such a price difference with an identical Tornado is that the X-rib has limited colour choices and the production cost has been reduced. Still looks very like a Tornado to me though, see for yourself!!

6k saving on a tornado of similar spec, and nothing else comes near it for that price!! A lot of boat for the money.

Hope this is helpful. Will post more when I get the boat in the water.

Bilge Rat · 24 February 2004, 07:58

swginn

let us know when you get your boat on the water, i'm particuly interested in the build quality and how the boat handles, i priced one up as well and they do seem like a good deal, however i'm unsure as they are new on the market.

Rat

tim griffin · 24 February 2004, 09:48

you are right in assuming they are falcon ribs built in sa
they are meant to compete with rib eye i went to their showroom to have a look

Cookee · 24 February 2004, 10:08

Tim - read page 1!

Bilge Rat · 24 February 2004, 10:54

lol it does get confusing doesn't it...... maybe this is another sales ploy X-Ribs ribX easy for someone new to ribs to get confused here.

R

tim griffin · 24 February 2004, 12:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Cookee
Tim - read page 1!

oh sh"

t yep just got it
thanks for pointing that one out

Jon Brooks · 24 February 2004, 13:28

Just had a look at the website
Looks very good value for money.
Think I will go new instead of second hand now!

Regards

Bilge Rat · 24 February 2004, 13:43

Jon - be careful they might not be as good as they seem, check the build quality against the competion and then make a decission, one good question i did ask myself when looking at them was "how can they sell them so much cheaper and still make a profit" ? we are told that although we all pay over the top prices for goods (especially boats) in the UK, rib manufacturers run at very tight profit margins !! so how can X-rib produce boats vastly cheaper unless the build quality is lower or the hull is layed up abroad where labour rates are cheaper ?? still they look like nice boats and if your only planning to keep it a few seasons then they might be a cheaper way to buy a new boat. And if you do buy a new one just buy the basics as there people in our area able to do a professional fit up at a fraction of the cost x-ribs will want.

R