Any RIB experts around here?

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BlueSkyNick

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I am researching RIBs to buy one for our sailing club. Looking at about 6m, with not much seating and lots of open space for handling race marks, flags and recovering casualties.

I have found one made by Ballistic which is not a brand I recognise.

Anybody know if they are any good?

TIA
 
Ballistics are ok. more of a leisure rib than a rescue rib.

my only experience of them was an older one with reverse scallop chine that gave a teeth rattling ride in anything but flat calm. they also seem to be rather expensive in general compared to same of another brand.

let us know your budget (by PM if you wish) and can try and suggest a few... (in no particular order)

try Humber, (low tubes (on waterline) so more stable at rest.
Avon (searider is the original "rescue" boat)
Ribcraft
Osprey

depends on your budget and requirements.
 
Designed in South Africa and sold through JBT Marine. Did some demo work for them good few years ago. I think they are an excellent rib capable in any solent stuff. Many had the console set quite a way back when compared with tornado, solent, ribeye etc.. which can give the illusion of a light front end but I certainly couldn't get it airborne..... Only on purpose!! Of course a large fore area would be great for dingy safety cover. Depending on the outboard it is easily a 40knot plus rib so that might be against it for a club boat?

To be honest though you are spoiler for choice in the 6m range.
 
I was recently involved with this same selection process for a yacht Club with same requirements as you have listed - we ended up going for a new XS RIB and have been very pleased with it.
 
z1ppy said:
Ballistics are ok. more of a leisure rib than a rescue rib.

my only experience of them was an older one with reverse scallop chine that gave a teeth rattling ride in anything but flat calm. they also seem to be rather expensive in general compared to same of another brand.

let us know your budget (by PM if you wish) and can try and suggest a few... (in no particular order)

try Humber, (low tubes (on waterline) so more stable at rest.
Avon (searider is the original "rescue" boat)
Ribcraft
Osprey

depends on your budget and requirements.
Click to expand...
As above
Solent Ribs are good and are local to the Solent (Fareham) and you can have the layout tailored to your needs .
XS also pretty good come in at an affordable and again will be able to have some input into the layout .
Ballistics though ok and agree with the ride aspect , are more for the leisure market and come as pretty much standard so not a lot you can do regarding layout.
Tim
 
If its on the sea you want different from lake (higher bows give a drier ride in big waves but make it harder to pull things in).
As a rescue go for a single jockey seat for driver and no others as they get in the way.
Make sure there are good well anchored rope loops along the side for people to hang on to.
Go for twin removable tanks rather than a built in one as the built ins can be buggers to fill and non experienced crew end up getting the boat swimming with petrol.
Make sure two good strong towing points on transom. A few cleats are handy as well.
My humber had a recess in the floor at bows which was great for storing an anchor and chain but a pig to drain and made it difficult to get on or off at the bows.If the RIB will be kept afloat for long periods make sure that all areas can be drained easily whilst afloat.
A rear arch is great if it is good and solid as it gives crew something to hang on to but if you put lights on it make sure they are well protected as they are easily broken by errant dinghy booms!.
The ability to store things in a dry area is a definite plus - I used a couple of big flare canisters but make sure they can be securely anchored down.
 
We've been happy with our Ribcraft 5m rib for the last ~10 years - a local sailing school has one similar and another local club has also bought one.
It's 5m because we're operating within Chichester Harbour, support dinghies and manually launch & recover it each time - but it's proved a good sea boat in the times when we've been out in rougher water.
I'd happily buy one again.
 
BlueSkyNick
You have had some great advice already from Bods what know their Stuff allright
If the Club is on a budget (or are you buying new?) as z1ppy said an Avon Searider is worth a look, the 5.4 's are about
Some nice referbs have been done, look on the Ribnet Forai
 
Thanks for all the prompt replies.

To be clear, we are looking for decent second hand, not brand new. So many seem to have been designed to seat as many passengers as possible whereas we want the opposite - lots of open space.

Interesting point about the fuel tank nickd I was planning on integral tank to get away from having removables having to be removed (we have our own pontoon where the boat can be kept afloat but its not very secure)

Humber certainly good, will see what we can find.
 
The original Ballistic RIB was the 780, 7.8m , designed and developed here in the UK for a very specific use, in a particular location. Other models were produced with various alterations to this original hull and may have very different levels of performance.
PM if you require exact information. Paul
 
I've had a few RIBs over the years, currently on our second Cobra which has plenty of deck space. AS already said, also rate Ribcraft and Avon, either of which I'd happily buy again, with Ribcraft being number 1 choice, excellent seaboat and very well made.
 
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