Advice on RIBs please.

Our club is considering buying a RIB and wondered if anyone could offer advice on sizes, makes etc. Is there any advantage in having a 6mt over a 5.5mt for instance. Are Humbers better than Avons. Is there anything in particular we should be looking for.
We are an inland club based in the midlands so it would have to be towable by somthing smaller than an HGV!
All advice welcome.

Our club is considering buying a RIB and wondered if anyone could offer advice on sizes, makes etc. Is there any advantage in having a 6mt over a 5.5mt for instance. Are Humbers better than Avons. Is there anything in particular we should be looking for.

Is 6m better than 5.5m? Well it depends how many people you want to get on it, and how much free space you want!

Look at the width of the RIB too - it is VERY important. We use a 5.3m RIB at my uni club... if we have 4 people with kit on the boat, there is no standing space left - the floor is completely filled with kit, no room for bottle racks or anything either.
My home club has a 6.5m RIB - just over one metre longer (~20%), but it easily carries 10 fully kitted divers with twinsets and stages and still has a ~1.5x1.5m area at the back that is completely free space.
The big difference? Width! My home club had the hull made wider than normal, and the tubes mounted a foot or so out from where they would usually be, giving a lot of room... and it can still manage 50 knots (although its a very bumpy ride!)

Make sure the engine matches the size of the boat too!

David

Look at the width of the RIB too - it is VERY important. We use a 5.3m RIB at my uni club... if we have 4 people with kit on the boat, there is no standing space left - the floor is completely filled with kit, no room for bottle racks or anything either.
My home club has a 6.5m RIB - just over one metre longer (~20%), but it easily carries 10 fully kitted divers with twinsets and stages and still has a ~1.5x1.5m area at the back that is completely free space.
The big difference? Width! My home club had the hull made wider than normal, and the tubes mounted a foot or so out from where they would usually be, giving a lot of room... and it can still manage 50 knots (although its a very bumpy ride!)

Make sure the engine matches the size of the boat too!

David

Thanks,
Were there any problems with towing the larger boat, we are quite keen that it could be towed by an average size family car if poss.

Joe

:=Our club is considering buying a RIB and wondered if anyone could offer advice on sizes, makes etc. Is there any advantage in having a 6mt over a 5.5mt for instance. Are Humbers better than Avons. Is there anything in particular we should be looking for.

Is 6m better than 5.5m? Well it depends how many people you want to get on it, and how much free space you want!

Look at the width of the RIB too - it is VERY important. We use a 5.3m RIB at my uni club... if we have 4 people with kit on the boat, there is no standing space left - the floor is completely filled with kit, no room for bottle racks or anything either.
My home club has a 6.5m RIB - just over one metre longer (~20%), but it easily carries 10 fully kitted divers with twinsets and stages and still has a ~1.5x1.5m area at the back that is completely free space.
The big difference? Width! My home club had the hull made wider than normal, and the tubes mounted a foot or so out from where they would usually be, giving a lot of room... and it can still manage 50 knots (although its a very bumpy ride!)

Make sure the engine matches the size of the boat too!

David
Not only is it about how many divers you want to fit in the boat, but who can tow! Our club has a 6 mtr, which is superb and hold 8 divers - fairly confortably. But there are only a very few diver who have 4WDs to tow, and as importantly, launch such a heavy RIB.The larger RIBS make better diving platforms and can ride the rougher sea conditions where smaller RIBs will struggle. We sold our 2nd RIB, a 5.5 tornado for a smaller more portable 5.3 tornado, which will take 4 divers, but tight with any more. It can be towed behind any reasonably powered saloon and offers the club good flexibility. Bear in mind that if you plan to travel alot, make sure you have a well spec'd trailor, as the RIB will always end up being used to hold kit while travelling. The tornado's are superb RIB's, very strong, and wellbuilt.Our 6mtr even went out to St Kilda about 3/4 years ago on a BSAC expedition.

