300 tender, lightweight ali hull vs ali deck inflatable keel

[BruceK]

Both will have a tiller steered 15hp 2stroke on the back, no centre console. Not having seen the ali hull in the flesh I worry about thickness to take a knock and the fact the floor is a V instead of flat. I worry the enhanced V and sloping floor may make access on and off a bit more tricky for the wife and kids. I have always been a ali deck fan for it's stability at rest.
If any of you have an ali hull on the tender can you give me your impressions please.

 

[rafiki_]

Bruce I had a Ribeye 260 on my Azi. Alu Vee hull. It was very resilient, and I never managed to damage it despite my efforts. Quality hypalon tubes too.

 

[Greg2]

We have a 3.1m AB RIB with an Ali hull languishing in the garage. Hypalon tubes and very, very well built - but that is reflected in the new cost! The hull is robust and has a flat deck over the V external hull and a bow locker so easy to access and use. We used it as a tender on a previous boat with a 15hp 2 stroke outboard. We kept it as we have always regretted selling other RIBs/tenders but it is, I think, bigger than we now need for the two of us and wouldn’t fit well on the Hardy unless we fit some proper davits......which we also have languishing in the garage so could be an option!?

Overall impressions? A superb bit of kit that we chose having had one as a tender on a sailing holiday in the BVI. Having had a Honwave with an inflatable V hull, also an excellent bit of kit, I would say that there is no contest - the AB with Ali hull wins hands down.
.

 

[BruceK]

3.1 is just over the limit to what I can take. The boat is 3.5m wide but has an integrated swim platform whose width subsequently is 290. With the curvature of the tender I can just about squeeze a 3m in. The ali hull is actually 290 so if I suck a gut in I can still squeeze past with the tender on. Boarding is always from the side except when on the water in anchorage

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Bruce, if you're limited in width you might like to look at the tenders with fold-down transoms, where the engine is then stowed completely within the overall length of the tender, so that makes squeezing past a bit easier (or you can get a bigger tender in the space)

Cabrio Rib 280
Cabrio Alusmart 280 (Open Boat)

Excel Virago SR290 with fold-down option
RIBs Excel VIRAGO SR290 RIB. Excel Rigid Inflatable Boats.

 

[BruceK]

Thanks. My current davits would not withstand the shock loadings of RIB and motor. I will have to use the davits to swing the motor off to a separate stand. The maker claimed they were good for a total of 120kg which may well be the case but wouldn't entertain the fact that that figure should include bumps and humps loading in CAT C seas. Force 4 really dropped the ball on that one. But they're in. Getting them out will be almost impossible now as I glassed the pedestals in

 

[BruceK]

Talking of which they said they sold loads and nobody else complained. Loads of Marina Queens probably. I'll get some for Roy and company. They do look nice.

 

[Dino]

I have a Talamex Silverline 2.9m aluminium rib with a 9.8hp Tohatsu 2 stroke. The rib is a great bit of kit. It has a false floor with non-slip decking so the floor is flat. There is a large storage compartment in the bow that doubles as a seat. You can fit a 10-12 litre fuel tank in the bow locker and run the fuel pipe under the false floor. Makes it a tidy rib. With the 9.8 it planes well with 2 normal adults. The rib is 52kg, the engine is 28kg and a tank of fuel and a few sundries brings it up to 92-95kg. My davit’s are rated to 100kg for the pair so it’s ideal.