F-Ribs And Sibs - Inflatable Boat Community

So, having sold my Mercury Ocean Runner 350 / 20hp combo I have managed to pick up a Ribcraft 4.8 (that might not actually be a Ribcraft 4.8... says raider on the side). My impression is it's a Ribcraft 4.8 hull, console, frame etc with raider doing the tubes as these parts look near identical. Wether it be a Ribcraft 4.8 or a raider 4.8 I'm very happy with it. Given it a good clean up since taking the below picture out on the water yesterday, tubes came up great with August race liquid rib. Equipped with a mariner 50ho 4st it really flies along, 1up and 40ish litres of fuel I saw 30.9kts and I feel there is more to give in flatter seas and with a prop that hasn't seen a battering. Overall totally happy with the rib but a few things I'm going to do to it. Got it at a good price with the trailer, chartplotter etc. Im sure Ill get around to posting about the mods and improvements.

First impressions out on the water when compared to the old little rib are basically incomparable. Lands off of waves way more softly and cuts through chop a breeze, was able to hold 20kts quite comfortable out watching a friend race cape31s out in the bay yesterday. More to come

Oh and I forgot to mention, it's yellow!!

Very nice! Not jealous at all….

Well done those are very capable boats. I am sure you will have a lot of fun it her

Nice looking rig there matey.
Seem to recall Raiders used Ribcraft hulls and fitted their own tubes with a smooth curved ‘banana’ profile not segmented like Ribcraft. Anyways, as you say, it’s the legendary deep V 4.8 Ribcraft hull which has great sea keeping.
Enjoy your new boat.
PS: Liking the wakeboard rack on the A frame.

Yeah really pleased with the new rib. The ribcraft hull does perform well out on the water. Quite like the look of the banana tube profile compared to the segmented style to be fair, same as my last 2 boats.

As for the wakeboard rack, will be very useful for me as I do enjoy watersports with a few mates. The seller did actually try to take it off the morning we went to get the boat but couldn't get the bolts undone.... Perfect for me hahah.

I do need to raise the engine up as it's on its lowest hole and is currently sat about 1.5" below the bottom of the transom.

The battered prop has been causing me some problems now so need to get that sorted asap. 3up with 40L of fuel at wot after about 15sec there is a constant alarm beep from the throttle box, I believe this to be an engine overspeed warning. My guess it's due to the beaten and bent prop slipping not helped by incorrect engine height, or even possibly an electrical fault with the tacho. Atleast I'm hoping it's an overspeed alarm as the other causes for a constant beep seem much more sinister.

Any tips for raising a 100kg engine up a couple holes? Read about chocking up on wooden blocks and raising the jockey wheel on trailer, or pivoting up the holes one by one but any other suggestions welcome.

More improvements to come.

Great choice of boat. I might be having a moment... but I'm sure I saw you launching our recovering this at the xch slipway. ( It's my local favourite as long as its not too busy) .

Yep. The raiders are ribcraft hulls tubed outside of ribcraft by 'raider'. Who I think was a coolant formed / owned by the bath family here in xch. The curved tubes ( known as j tubes? By ribcraft) ... use to be more expensive/ harder to make a they have a compound curve. ( easy now with computer cut fabric) .

Nice to hear some consistency on the raider brand. Saw on the transom plate the original address was xch so nice to bring it back to its home town I guess.

Could well have been me if it was over on the Wick Slipway, was out Friday and Saturday

I'm heading down the river to the spit for a beach BBQ later ;) - say hi if you see a 4m Avon - 'Streaker'

hi @bbutty ,,, love the colour and shape, did you have to go far to buy it? . i took mine away last week , first time out , very pleased, not as quick as the last one , not a deep v hull , but loads more deck space . two up with forty litres of fuel , 29 knots , in less than perfect conditions so more than adequate. cant seem to post pictures , entirely my fault.

Hi bbutty!

If you want to raise the engine the easy way is to use an engine crane. I have one and am over in Poole, so if you want to drop me a line we can organise either you bringing your boat or me bringing the crane.

A solid bleep is usually indicative to over temperature, as over-revs isn’t really a thing with modern ecu’s - they just cut the ignition and limit the revs. One of the most useful things you can get for your outboard is a diagnostics cable. I have the kit for Suzuki and Honda but not mariner, I’m afraid.

Anyhoo, drop me a line if you want help raising your outboard.