Were there any problems with towing the larger boat, we are quite keen that it could be towed by an average size family car if poss.

Not too sure about the towing to be honest. It is usually towed behind a 4x4 or a van, but thats more because of what those who generally tow the thing have. I think it's been towed by a Mondeo and things like that before without problem - not sure how well it'd do on a long journey though.

Where we usually dive its a tractor launch anyway so not sure about the launching.

David

:=:=Our club is considering buying a RIB and wondered if anyone could offer advice on sizes, makes etc. Is there any advantage in having a 6mt over a 5.5mt for instance. Are Humbers better than Avons. Is there anything in particular we should be looking for.
:=
:=Is 6m better than 5.5m? Well it depends how many people you want to get on it, and how much free space you want!
:=
:=Look at the width of the RIB too - it is VERY important. We use a 5.3m RIB at my uni club... if we have 4 people with kit on the boat, there is no standing space left - the floor is completely filled with kit, no room for bottle racks or anything either.
:=My home club has a 6.5m RIB - just over one metre longer (~20%), but it easily carries 10 fully kitted divers with twinsets and stages and still has a ~1.5x1.5m area at the back that is completely free space.
:=The big difference? Width! My home club had the hull made wider than normal, and the tubes mounted a foot or so out from where they would usually be, giving a lot of room... and it can still manage 50 knots (although its a very bumpy ride!)
:=
:=Make sure the engine matches the size of the boat too!
:=
:=David
:= Not only is it about how many divers you want to fit in the boat, but who can tow! Our club has a 6 mtr, which is superb and hold 8 divers - fairly confortably. But there are only a very few diver who have 4WDs to tow, and as importantly, launch such a heavy RIB.The larger RIBS make better diving platforms and can ride the rougher sea conditions where smaller RIBs will struggle. We sold our 2nd RIB, a 5.5 tornado for a smaller more portable 5.3 tornado, which will take 4 divers, but tight with any more. It can be towed behind any reasonably powered saloon and offers the club good flexibility. Bear in mind that if you plan to travel alot, make sure you have a well spec'd trailor, as the RIB will always end up being used to hold kit while travelling. The tornado's are superb RIB's, very strong, and wellbuilt.Our 6mtr even went out to St Kilda about 3/4 years ago on a BSAC expedition.

Be carefull of loading a rib and towing it. It can put undue loads (usually about 50lb vertically) on the towing coupling abd make the load too heavy for the trailer brakes to function correctly. There is also a maimum train weight for the towing car. This includes ALL weight of the car, people etc and the towed object. Loading the trailer and probably the car would probably take you over this weight.

With regard to the original question, what kind of diving and trips do you want to do? How many divers? Towing considerations etc. Then there's the engine...

Adrian

With regard to the original question, what kind of diving and trips do you want to do? How many divers? Towing considerations etc. Then there's the engine...

Adrian

We were looking at something that would take 6 divers and a cox reasonably comfortably and that could be towed with a reasonably sized family sallon, say Mondeo size. The diving would be normal recreational stuf, we don't have any techies in the club at present, but we have a few that are moving towards twinsets.

Joe

Hi Joe,

As ever these are personal opinions, I like the Osprey Eagle c/w 100hp 4 stroke Yamaha, it's a superb combination and ticks all the boxes you have mentioned.

Osprey are now based in the Midlands so convenient for you to spec and pick up.

We are a Midlands based club with this combination, drop me a pm if you would like to pop over and have a look at the boat.

Cheers

Tim

:=
:=With regard to the original question, what kind of diving and trips do you want to do? How many divers? Towing considerations etc. Then there's the engine...
:=
:=Adrian

We were looking at something that would take 6 divers and a cox reasonably comfortably and that could be towed with a reasonably sized family sallon, say Mondeo size. The diving would be normal recreational stuf, we don't have any techies in the club at present, but we have a few that are moving towards twinsets.

