Williams Jet Rib

[woodie1000]

We're looking for a Williams Jet Rib....basically we were late ordering a new one (it won't be made till later this year) and we'll be without one for our main summer holidays unless I can find one. I have tried all the usual boat for sale sites. Does anyone know of one that might be for sale?

Thanks!

 

[AJR]

would you consider an Avon 320 jet rib???

 

[woodie1000]

We would - but the 320 won't fit in our tender garage!

Thanks for the offer though.

 

[PeteCooper]

Do a search going back quite a long way for a thread on this subject started by Magnum.

 

[pistonbroke]

If your serious about a s/h Williams, steer clear of the 2 stroke versions. They suffer with major problems, so bad that Williams won't even talk to you about them! It's as though they never built any.

 

[Gludy]

I was looking at a Williams jet rib but the exoerience of others and the way the boat handles with only one pwerson, the driver in it put me off it.

I really hope that Willimas has cured all the problems but even if they had, I would be concerend about the manner in which they have reacted to problems from the past.

So my advice would bwe to tread very carefully.

 

[spannerman]

I was at the factory for a two day course recently as we are the dealer for Norway, and I was very impressed with the company overall, the staff, the expertise and the product, its probably the most thought out and developed JET rib on the market in its class, full of clever design details that aren't obvious until you see one in all its various stages of assembly, and interestingly the boat mags concur in their jetrib tests.
I tested one on a nearby lake and was impressed with its high and low speed handling.
I know the factory is working to full capacity to meet orders and have even thought about running a nightshift, that in itself says something about the product.

 

[Gludy]

But to be fair you have an interest is stating all that.

I am only going on the experience of others that has been passed onto me- a potential customer. I like the rib and spoke to magnum - a member here who was pretty fed up with his. I also learnt of others with the same experience. So i am wary but have no first hand knowledge myself. I would hope they were OK now because I would like one if it worked and the company gave good service. I am concerned about both matters and would like to hear from those with a current model.

As regards mag reviews - I am sorry but I know of great mag reviews on boats that are simply not up to muster, so I take them with a pinch of salt.

 

[jfm]

Good effort by Williams etc but there is a major design flaw imho. All guests and guests' kids love to play on/in the water and have a blast with the jetrib and a drive, and so they should. With the Williams there is no way you can sit beside a novice to rescue things when they lose control or whatever. With the Avon you sit beside them. So, regardless of any clever design detials elsewhere in the Williams it fails on this point imho...

http://www.williamsmarine.com/
http://www.boat-finder.net/1380/details.php#

 

[Alistairr]

To be fair to Spannerman, i think he's telling it as it is!!!!
His report reads very similar to Magnums, when he visited the factory. Read it HERE!
Williams possibly put that little bit extra into their factory visits.

Regards living with the product longterm, it may not be perfect, i don't know.

Al.

 

[Gludy]

I am sure Spannerman is reporting the truth as he finds it - I am not saying anything else other than I am wary of Williamd and that attitude is based on the experience others have passed onto me.

 

[Hurricane]

Paul - I think most of the problems are fired at JetRibs in general.
I'm certainly not going to buy another JetRib when I change.
IMHO - just buy a nice little conventional Rib and you'd get a lovely one for the price that they sell JetRibs - Avon or Williams.