Went the route of the inflatable dinghy with the sectioned floor. Hated it. Am considering a RIB, but I have 2 concerns. What to do with it on a passage (tow or stow on deck)? How much engine do I need? I am looking at small, light boats (Aria at about 75 pounds, or Achillies up to 110 pounds).
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Ribs are great!
Debra: The RIBs are great but stowing them is a problem. The new generation of RIBs now have a single floor instead of a double. This makes them much lighter. The real problem is that they DO NOT store easily. The size of the engine is somewhat proportional to the weight of the dink and crew. Towing in my opinion is not a very good idea in open waters. You always need an option to get it out of the water if the weather gets rough. The do drag the boat speed down too. Have you considered one with an inflatable floor? Where do you store the one you have now? Also check out the Caribe.
Debra: The RIBs are great but stowing them is a problem. The new generation of RIBs now have a single floor instead of a double. This makes them much lighter. The real problem is that they DO NOT store easily. The size of the engine is somewhat proportional to the weight of the dink and crew. Towing in my opinion is not a very good idea in open waters. You always need an option to get it out of the water if the weather gets rough. The do drag the boat speed down too. Have you considered one with an inflatable floor? Where do you store the one you have now? Also check out the Caribe.
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Bill walton
good boat but heavy
I have a 10 ft Caribe. It's a nice boat but heavy. I also have a 15hp yamaha 4 stroke. Together they are quite a package. I have davits but carried the Caribe on the foredeck on a recent gulf stream crossing. I've been thinking about going the other way, inflatable and lighter.
I have a 10 ft Caribe. It's a nice boat but heavy. I also have a 15hp yamaha 4 stroke. Together they are quite a package. I have davits but carried the Caribe on the foredeck on a recent gulf stream crossing. I've been thinking about going the other way, inflatable and lighter.
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Pete Staehling
Tinker
I have no first hand experience with them, but Tinker makes a few models of RIB's that fold up quite small. They look like a great answer. They are even reported to row well, supposedly even against a gale and are supposed to plane with rather small outboards. They are is a little pricey though. Anyone have first hand experience with them? I would be particularly interested in how well they row. Pete
I have no first hand experience with them, but Tinker makes a few models of RIB's that fold up quite small. They look like a great answer. They are even reported to row well, supposedly even against a gale and are supposed to plane with rather small outboards. They are is a little pricey though. Anyone have first hand experience with them? I would be particularly interested in how well they row. Pete
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Frank Walker
Blow up the Floor
Debra, We just bought a new Achillies with an inflatable floor. So f4b9bt is a big improvement over the old plywood setup. Frank
Debra, We just bought a new Achillies with an inflatable floor. So f4b9bt is a big improvement over the old plywood setup. Frank
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larry w.
RIBs
Here's my ten cents; I have an older Avon 10ft Avon with plywood floors and an 8hp Nissan. I hoist it on an arch/davits thing, and it works fine, but recently got the bug for a RIB. Here's why. Heading into shore one afternoon against a breeze and small chop, we (wife and I) had to go very slow to avoid getting soaked by the cold spray. Too rough to plane. A RIB, pushed by a 9.9 Yamaha buzzed by, up on plane, no spray coming aboard, no pounding, turning a cold, bouncy 30 minute ride into a flat and comfortable 10 minute ride. I want one!
Here's my ten cents; I have an older Avon 10ft Avon with plywood floors and an 8hp Nissan. I hoist it on an arch/davits thing, and it works fine, but recently got the bug for a RIB. Here's why. Heading into shore one afternoon against a breeze and small chop, we (wife and I) had to go very slow to avoid getting soaked by the cold spray. Too rough to plane. A RIB, pushed by a 9.9 Yamaha buzzed by, up on plane, no spray coming aboard, no pounding, turning a cold, bouncy 30 minute ride into a flat and comfortable 10 minute ride. I want one!
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Ken
Rib Yes!
I've had a Rib for several years, I normaly tow without the motor on. If the water looks rough I'll put her on deck using the spinnaker sheet, I have spliced lines rigged for the davit pulls mounted on the dingy (I have a Caribe, they have lift rings on them standard, I've seen other brands that have the same)it just takes a few minutes and she's on deck. The motor is a different dog, I have a 4 stroke Honda weighing in at 80 lbs. I normally horse it up manually using a Davis motor lift strap, onto the rail, but I go to the gym daily. You can pick up hoists for the motor and make it a no sweat operation. My Rib cooks, I get my kids in it and they're having a blast, I've also used it as a dive platform. Good Luck!