Joe

Not only is it about how many divers you want to fit in the boat, but who can tow! Our club has a 6 mtr, which is superb and hold 8 divers - fairly confortably. But there are only a very few diver who have 4WDs to tow, and as importantly, launch such a heavy RIB.The larger RIBS make better diving platforms and can ride the rougher sea conditions where smaller RIBs will struggle. We sold our 2nd RIB, a 5.5 tornado for a smaller more portable 5.3 tornado, which will take 4 divers, but tight with any more. It can be towed behind any reasonably powered saloon and offers the club good flexibility. Bear in mind that if you plan to travel alot, make sure you have a well spec'd trailor, as the RIB will always end up being used to hold kit while travelling. The tornado's are superb RIB's, very strong, and wellbuilt.Our 6mtr even went out to St Kilda about 3/4 years ago on a BSAC expedition.

Martyn
I am reading this thread with interest as I am from the same club as the op and we are trying to prepare for a decision that would best be made by towing the alternatives around ourselves, including a launch and recovery from a slip (accepting that not all slips are the same.)Maybe we should find a way to do that btw.

Of the three RIBs that you refer to, 6, 5.5 and 5.3m there is only half a metre between the first two and a foot between the second but as you sold a 5.5 to buy a 5.3 there is a difference that doesn't jump out that I am hoping you could explain.
It's proving quite hard to get this data over the internet and we are a bit far from the coast to go to a slip and ask in person, but if it comes to it, that's probably what we need to do.

I'm guessing it boils down to the weight of the boat, engine and trailer and so the overall towing weight. This influences which models and engine size of car that can effectively tow, launch and recover, and I suppose, the number of people needed to launch / recover. Lastly, for any particular boat, there is a maximum number of divers it can safely take, and a minimum number that can safely launch and economically take to sea from a sharing costs perspective.

So, the questions!
For the three RIBs you refer to, are you please able to state:
1) Towing weight?
2) Cars that people actually use to tow / launch and recover?
3) Your actual maximum number of divers?
4) The minimum number of divers to operate?
5) What engine on each boat, and how many litres per mile?
Thanks
Graham

Not only is it about how many divers you want to fit in the boat, but who can tow! Our club has a 6 mtr, which is superb and hold 8 divers - fairly confortably. But there are only a very few diver who have 4WDs to tow, and as importantly, launch such a heavy RIB.The larger RIBS make better diving platforms and can ride the rougher sea conditions where smaller RIBs will struggle. We sold our 2nd RIB, a 5.5 tornado for a smaller more portable 5.3 tornado, which will take 4 divers, but tight with any more. It can be towed behind any reasonably powered saloon and offers the club good flexibility. Bear in mind that if you plan to travel alot, make sure you have a well spec'd trailor, as the RIB will always end up being used to hold kit while travelling. The tornado's are superb RIB's, very strong, and wellbuilt.Our 6mtr even went out to St Kilda about 3/4 years ago on a BSAC expedition.

Martyn
I am reading this thread with interest as I am from the same club as the op and we are trying to prepare for a decision that would best be made by towing the alternatives around ourselves, including a launch and recovery from a slip (accepting that not all slips are the same.)Maybe we should find a way to do that btw.

Of the three RIBs that you refer to, 6, 5.5 and 5.3m there is only half a metre between the first two and a foot between the second but as you sold a 5.5 to buy a 5.3 there is a difference that doesn't jump out that I am hoping you could explain.
It's proving quite hard to get this data over the internet and we are a bit far from the coast to go to a slip and ask in person, but if it comes to it, that's probably what we need to do.

I'm guessing it boils down to the weight of the boat, engine and trailer and so the overall towing weight. This influences which models and engine size of car that can effectively tow, launch and recover, and I suppose, the number of people needed to launch / recover. Lastly, for any particular boat, there is a maximum number of divers it can safely take, and a minimum number that can safely launch and economically take to sea from a sharing costs perspective.

