Caribe RIB Unsinkable?

[endoftheroad]

Hello,

I have a 10' Caribe RIB.
A few years ago someone told me that the hull will keep the boat afloat if tubes were deflated.
Can anyone confirm this?

[Inthewind]

Three years ago I had a Carib dinghy that was stolen a day after I got back from the Keys. They stole my Yamaha 15 hp and fuel tank and any other stuff I had in it. It was found not too far from my house in a mangrove area. They put long slits in it with a knife thinking it would sink, but did not, it was still floating on the surface and I towed it home. If the plug was pulled allowing water to completely fill the hull then I believe it might sink. I was so mad that they just didn't just take my motor and leave my $3500 dinghy intact.

[endoftheroad]

Thats terrible......

Was the hull salvageable or did it make the trash?

[endoftheroad]

Sometimes I consider other RIB's to a Caribe but when I see their rowing system I can't do it.
I mean, there is a 10' Apex inflatable on ebay, I love Apex but we live aboard full time (usually), but check out those oars.
An inflatable with a good rowing system is often very beneficial when rowing a craft notorious for poor rowing.
Caribe has great telescopic oars.

I have the model without the forward locker.
Is it possible to install one?
I am not sure what those flanges are for built into the forward floor?

[endoftheroad]

I can not, for the life of me, find a bow cover for my 10'3" Caribe nor can I find a seat.
West Marine has a 85cm rowing seat and I am not sure if it will work.
The seat brackets they sell look like they will work in case I have to make the seat.
In fact, I have found very limited info for inflatable accesories on the Web.
Am I searching the wrong words?

Thanks

[imagine2frolic]

I just used a large bumper for a seat.......i2f