PVC? Hypalon? RIB or High Pressure?

[jzk]

We have a Yamaha 15hp 2 stroke. It allows our RIB to plane up nicely and go 18mph. Once you start going out and about in your dinghy you will appreciate the ability to cruise.

We are at the tail end of the break in period, so our fuel is still a higher oil mixture than regular, so it might even cruise faster once that is normal.

[Sandero]

Getting the motor off and onto the pushpit is essential as you don't want to tow a RIB with a motor.

Garhauer makes an awesome demountable and very well made and attractive and inexpensive... if a crane can be called attractive lifting davit. It makes taking a 100# motor up to the rail a snap. When I launch the motor Idrop it down right into the water, get into the boat and pull it over and onto the transsom which can be done solo. Once I got the Garhauer the motor weight did not become an issue except a it relates to trim on the dink. This is one piece of gear that every yach which has to move heavy gear around on onto the dock... batteries come to mind.

[svDragonfly]

What the wife and kids can lift and pull has made me reconsider the size. we will go by one more store tomorrow, if they do not have a good deal it looks like I will order a 6hp Tohatsu with an 8'10", either the walker bay Odyssey 270afh or the Mercury 270 airdeck online.

[Alan Wheeler]

We are using a 15Hp 2stroke and the thing gets up and goes just fine with two. Three it's OK but 4 it won't get on the plane. Funny thing is that the plate on the transom says 4.5 people. Hmmm, so what, does one have to be half in/half out??

[Lancerbye]

That's for your half ass relatives. LOL

[Thermal]

That happens when you have bean-counters in charge: they figure that if the average family has a husband, wife, 2.5 kids and a dog, then that's what a dinghy should carry!

[louhunt]

Can anyone please refer me to a good place to get a hypalon/aluminum RIB? I need a place that can ship to Florida or Georgia for forwarding to me in Guatemala (Rio Dulce). Also, cost is DEFINITELY a factor, so "on sale" or "good, used" would be the thing ... if known. Thanks for your assist. I'm at: louonboard@hotmail.com

Fair seas!

[Highlander40]

The absolute lightest boat is PVC with a high pressure floor.
It should last 5 years but you make the choice.. If you figure on the ease of lifting over and over compared to a shorter life... you make the choice.

To me it's worth giving up some durability in order to be able to use it when we want to and not when my back heals.

The Yamaha 8 HP 2 stroke will push a 10' dinghy nicely and only weighs about 60 lbs.

[louhunt]

Highlander40 - Thank you for your comments. I've had PVC softbottoms for many years in the Caribbean and they just can't take it! The Caribbean sun eats up the tops and the reefs & rocky beaches eat up the bottoms. In my future I can see a hypalon RIB. Fair seas!

[Highlander40]

Cruising in the north east, PVC works fine.

[louhunt]

You're lucky. Down here the sun is murder!

[Cheechako]

For your area of cruising you should go with a RIB for sure. PVC in a good boat is fine as the sun isnt as big an issue as the southern climes . A RIB allows you to drag the boat onto the beach, and many of them are rocky or barnacles in your areas. The water is cold and you do not wish to wade your boat ashore either and the barnacles are very sharp on the feet. A RIB out performs anything else,, doesnt flex bad in a chop, is easy to clean the sand etc out by opening the plug while on a plane etc. Dont make the same mistake relearning what many have already learned, you will just end up buying 3 dingys before you realize you need a RIB! 10 ft with up to 15hp is nice.

[Highlander40]

As soon as you have a RIB you need heavy duty davits or a hoist.
Then you need a boat trailer.

[louhunt]

Well, I've got the davits already. Guess all i need now is the RIB. Hmmmmm .... where to get a good RIB? Hmmmmm....

[Jim Cate]

FWIW,
Just a comment: we've dealt with a 3.5 metre alloy hull RIB and a 15 hp Yamaha 2 stroke for years without either davits (which I detest on a sailing yacht) or a hoist. We simply use the "built-in" hoist -- namely the mast, halyards and halyard winches.

The OB goes on a bracket on the pushpit and the RIB gets the tubes de-aired and folded under the hull, and then sits upside down on the foredeck.

Ann and I can do all this easily despite encroaching senility.

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Manly Qld Oz