Rib vs Airdeck

Storyline

Storyline

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Am thinking of getting davits to make our dinghy easier to use. The problem is that our existing dinghy (Avon Rover 2.8) is a bit too long and will overhang the stern at either end.

I like the security of a decent sized dinghy as I often go into slightly more exposed waters to lay a pot so am now thinking a smaller rib might be an option. I have never been in one but could anyone comment if a slightly smaller one will feel as or more secure than a bigger (longer) airdeck or is there not much difference ?
 
Storyline said:
Am thinking of getting davits to make our dinghy easier to use. The problem is that our existing dinghy (Avon Rover 2.8) is a bit too long and will overhang the stern at either end.

I like the security of a decent sized dinghy as I often go into slightly more exposed waters to lay a pot so am now thinking a smaller rib might be an option. I have never been in one but could anyone comment if a slightly smaller one will feel as or more secure than a bigger (longer) airdeck or is there not much difference ?
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Also have a look at this foldable RIB...which might mean you don't need davits :0)

http://www.thesbs.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=120
 
Thinking about this myself recently and I've come to the conclusion that on the whole the Aidreck style tenders are a halfway house between a Rib and the origional flat floor Tenders, some of which are air floors! To get a tender that can deal with waves you need a relativly deep v in the hull which most of the Airfloors or air decks (with a blow up saussage to creat the V) only manage reasonably well.
 
Storyline said:
Am thinking of getting davits to make our dinghy easier to use. The problem is that our existing dinghy (Avon Rover 2.8) is a bit too long and will overhang the stern at either end.

I like the security of a decent sized dinghy as I often go into slightly more exposed waters to lay a pot so am now thinking a smaller rib might be an option. I have never been in one but could anyone comment if a slightly smaller one will feel as or more secure than a bigger (longer) airdeck or is there not much difference ?
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Our 2.9 overhangs both sides of the stern but is narrower than our beam, never been a problem. With ply floor (which I much prefer to airdeck) and inflatable keel, it planes nicely at 16kts with a 9.8hp 2 stroke.
 
Storyline said:
Am thinking of getting davits to make our dinghy easier to use. The problem is that our existing dinghy (Avon Rover 2.8) is a bit too long and will overhang the stern at either end.

I like the security of a decent sized dinghy as I often go into slightly more exposed waters to lay a pot so am now thinking a smaller rib might be an option. I have never been in one but could anyone comment if a slightly smaller one will feel as or more secure than a bigger (longer) airdeck or is there not much difference ?
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Air decks are awful!! In my experience if this helps your decision they are really really really really really really awful.

We bought a new one this year, oh does it have a puncture in the floor already oh yes it does (admittedly it was a defect but, 4 years ago we had a leak in the HP of an Avon and we were told it could not be repaired so a new one at £650 with a 6 week lead time was given.

Everyone who owns a rib love them. I am yet to meet an owner of a boat with davits to say they prefer a fast roller than a RIB.

A deep v rib will do the business.

Ps we met a guy who owned a 57ft Naiad and had bought a 4 meter rib with a 25hp tiller throttle, the thing over hung like you would not believe (both sides) it was massive but he had great fun with it, fishing, snorkling etc. So dont worry about the over hang.

PS 2 you cant semi plane in an air deck i.e raise the bow so high that the waves you collide with get diverted sideways. A MMariner once told me "if you plane, you might lose a guest (drunk) or lose control as the boat is skimming so dig the stern in raise the bow and keep guests dry and comfortable" admittedly that was on a Boston Whaler with twin 70hp but still the principle is the same in a 8ft RIB, i believe.

I hope that helps.

The best thing is to test them out for yourself in a mild chop.
 
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I have a 3.2m Honwave ARIB and it's pretty good if the floor is at the right pressure. It's a very dry boat and it packs down almost as small as the 2.5m slatted floor inflatable I have, although if it's on davits that's not a concern but may be useful for transportation. I reckon a shorter ARIB would be even stiffer and more RIB-like as the hull does flex a bit.
 
jac said:
IIRC Graham has a Moody 376
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Correct. Our max beam is 3.8m, the transom is 2.4m at deck level and the dinghy 2.9m.

Having now had a dinghy with a ply floor for 3 years ( http://www.marathonleisure.co.uk/product.php?xProd=205502&xSec=1350 ), I would never go back to an airdeck - unless I had to stow it. I'm not keen on ribs because any water shipped stays slopping around the hull, soaking shopping etc. Same applies to the inflatable "V" hulls and some of those feel very unstable when boarding.
 
We have an XM brig 275 rib on the back of a Claymore. It sticks out and will catch on things if you forget about it. Unfortunately, in a wheelhouse environment, that can happen quite often, however it's never damaged anybody and can be useful as a large fender (ie Crinan canal when the guy behind doesn't stop!) That's true of any squashable device across the back of course..
As for the RIB question - Super, stable almost like having a workboat to play with. We have 5HP which will plane 1 - up but no more than that. Fit wheels!!! - unless you are a fit young weightlifter, you will have problems getting it back to the water when the tide has gone out during your stay in the pub.
We also fitted a SS aerial wire from the mast backstay fitting to the outward end of the davit on the outboard motor side to ease the strain.
 
Billjratt said:
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Fit wheels!!! - unless you are a fit young weightlifter, you will have problems getting it back to the water when the tide has gone out during your stay in the pub.
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Did not think of that, so that rules out a rib for us as frequently we do not bother using the conventional dinghy landing spots and lazily go for the nearest landing place to pub/shop. Also in remote anchorages we sometimes land on seaweedy spots. The ability to float in inches is very important.

Thanks for the tip :)

(Davits and our existing airdeck 2.8 is my conclusion fwiw).
 
As you already have a 2.8m I would use that until it breaks beyond economic repair against buying a new one.

I love a RIB it's the handling that's great.

As for air decks we roll with the 360 fast roller from Zodiac. A good but of kit but a rib 360 would be much better.

As for being a weightlifter, the idea of beaching a boat is in my book like running the yacht aground.

Careful use of a stern anchor or a shore pulpy system works for me.

Beaulieu river your stuffed whether it's a rib or a dinghy.
 
Jamesuk said:
Careful use of a stern anchor or a shore pulpy system works for me.
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I have a 5kg weight on a 2m line which I chuck over the stern near the beach and then a folding grapnel on long line to the beach, keeps the dink afloat OK. I've also fitted wheels to the transom for when we're on slips as dinghy weighs around 60kg and the engine 26kg, too heavy for two of us to carry.
 
Storyline said:
Am thinking of getting davits to make our dinghy easier to use. The problem is that our existing dinghy (Avon Rover 2.8) is a bit too long and will overhang the stern at either end.

I like the security of a decent sized dinghy as I often go into slightly more exposed waters to lay a pot so am now thinking a smaller rib might be an option. I have never been in one but could anyone comment if a slightly smaller one will feel as or more secure than a bigger (longer) airdeck or is there not much difference ?
Click to expand...

If you can stow/carry a RIB safely it is better than anything else, but I have two inflatables, one a lightweight 2.6 Zodiac with roll-up floorboards and a 2.7 XM with roll-up floorboards plus a flat airdeck floor. On the same 3.3 Mercury engine the airdeck one is much nicer to use, faster and small amounts of water collect under the airdeck so your feet stay drier.
 
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