Small Hypalon RIB

lille_bee

lille_bee

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Has anyone come across a new 2.6 metre hypalon RIB on the market. We have managed to make our old PVC Wetline last for 10 years but it is now at the end of its natural life. I have looked on the interwonderweb but they keep offering me a blow up floor.... NO NO it must be solid floor (reasons to technical to bother with here)... help. We've seen charter boats, in Greece, towing a good looking thing made by some outboard company but it too is probably PVC

Regards

john and Elsa
 
Well I didn't see Cheap mentioned in your post so Avon still do the Redstart which is about 2.5-2.6m
Only drawback is it's about £1000. But will probably outlive most of us.

I've an old Redstart which is probably about 25 years old or so. (which i've been chatting on here about regarding moving it around) I've just put a few patches of hypalon on the bottom to protect chafing bits but it's a great Rib.
 
mocruising said:
Avon rib light good for us long lasting expensive but you get what you pay for.
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I don't always subscribe to the 'you get what you pay for' ideal but in the Avon case i'd say that's true. You just have to be seriously concerned about your RIB lasting you 15 years + to really get the benefit of the price IMO.

Brilliant RIBs though.
 
Just to follow that up, i've just found that my Avon was made in.......1973. It's older than me!! and it's still in great condition.
 
Fire99 said:
Well I didn't see Cheap mentioned in your post so Avon still do the Redstart which is about 2.5-2.6m
Only drawback is it's about £1000. But will probably outlive most of us.

I've an old Redstart which is probably about 25 years old or so. (which i've been chatting on here about regarding moving it around) I've just put a few patches of hypalon on the bottom to protect chafing bits but it's a great Rib.
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If its a Redstart it's not a Rib, it's an inflatable. Ribs have a solid GRP or aluminium floor/hull.
 
properjob said:
If its a Redstart it's not a Rib, it's an inflatable. Ribs have a solid GRP or aluminium floor/hull.
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Not according to the Wetline website.

Check out the Wetline 310AR Air Rib Dinghy

But the term 'Rib' often gets used regarding full inflatables rather than in it's true sense.
 
Check out the Wetline 310AR Air Rib Dinghy
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it has an inflatable V floor. The OP says, "NO NO it must be solid floor."
It's PVC as well!

RIB = Rigid inflatable boat. ie a solid hull

Air rib = a misleading way of describing an inflatable keel
 
VicS said:
it has an inflatable V floor. The OP says, "NO NO it must be solid floor."
It's PVC as well!

RIB = Rigid inflatable boat. ie a solid hull

Air rib = a misleading way of describing an inflatable keel
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Wooo there horsey.. the Wetline reference was to the chap saying RIB's always have solid floors. I wasn't recommending one to the OP.

Apologies if it was a touch misleading. :)
 
Little RIBs

Sorry guys/gals/anoraks one and all if my polite enqiury has created a firestorm of debate on the definition of RIB; I had no idea that anyone could get their underwear in quite a double sheet bend as this. Come on people get a life and relax more.

To clarify; for my requirements I need a SOLID bottom (don't we all), GRP is good but would consider metal!! and the sides must not be PVC. Thanks for the tip on the Avon 280 Rover RIB but at 61 kg. it's just a bit too heavy and long for the job. All the other smaller Avons appear to be blow up floors, for blow up read puncture when used in anger and this is going to be used in anger (relaying anchors). Yes I suppose I could use a wooden floorboard type and put new boards in when they get damaged.

Has anyone experienced the Suzumar RIB, it looks really well built... PVC I expect?

Regards

John and Elsa
 
We have an XM Brig 2.6meter rib (yes a proper RIB) but I can't find any refence to it web-wise.
It's probably what you're looking for - apart from the horrible screw-on pintle mounted oars....
 
AB Inflatables build a very neat little 8' RIB with an aluminium floor which is much lighter than its fibreglass contemporaries at 73 lbs - more about them here at http://www.abinflatables.com/i_producto.asp
Although I am not too sure if they are Hypalon - edit, just saw in the specs that they are. Excellent.
A pal in St Maarten has one and he swears by it - and it is light enough and small enough that he can stow it singlehanded upside down on the fore deck of his 28' Hunter Legend.
 
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Thanks for the tip on the Avon 280 Rover RIB but at 61 kg. it's just a bit too heavy and long for the job. All the other smaller Avons appear to be blow up floors
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The R 280 may be too big and too heavy but the R 260 Rover Lite is exactly 2.6m, is only 38 kg and as far as I can see does not have an inflatable bottom. From the webpage:

"RIMTEC polyester hull (advanced injection molding technology)
Anti-skid fibreglass deck"​

See http://www.avoninflatables.co.uk/tender-boats/?rover-lite

As I said earlier the obvious choice, or am I missing something?
 
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Bajansailor said:
AB Inflatables build a very neat little 8' RIB with an aluminium floor which is much lighter than its fibreglass contemporaries at 73 lbs - more about them here at http://www.abinflatables.com/i_producto.asp
Although I am not too sure if they are Hypalon - edit, just saw in the specs that they are. Excellent.
A pal in St Maarten has one and he swears by it - and it is light enough and small enough that he can stow it singlehanded upside down on the fore deck of his 28' Hunter Legend.
Click to expand...

Another vote for AB RIBs, we have a 3.2m one on Saguday and it's a fabulous piece of kit, yes it's hypalon, no I don't think they are available in the UK (but I may be wrong). Planes with a family of 4 with a 9.8 Tohatsu 4 stroke - also has a pointy-up flared bow better in waves (caribe same IIRC)

Check out Tohatsu, they launched some nice new RIBs I saw at SIBs competitively priced including a really small dinky one - can't recall if hypalon or not.
 
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