So, the questions!
For the three RIBs you refer to, are you please able to state:
1) Towing weight?

Why not just ring the manufacturers or look on their web sites?

There is a ratio of the cars kerbside weight to the kerbside weight of the boat/trailer. I can't remember what this is off the top of my head. This ratio fits with a suitable towing vehicle engine size anyway. You're not going to get a 4 litre Mini to tow are you? I can see it now, front wheels in the air, 'wheelying' down the motorway.
:-)

2) Cars that people actually use to tow / launch and recover?

For a 5.5 metre Rhib/75hp outboard you'll need a vehicle with at least a 1600cc engine. This _will_ do it, but probably struggle to tow a _really_ long distance, say from the Midlands to North Scotland. It should be fine if you have say, one large vehicle for the main pull, then use others when you get there, for short runs to different launch sites, this takes the pressure off the main towing vehicle/driver, who will start to whinge if they're always towing/driving. You might consider a second driver to take some of the load off them, a small insurance cover should sort this out.
If you don't do this, then you might lose the only guy in the club with a 'chelsea tractor' big enough to tow your boat, don't shoot yourselves in the foot, pay the man.
We always paid a gallon/4.5 litres for every 50 miles, on top of the actual towing costs as a sweetener to cover wear and tear, this is a good deal for the driver as it doesn't matter how far you tow, don't be stingy, round the figures up. The divers on the trip share this cost between themselves.

3) Your actual maximum number of divers?

A 5.5 metre with 80Hp engine will do for 6 divers and single cylinders, give everyone a pony, or twin them all up and you'll need something approaching a 100Hp engine for ease of getting on to the plane. look to the future, will they all progress on to twinsets eventually?

4) The minimum number of divers to operate?

Two divers and one experienced cox'n is the bare minimum required.
But I'd recommend two pairs of divers, then you'd always have at least two diving, and two in the boat as cox'n/one crew member to assist diver/shot/anchor recovery.
Don't forget launching/recovery. Two persons, one other driving a small car and a bumpy/slimy slipway that drops away steeply is not a good combination with a 6m/100hp boat.

5) What engine on each boat, and how many litres per mile?

This depends, for a 6m boat you'll probably need a 100hp engine, but could make do with something a bit smaller like 80hp. This smaller engine will struggle with 6 twinset divers in rougher seas. And a 5.5m will be cramped with 6 twinsets.
It's all about getting the boat planing. If you can't get 'on the plane', you'll use about a million litres per mile.
And everyone will be sick on the way out and back.
And you'll miss slack water.
And anyone with DCI will die in the boat - probably of old age.
;-)

I wouldn't worry too much about mileage when using the boat with a full complement of divers, it will be expensive anyway.

"A boat is just a hole in the water you pour money into". ;-)

It will of course be more expensive for a 6m/100hp with only 4 divers paying, so you'll have to look at whether or not you will always be able to fill the boat. If not, go for a smaller 5.5m/80hp combination.
5.5m vs 5.3m - same difference really, this may be down to styling or tube diameter anyway. Smaller tube size, more room in the boat for the same length. And less buoyancy for 6 overweight twinset divers.
As has been said, whatever you do, tow the boat 'empty' where possible, don't fall into the trap of filling it with weighbelts and cylinders at it puts a massive strain on the tow hook and trailer/boat.
Use the boat for everyone's drysuit bags which are light and bulky, and spread the weight of heavy dive kit between cars. If possible, use three cars for a 6 person trip, one towing (with no cylinders/weighbelts), and the other two cars take one extra set/weighbelt each to share the load out.
Also consider having the club sponsor someone to have a towbar fitted. Seriously, it will save a lot of grief if you sweeten someone to tow the boat. If your club offers to go halves on fitting towbars to two suitable large vehicles, you'll have the problem pretty much solved.

What?
Did you think this diving was inexpensive? Yeah right.
;-)



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