Ribs. Difference between aluminum or GRP hull

[freedom44]

I need to renew my dinghy, and following earlier post about RIBS as tenders, I feel I can probably manage a smallish Rib. I have initially identified either AB or Caribe as most suitable as both have oversized chambers, which, I gather, are drier in swell and surf.

Looking at the AB websites, I see that there is both an aluminum hull and GRP hull version. The weights for a 10ft version are 53kgs and 77kgs respectively, so there seems to be a lot going for the aluminum hull version.

Does anyone have any info about the pros and cons of either, as this is a major investment and I want to get it right !

Thanks

 

[shamrock]

We have an AB RIB with aluminium bottom and are very pleased with it. It takes a lot of abuse, and the aluminum floor is almost indestructable.

We've had a bit of chafe when in the davits leading to a leak where the fabric bonds to the aluminum, but that was fixed with the repair kit. Also found that the towing eye has almost pulled through where the steel shackle tugs at the aluminum of the eye - that needs a little welding repair.

Haven't had the GRP one to compare with, but I would guess that the aluminum bottom will take a lot of wear and tear, and when we owned an aluminum yacht we found (unintentionally!) that we could bounce it off a reef with some dents and scratches where I think GRP would have been much more serious.

hope that helps

Nick

 

[freedom44]

Nick

thanks for the info. Did you buy yours in UK, or where?

Richard

 

[robind]

I understand that Venezuela is a good place to buy a particular type of Ali rib?

 

[orizaba]

heard good reports on ally version,met a guy in la coruna who bought one in the uk somwhere on the southcoast,must say was impressed with it especially the weight,he also found his outboard powered it better ,tho he did put a bigger one on it,will try to email him and find out where he got it

 

[shamrock]

Ours came with the boat, the RIB was bought in the caribbean somewhere. We use it with a 15hp outboard (the max it is rated for) and it flies, it will plane with 3 adults (but not 3 adults plus kitbags) and with 2 adults 2 kids it still gets up and goes.

 

[Jeannius]

I wanted an AB but was told not to get one by the people who manage my boat. They said the painter eye is very badly positioned and often damage the stern of boats if the driver is a little careless or the weather rough. So I got a Caribe. 3 years of charter use and it is still in great condition.

 

[jeremyshaw]

I think both AB and Caribe make good Ribs - largely a question of design when it comes to choice.

Only thing I will say about alu ribs is that the ones I have seen have the hypalon glued to the aluminium after painting. And after a few years the paint starts to flake, so I'd worry about the hypalon coming adrift (though I should say I've not seen this).

Also, GRP is pretty easy to patch up - though mines survived 5 years of hard use without that need. Alu is not something you can fix on the beach...

 

[bestintentions]

Why not go for a Genesis from Walker Bay - its a rib with a solid plastic floor and flooring so much lighter than GRP ....

 

[freedom44]

Thanks for the new idea of a Walker Rib. I had never heard of it before. I really like the new design bits, like the integrated wheels and sacrificial hull strip. There is even a dealer in the uk!! Not a bad price.

Anyone got anything good/bad to say about them

 

[jeremyshaw]

The Walker Bay is a neat idea and lots have been sold in the US. Not sure of the model referred to, but they made an 'orginal' model then one with hypalon tubes that added on.

Without the tubes the WB will be tippy. One big advantage of a conventional RIB is that you can leap in from the dock and know it will stay flat.

The WB is also injection moulded. I asked them about repairs and they claimed they were never necessary. But if damaged I would worry it would crack and be very hard to fix.

Check the outboard spec. They are not designed for engines over about 6hp I think. Which is plenty for many people, but not for some...

If you want a really long lasting RIB look at a Boston Whaler. I know one which has been in service as a tender for 20+ years. But of course they are heavy, a bit tippy, a bit wet, and a bit big for some yachts. The perfect RIB has yet to be born!

 

[orizaba]

hi i just got info back sorry about the delay apparently its a Southern Pacific Shearwater 310. Falmouth area, just search on Southern Pacific UK.

 

[wanderlust]

I looked very carefully at the options when in the Caribbean. The AB rib is not as good quality as the Caribe. We bought a 9ft Caribe Light. This weighs 45kg. We use a Tohatsu 9.8hp as it is the lightest engine of this size we could get. With one person onboard it will do 20 knots according to my handheld GPS. It plains with 2 people onboard but not 3. It is rated for 15hp but I ddint want the extra weight of the big engine

 

[Sea Devil]

I have a roll up AB which I purchased in St Martin - it did the Caribbean, East coast USA then on round the world being used daily when not on the move and it is still going strong with thousands of miles under its flat floor!

 

[Goldie]

I met a guy last week with an aluminium hulled RIB called an 'Aquapro'. Apparently NZ made - anybody know if they're available in Europe? I was extremely impressed with how light it was (I would think it was about 9-10 ft LOA and he claimed 33kg).

 

[derekmercer]

I have an Aquapro - great RIB, solid and light. There are several different versions available which can be viewed on their website: www.aquapro.co.nz They don't have a UK agent, but I ordered mine direct (on credit card) and paid the VAT when it reached the UK, a simple process. I did have to go to Tilbury to pick it up with a road trailer, but just hired one for the day from a local firm (cost £25). <span style="color:blue"> </span>

 

[Goldie]

Thanks very much- off the www now!

 

[captainslarty]

Take at look at a Southern Pacific Shearwater Ali floor rib, we have one, superb, we use an 18 HP Tohatsu 2 stroke.
Capable of 25 knots one up, will plane at 20 knots with four adults, weight around 40kg. very impressed with it.
SP have a uk website.
Cost around 1300 pounds, worth every penny
Joe n Jayne