Ribs.

[BrendanS]

Talking about big ones here, not tenders. Why are they seen as being go anywhere boats that are far more sea worthy than similar size hard hull boats?

Apart from the fact that the tubes stop the boat sinking in a calamity, why do so many people consider them superior sea handling boats?

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[AJW]

Oh gawd now theres a question the polarises views......... see discussions on rib.net and boatmadforum.com for example.

My thoughts are that the tubes obviously give tremendous positive bouyancy and hence confidence in the rough stuff. I suspect that they also give a certain amount of lift acting as a form of wing when at speed. There is also a cushioning effect when the tube comes into contact with a wave, although at high speed this can result in detubing in an extreme situation.

Hull design clearly is also important - there are good rib hulls and bad rib hulls just like on hard boats. Another thing is seating arrangements. Most traditional type RIBS use jockey seating where you can either stand or sit and let your legs take some of the pounding of being on a small boat at high speed. Conversely most equivalent sized sportsboats have bucket seats of one form or another which I find extremely uncomfortable in any kind of seaway.

Thats about as far as my theories go. I have done a fair amount of Ribbing and owned both 21 and 25ft RIBS. (DS21 and Scorpion). Also done a fair amount of boating in hardboats - 21ft fletcher, 19ft Glastron (as per H1) and 23ft Cobalt. I have always had a softer ride and felt more comfortable in the RIBS than the hardboats. Also I went round Britain in a 30ft RIB a couple of years ago. Thats not particularly significant but we were acting as support boat to 8 sub 5m RIBS. I dont believe that 15ft hardboats would have been able to complete the same trip!

All IIRC and IMHO!

AJ

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[BrendanS]

Yes, was having a scan of rib.net last night, which prompted the question. Never seen a definitive answer as to why quite small ribs are considered capable of long distance rough water cruising, but not small hard hulls.

What did you think of the Cobalt by the way? They have a fantastic reputation in US

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[Solitaire]

Perhaps a question you can put to Alan Priddy at the club spring social on 13th March then! After all he's taken ribs around the world. Distinct possiblility he might have some idea!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[BrendanS]

Too impulsive! Read rib.net....asked question. Will have forgotten by 13th /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[AJW]

Cobalt

Very nice boat. Very solid and well finished, good Deep V hull goes well. Couple of mates jointly own a 227 Cuddy with from memory 5.7EFI V*lvo Duoprop. Good for high 50's mph. Used primarily for skiing and boarding but capable of much more in terms of cruising, although cuddy is quite small. Not cheap though!



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[Kevin]

There has been a few 'hardboat' 15 footers and under that have successfully gone around the UK ( I have one of them) encountering waves of 20 feet off the coast of Devon and storm conditions . In fact the smallest boat ever to circumnavigate the UK is a 13 foot fletcher sporstboat, and that was about 15 years ago! it was a flotilla of fletchers 1 x15 footer, 2 x14 footers and 2x13 footers powered by yamaha outboards

A well designed hardboat can deal with anything a rib can the difference being is that for some the cushioning affect of the tubes give the feeling of greater stability and sea worthyness in actuality they are no better like for like -good against good as hardboats. I dislike ribs once things start to get rough the tubes preventing the hull from working as it should specially at any speed, you end up bobbing about like a cork. I prefer the feeling of a narrow beam true deep v. nothing matches them.

Ribs are like any other boat if they are designed and built well for the purpose they are great if they are poorly built and designed then they end up just as s***e.

In certain respects this myth that ribs are better or ultimately safer boats can IMHO cause more problems for the inexperienced by allowing them to think that they are invincible craft!

Ribs are a good compromise between allowing for a beamier boat than with a traditional sportsboat- the tubes aiding stability at the greater width, and are more stable at rest, thus making them good family boats.

Kevin

 

[qsiv]

Perhaps it's that every sea rescue service switched to them after Atlantic College developed thye prototype? I doubt you will find anywhere in the world wher sub 20' life boats are anything other than RIB's (apart from PWC used on surfpatrol).

Size for size, most ribs have deeper V, and much enhanced load carrying compared to a rigid boat. Consider the scenario - you and your crew are in the drink of a river bar, with an onshore F6/7. The lifeboat has a crew of 3, and there are 4 of you to pick up. Which would you rather have a ride in - a 21' Fletphatron, or an equivalent size RIB?

Which brings up the next issue - the massive form stability that the RIB has available at rest - just no comparison.

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[Kevin]

That i agree with you on as i say above, ribs do allow for more room due to the stability the tubes allowing for a beamier boat that coupled with stability at rest for rescue boats ideal. but IMHO lets not confuse the issue of their outstanding workboat, multi use attributes with anything to do with outright safety and ability on the move.

In the situations ive seen them and used different boats in, at speed in bad conditions trying to get from point a to point b they are left trailing by the true offshore hardhull boats time and time again in racing, poker runs and endurance competitions BUT in the same breath I also wouldnt want to pick up people overboard in a 30 foot 7 foot beam offshore hardhull! I think ribs make good all rounders but are not better by any means than their hardhull equivelents.

 

[Solitaire]

An interesting Rib - built by Mark Pascoe of carbon fibre. Single surface drive but with two 450hp IVECO diesels positioned one behind the other and driven through a formula 1 gearbox. - total length about 35ft!

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[Kevin]

Stunning looking boat must go like the wind!!

I know nothing of this configuration of running the engines in serial rather than parallel and wonder if it makes better use of the torque of the diesels to throw over a higher gear ratio and a bigger single prop thus working to the engines greatest asset -torque

kevin

 

[Solitaire]

Don't know Kevin. But expected top speed is in excess of 130mph!!!! Being built to introduce a new sereis into the US. This one should have been raedy to compete in Cowes-Torquay last year.

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>