I've had a Rib for several years, I normaly tow without the motor on. If the water looks rough I'll put her on deck using the spinnaker sheet, I have spliced lines rigged for the davit pulls mounted on the dingy (I have a Caribe, they have lift rings on them standard, I've seen other brands that have the same)it just takes a few minutes and she's on deck. The motor is a different dog, I have a 4 stroke Honda weighing in at 80 lbs. I normally horse it up manually using a Davis motor lift strap, onto the rail, but I go to the gym daily. You can pick up hoists for the motor and make it a no sweat operation. My Rib cooks, I get my kids in it and they're having a blast, I've also used it as a dive platform. Good Luck!
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Guest
Rib vs inflatable
I am having the same thoughts as I need a tender for my new 356. I have almost decided to go with the Zodiac cadet fastroller. Light, rigid with the inflateable floor and planes if you want to use more than a 5HP engine.Storage is no prob and the 310 has a good payload.Don't forget the weight and storage of the engine if you go for bigger HP. Colin
I am having the same thoughts as I need a tender for my new 356. I have almost decided to go with the Zodiac cadet fastroller. Light, rigid with the inflateable floor and planes if you want to use more than a 5HP engine.Storage is no prob and the 310 has a good payload.Don't forget the weight and storage of the engine if you go for bigger HP. Colin
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Barry
No RIB for Me
My RIB weighed 150# and towed like a stone. Motor was difficult to take on and off. Dumped it and got a roll up, no regrets. Barry
My RIB weighed 150# and towed like a stone. Motor was difficult to take on and off. Dumped it and got a roll up, no regrets. Barry
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Ed
How about a Porta-bote?
We have a Porta-Bote that is tied to the lifeline stanchions. It weighs 58 #s, and folds up to 10.5' x 2' x 4". (They also make one that's 8' in length and weighs 40+ #s.) Our Porta-Bote can hold 4 adults and can carry about 900 #s total. It can take an outboard engine that weighs less than 45 #s. (We have a 4 HP two stroke that weighs 40 #s.) BTW, it's nearly indestructable, and I'm told "will last forever".
We have a Porta-Bote that is tied to the lifeline stanchions. It weighs 58 #s, and folds up to 10.5' x 2' x 4". (They also make one that's 8' in length and weighs 40+ #s.) Our Porta-Bote can hold 4 adults and can carry about 900 #s total. It can take an outboard engine that weighs less than 45 #s. (We have a 4 HP two stroke that weighs 40 #s.) BTW, it's nearly indestructable, and I'm told "will last forever".
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Jim WIllis
Tinker is best for cruising
I bought a Tinker back in 1994 with the lifeboat and sail rig. Its a tender, lifeboat and liferaft (with canopy) all in one. I motors and rows great. Haven't sailed that much in it but have done so in the marina. They are pricey, so much so that Henshaws are now selling them direct (but of course shafting their dealers her in the process!) Mine is now almost ten years old and spent most of its time on the davits while I lived on the mainland and the boat was in HI. Only thing I had to replace were some eyelets and the original vinyl dodger with a new hypalon one. I recently redid the varnished woodwork with interlux two-part urethane as beign better suited to tropical conditions.
I bought a Tinker back in 1994 with the lifeboat and sail rig. Its a tender, lifeboat and liferaft (with canopy) all in one. I motors and rows great. Haven't sailed that much in it but have done so in the marina. They are pricey, so much so that Henshaws are now selling them direct (but of course shafting their dealers her in the process!) Mine is now almost ten years old and spent most of its time on the davits while I lived on the mainland and the boat was in HI. Only thing I had to replace were some eyelets and the original vinyl dodger with a new hypalon one. I recently redid the varnished woodwork with interlux two-part urethane as beign better suited to tropical conditions.
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Debra Blatnik
Thanks for the input
Thanks everyone... I'm still not sure what to do. I have an small (cheap) inflatable with a plywood floor that is headed for the dump... Hypalon for sure next time! I think that I will end up with either the roll-up floor or the blow-up floor. Storage is an issue. I have looked at the Porta-bote. But that is all, I have never seen one in the water. (I saw one at a show.) These seem to get by with smaller engines. And I don't want to have to buy a new engine!
Thanks everyone... I'm still not sure what to do. I have an small (cheap) inflatable with a plywood floor that is headed for the dump... Hypalon for sure next time! I think that I will end up with either the roll-up floor or the blow-up floor. Storage is an issue. I have looked at the Porta-bote. But that is all, I have never seen one in the water. (I saw one at a show.) These seem to get by with smaller engines. And I don't want to have to buy a new engine!
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