Light hard bottom RIBs under 10 ft

[Seas the Day]

Try oceancraft.com.au for all aluminium ideas. I don't know if they have distributors in the US or other but have a look.

Always enjoy the way different countries pronounce the word.

Aussie aluminium = al'u'min'ium
US aluminium = aloo'men'um

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Seas the Day

Try oceancraft.com.au for all aluminium ideas. I don't know if they have distributors in the US or other but have a look.

Always enjoy the way different countries pronounce the word.

Aussie aluminium = al'u'min'ium
US aluminium = aloo'men'um

So the story goes ........ Aluminium was an english discovery. When the telegraph with the formula was sent to an American university it was spelled incorrectly, hence the difference

[Oceanride007]

Walkerbay have a model with a injection moulded bottom, sounds pretty good and you can buy replacement tubes. Not seen a price yet.
Walker Bay
Any comment about these.
Thanks

[Sandero]

try Tug... we have a locker 10 footer... nice light, US made, inexpensive...
I removed oars from tubes and strapped under seat. Huge locker stores gas tanks, PFD, and other things. No paint alum. double floor.

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by hsi88

Fairly well rated on Amazon, this small inflatable has a hard floor and weighs only 50 pounds. There are two larger sizes. Almost worth trying at less than $400.
https://www.amazon.com/HydroForce-Ca...dp/B00CC8ZXTQ/

Price is great, design is nice, BUT I would not buy a PVC inflatable except for my pool. My own prejudice, and it relates to wall thickness, seam strength, and ruggedness (as in lack thereof). Still, each of makes choices based upon our own parameters, unless you live under one or more nanny governments.

[bearkeley]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

So the story goes ........ Aluminium was an english discovery. When the telegraph with the formula was sent to an American university it was spelled incorrectly, hence the difference

Originally Posted by Seas the Day

Try oceancraft.com.au for all aluminium ideas. I don't know if they have distributors in the US or other but have a look.

Always enjoy the way different countries pronounce the word.

Aussie aluminium = al'u'min'ium
US aluminium = aloo'men'um

A 'tinny'! Spent 7 months in Australia the past two years and amazed at all the aluminum boats there! Used a few larger ones for diving as well. I wonder how they would survive in our waters though....seems like they would get easily corroded....but didn't see that in Australia.

[bearkeley]

Just wanted to provide an update....finally decided on a Highfield 290 Classic Hypalon with a Tohatsu 9.8. We spent a lot of time researching (more than the amount we spent researching our trawler!) various brands and types including most of what you recommended. Here's a summary of some key findings that might be helpful to others in a similar situation:

1) RIBs should have a hard bottom hull touching the water. Some people market inflatable boats with hard inserts (aluminum, pvc, wood, etc) that sits inside the boat to help a boat plane better than just a regular inflatable bottom. Some Inflatables have a high pressure floor, providing the lightest option for a planing boat (but may not be as solid as a RIB to go the distance)

2) Hypalon, on average, costs at least 1k more than PVC. Resale of Hypalon is much better, probably 1k less than new, if you can find one. Note: There are a lot of PVC boats out there on the used market, but if it's too old and been exposed to too much uv rays and the seams are ungluing, then be very careful. We had an old one we were thinking of salvaging...fortunately, the seams blew up before we tested it in the water!

3) Published weights are not accurate....confirm with the dealer before you get too excited about a particular one. In general, aluminum floors are lighter than pvc; ultralight RIBs are much lighter because it doesn't have a secondary flat floor....you will only have the hull to stand in.

4) A smaller boat with a smaller engine will have difficulties planing....even if you use the maximum hp for the boat. A 8'6 RIB that is very lightweight, for example could plane one person in calm waters with a 6 hp, but chop or high winds will make it challenging.

5) Storing a RIB that is longer than your beam on weaver davits (on its side, on your swim platform) or roll on davits isn't a good idea.....waves or docks or locks, etc can tear it off). Hanging davits could work, especially if just a few inches on each side, but use common sense and be careful. We are getting the St Croix rotating davits to hang our RIB with the engine....or if we are anchored, maybe use the davits to hold a hammock!

Why the Highfield? After creating a spreadsheet with specs for Each of the brands with dimensions, pricing, reviews, we were able to narrow down our choices to two brands (Highfield and WB) and the Takacat, then spent the time to see each of them and finally decided on the Highfield. We didn't do a spreadsheet when we bought our trawler!).

The Takacat was our favorite. It was so cool and fun. Unfortunately, with our long term cruising plans to go to the Bahamas, we decided we really needed a RIB. Takacat won't have problems planing, but it was 100 percent inflatable. If you want a fun, planing boat that you will only use occasionally (versus twice a day if not all day, for us), then seriously consider it. There are folks on this forum who love it and we are really jealous!

Thanks again to those who chimed it...it was very helpful. Now on to accessories and locking systems! 😜

[boatpoker]

Good summary, I too bought a Highfield for two main reasons 1. the single floor model reduces weight. 2. and most importantly ..... welded seams which last much longer than glues seams.

[a64pilot]

Can you get a highfield that is bare aluminum?

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Can you get a highfield that is bare aluminum?

No, that would have been my choice too. Bought mine at the Toronto Boat show .... $800 dollar discount from actual retail asking
Guess they were still pretty new in Canada a year ago and were promoting heavily.

[Sandero]

Highfield and Tug make aluminum double floor lightweight RIBs w/ lockers.., Highfield is painted... TUG is natural aluminum.

[KD8NPB]

Originally Posted by Sandero

try Tug... we have a locker 10 footer... nice light, US made, inexpensive...
I removed oars from tubes and strapped under seat. Huge locker stores gas tanks, PFD, and other things. No paint alum. double floor.

TUG is made in China with a US distributor.

Originally Posted by Sandero

Highfield and Tug make aluminum double floor lightweight RIBs w/ lockers.., Highfield is painted... TUG is natural aluminum.

Highfield hulls are powdercoated, not painted. The powdercoating acts as a primer to improve the bonding strength of the PVC to the hull (the glue bonds to the powdercoating rather than the aluminum, which is very difficult to bond to).