F-Ribs And Sibs - Inflatable Boat Community

I am about to retire and I want to buy a 275 F-RIB and stick in in the garage of my motorhome. The big question is will it and an outboard fit in the garage!

I'd have to buy an LPG outboard as the garage of my motorhome is just under the bed, You can lift the bed up to access the garage so I don't want petrol stinking the place out. I'd be using a small safefill cylinder http://www.safefill.co.uk/our-cylinders.html (384mm high and 305mm in diameter, 8.4kg when full) connected to a LEHR outboard.

Motorhomes lockers are not too difficult to get into, especially if you know there is a nice outboard motor in there so the outboard would need to be secured with a motorcycle type security chain.

I want the F-RIB to potter around lakes and to blast about in the sea visiting secluded coves and generally getting away from civilisation (other tourists

Sounds like you've thought this through.
Welcome to the forum, we have a few F-rib owners and they all love them.
I'm not one, but the time I did go out in Paul's I was impressed.
The LPG outboard is a great idea for the motor home.
They do have slightly less power than a conventional petrol powered outboard, but enough to spoil your day? I doubt it

Look forward to hearing about your travels, and once again

Hi Tom. And welcome to the forum, Like Andy says there's a few guys on here who have a f-rib so I am sure they will be along to give you some advise

Hi and Welcome to the site
F-Ribs are an awesome boat. I have the F360 and it's the best small boat I have been on.

Hello Tom & welcome to F-Ribs And Sibs.
We've a cracking bunch of guys on here and plenty of knowledge between them.
Roger Black, a member on here also has a motor home and is going through the same queries at the moment.
We'd previously suggested carrying the outboard on an adapted bike carrier on a tow bar. The f-ribs do go pretty small so depending on your garage size.. Fingers crossed.

Steve at FoldableRIB.com will be happy to assist you with weights, dimensions and boat trials.
Please do mention us if you give him a ring or a visit.

Enjoy the forum
Martin

Hi there Tom and

Doing your homework is key and you'll then use your boat regularly and get your money's worth
Something that gets missed is that the F-Rib can be stored up-right on its transom if that helps your garage requirements.
I've a 360 and owned it 12 months now and I'm very happy with it and it does get used all the time during the year in salt water
All the seams, glued fabric to fibreglass parts, fittings and accessories are as perfect as the day I got it but I do wash it after every use
I've been asked about the 275 a few times over the past months.......maybe it's time to take Steve at F-Rib HQ's offer of trying one out
In the meantime, join in with the banter as they are all a great bunch of helpful boaters and nothing is regarded as a 'silly question'

Paul

Welcome
If you do not get an lpg outboard id suggest 2 stroke as you can lay it down any side where as 4 strokes dont like it too much on any side really but it will have a lay side which may restrict space. I think an external bracket to mount the outboard on somewhere on the back of the camper would be an option then run the carbs dry of fuel after use and store overnight in your camper van. Not too clued up on lpg outboards but that may be your fuel smell conundrum solution tour happy with.
good luck with it and enjoy and remember steve at F-rib will give you all dimensions and advice you need.
Another option if doing local trips would be electric o/b but batteries can be expensive and heavy.

Hi Tom and to the forum, where in between the friendly banter you will get some seriously helpful feedback.

As Martin mentioned, I have a motorhome but it's not big enough to have a garage with external access, unfortunately.

Since our daughter grew up and no longer travels with us, I converted the over-cab bed to storage area and that's where my little Compass SIB and 4HP Mercury 2-st travel, along with all the other accoutrements that seem to be needed - life-jackets, pump, paddles, anchor, fishing gear, etc, etc. I can just about manhandle them down from there and back through to the hab door but it is a bit of a fag.

I can't say I've noticed any strong petrol smell - the tank filler cap breather is designed to be turned off when transporting and storing so there's no escape of fumes and I always rinse off the engine and microfibre dry the casing etc so there are never any lingering odours.

I do have a bike rack (not towbar mounted though) and a large back-box which has been off the van for the last couple of years; I plan to put that back on when I'm back at base and see whether either the boat or the engine will fit in that, as that shouldn't exceed the max weight. I used to carry the boat on the roof (deflated and in its bag) strapped to the roof rails but that was even harder to manhandle up whilst clinging to the fixed ladder, impossible single-handed.

Your motorhome garage should be ideal although I understand your concerns over security - is there any way you could fit a substantial U-bolt through the floor to the chassis, which you could then attach your motorbike style chain and lock to?

I would like to get a larger boat and more powerful engine and had been looking at the F-RIB 330 but that's even heavier and since new engines for leisure users are all now 4 stroke that would also be harder to handle and transport.

However a possible second hand set-up has come up which may prove suitable and I am hoping to check that out over the Easter weekend to see if I can manage it OK. If not, then a trip down to check out the F-RIBs is plan B.

I hope you manage to find a set-up that suits your particular needs, it would be good meet up with you on a waterside campsite sometime in the future.

Not sure if this helps since it leaves your motor outside of the vehicle exposed to weather and theft but for taking our boat around, I used a hitch mount cargo carrier. The storage area in the back of the van dropped down into a well. With two people, it made loading and retrieving the engine clumsy and dangerous.
When I was searching for a solution, I came across these images and thought they were a great idea for loading and unloading. You may be able to incorporate something like this in your motorhome garage?

Hi Tom..welcome to the forum..from me too..retired and small boat boating while travelling around is a lot of fun..go for it