Keeping a rib in the water

[purplerobbie]

I have bought a 5.2 meter rib which is in really good condition and the shop i got it from was horrified that my plan was to keep it in the water.
They said it will be ruined if i leave it in the water.
Is there anything i can do to keep it in good condition? Don't really want to be towing it around.

I know i can antifoul it but what can i put on the bottom of the tubes?

 

[SP2]

Not sure what help this might be but we used to keep our RIB tender afloat in the marina nearly all the time. The bottom got dirty and we scrubbed a couple of times a year but never had a problem with the fabric, afaik. It was an XM RIB so not the most expensive/high spec.

Personally I think keeping a boat in water is the height of folly. Whatever next? Trying to fly a plane off the ground?

We had a friend in the 1970s with a new boat with Mercruiser outdrives that developed a fault. He was told they were out of warranty because he had kept them in the water...

Might get a better response on the mobo forum as several there have big ribs like yours and keep them afloat, I am sure.

 

[bigwow]

I have bought a 5.2 meter rib which is in really good condition and the shop i got it from was horrified that my plan was to keep it in the water.
They said it will be ruined if i leave it in the water.
Is there anything i can do to keep it in good condition? Don't really want to be towing it around.

I know i can antifoul it but what can i put on the bottom of the tubes?

Stick it on Ronnie's bathing platform.

 

[pessimist]

I have bought a 5.2 meter rib which is in really good condition and the shop i got it from was horrified that my plan was to keep it in the water.
They said it will be ruined if i leave it in the water.
Is there anything i can do to keep it in good condition? Don't really want to be towing it around.

I know i can antifoul it but what can i put on the bottom of the tubes?

We use a 4 meter rib as a tender/fun boat. We keep it afloat in the marina, as do a number of others including some fairly high end jobs. Slapped a coat of antifoul on the hull last year. Wash off the tubes just before they need mowing.

No damage done so far as I'm aware. Go for it.

 

[knuterikt]

I have bought a 5.2 meter rib which is in really good condition and the shop i got it from was horrified that my plan was to keep it in the water.
They said it will be ruined if i leave it in the water.
Is there anything i can do to keep it in good condition? Don't really want to be towing it around.

I know i can antifoul it but what can i put on the bottom of the tubes?

I have used this stuff on the tubes http://polymarineshop.com/flexible-paint/flexible-pvc-paint/pvc-antifoul-paint-sp54.html with good results.
But its expensive compared to normal (hard racing) antifoul so this year i used the hard racing all over (the chandler told me that most people do that).
Don't know until end of season how it works