F-Ribs And Sibs - Inflatable Boat Community

Hi again guys, as you’ve probably realised from my previous posts I’m very new to this sib malarkey, sorted a few problems thanks to help from forum members, am now hoping someone can help with this one? My sib is a 3m and same as the one in picture attached, my problem is after a day out fishing, the next day I feel like I’ve done a few rounds with mike Tyson!!! When out I sit on the side tube, The correct pressure is 3psi, I’m wondering if I should inflate the tube I’m sitting on to say 2psi to hopefully give a more comfortable ride? Or would this mess up the handling?

reducing the psi will create to much flex... boating in small boats is a contact sport so get used to a few bruises.

I spend my life trying to convince my better half going boating for 5 hours is actually quite a good workout. So much so I now recognise that in spring I need to get boating season fit !

@Fishfinder I think it comes as a surprise to all of us just how much of a pounding we take in our little boats. Experience and experiments are the key, after all none of us are exactly the same. I'm lucky enough to have a small rib with a jockey seat, which enables me to stand up and take the impacts through my legs and I still have back ache after a day out. A friend of mine uses a nice thick cushion on his rib which helps him. I believe Martin uses a cushion and sits on the floor of his FRib when he's going at pace. I'm not sure I would let air out of the tubes though!
Roy

I can't get on with sitting on a side tube as my Honwave becomes difficult to steer, maybe it's just my not inconsequential bulk tilting it to one side too much

I prefer to sit on the seat (after all, that's what it's designed for!) and I have a padded cover/seat bag which cushions the ride, however before I got that I simply strapped on a couple of cheap garden kneeler pads.

I find the boat gets on the plane quicker when I'm sat there and it's easier to control - I do have to use a tiller extension.

I think it's like most activities where either you do it enough for your body to become accustomed to the particular physicality or you put up with the aches and pains. Sadly I fall into the latter category. For river travel I find the most physical bit of the day is the setting up and taking down of the boat. Heading along the river tends to be the comfortable bit. On the other hand the faster speeds and bumpier ride at sea can make the journey the punishing bit.

I tend to use the seat a lot. I like sitting up high with good visibility and with padding on the seat I find it all day comfortable. However when the going gets rough or I want to go fast, I sit down on the floor on a big inflatable cushion with my back to the starboard tube. The lower centre of gravity makes the boat feel a lot more stable and being wedged in between my two bench seats stops me flying around. The main downside to this position is the compromised visibility, particularly with something like a spray dodger fitted to the bow, but once sitting down low I find the only barrier to going everywhere flat out is poorly secured items bouncing around in (or out of) the boat.

Fishing, yes i'll happily sit on the seat

Under power.. I just can't get on with the seats on the fribs or sibs, I think it's more my knackered shoulder than anything, I really struggle with the rearward tiller angle.
I sit on the starboard tube directly on short runs, if im out for a good while i sit on a kneeling pad that i mount to the tube. If i'm attempting to break the sound barrier (which is most of the time ) then i sit on a plastimo self floating seat cusion that rests on the floor of the boat, the plastimo seat is top anchored to the grab ropes around the frib tubes.
I can be out all day like that and i manage just fine

Deffo don't lower the pressures, Not a good idea!

Martin

Thanks for the replies guys, sounds like I’ve just gotta get use to a pounding

Fishfinder wrote: ↑

18 Jun 2020, 12:35

Thanks for the replies guys, sounds like I’ve just gotta get use to a pounding

It becomes a way of life and you’ll Semi forget about it in time, you can help it a little by playing about with the load in the boat, Get some weight in the bow and learn a little power (throttle) control to bring the bow down slowly off wave tops.

Martin

Fishfinder wrote: ↑

18 Jun 2020, 12:35

Thanks for the replies guys, sounds like I’ve just gotta get use to a pounding

that's what she said!!!