Confused about RIBs

[inthezone]

I wish to "upgrade" from my inflatable with a 6HP motor to a RIB, I would like to use it for river and coastal regions - Thames, Solent etc, but there are so many out there, I am thinking of somthing around 4.5 - 5 metre 30 - 50 Hp and price range around 12 -15k help and suggestions please, oh and I am not that experienced

 

[thejonesey]

There will be knowledgeable people here but I suggest that you also post on ribnet who also have a 2nd hand section too!

 

[Winchy51]

Hello welcome to the forum there are certainly a lot to choose from have a look at ballistic 5.5 ribeye etc JBT marine at trafalgar wharf Portsmouth are great in starting people of with ribs they also have a brokerage section as the joneses say rib net is great for the Solent 6.0 to 6.5 is a good starter in your price range and still towable I had own boat tuition in a 6.5 ballistic many years ago and I'm still smiling many people on the forum are experienced trainers and offer this service good luck in your hunt I have no connection with jbt other than a very satisfied ex customer

 

[Kawasaki]

I wish to "upgrade" from my inflatable with a 6HP motor to a RIB, I would like to use it for river and coastal regions - Thames, Solent etc, but there are so many out there, I am thinking of somthing around 4.5 - 5 metre 30 - 50 Hp and price range around 12 -15k help and suggestions please, oh and I am not that experienced

If I was going to get a RIB for pleasure purposes.
This is what I would look for.
First thing
Make sure the vessel 'sits' at station with the tubes aft sitting in the water.
This makes the boat/vessel has stability when coming off a wave and has all round sea keeping performance.
If you are going out in the Solent you will have short choppy seas to cope with.
A 6.5 metre jobby would be good and not too hard to cope with ref launching and retrieving but very seaworthy
Choosing a boat is very hard as peeps on here will verify, it's a damm hard job to pick the correct one, first time or 5th time or whatever!!
Be it motor boat , yacht or RIB!
In fact., I think it is impossible!
But that is the Joy of boating
My advice , for what it's worth inthezone, is to go a bit bigger than 4.5 to 5 metre
There are lots of stuff out there, try these sights .
'Find a Fishing Boat' 'E Bay' (obviously) 'Boatshed' and 'Boats and Outboards'
Google is your Friend as well as.

:encouragement:

 

[gjgm]

The now defunct MBM ran a few ribs as back up boats on their cruising- there was one they really rated well. Maybe Neale can recall which one ?
Not sure what a larger rib, trailer and o/b weighs, but check your carweights (and I mean your car handbook, as the net often gives the highest tow rating for that range of car, not your own model).

 

[l'escargot]

I wish to "upgrade" from my inflatable with a 6HP motor to a RIB, I would like to use it for river and coastal regions - Thames, Solent etc, but there are so many out there, I am thinking of somthing around 4.5 - 5 metre 30 - 50 Hp and price range around 12 -15k help and suggestions please, oh and I am not that experienced

I had a Solent 5.4 with a 75 eTec on the back. A very capable, small, dry RIB well suited for what you are describing and could take pretty much anything the Solent could throw at it. 4 seats, cruised comfortably at 22 knots and could achieve 30+ knots. Towable behind a family saloon, easy to launch and recover and would fit in a standard size garage on the trailer. Not a lot of them around but would come well within your price limit