275 FRib, Honwave T27, or ???

[derektim]

Looking for a small sib to access a beach at bottom of a steep, narrow path at Whitecliffe Bay, IoW.

Have spent many years with a 340 launching round coast at Bembridge or Sandown and riding round, but now looking for something small and light we can just wheel down to the beach, without having to trailer or drive round and park.

I already have a reasonably new 6hp Suzuki, so what Sib will get the best performance out of the mini motor for playing around in the bay?

[ChrisParish]

Hi derektim and to the forum!

If you have the money the Frib is the better boat. It is light enough that it can be carried over you back (like a turtle shell). It is also more capable than the T27 under most circumstances. Don’t get be wrong - the honwaves are good.

[Martin]

Hi Derektim Welcome to our little community...
As Chris has just pointed out, The little 6hp is without doubt going to perform better on a sleek hard hull of an f-rib, They are unfortunately a lot more expensive that a sib.
6hp should be fine on a lightweight sib if you're only pottering around in bays, but if you're thinking of packing the boat up with a couple of folk and going off island hopping for the day, i'd be seriously thinking of upgrading the outboard to a minimum of a nice 9.9hp - twin cylinder model.

Hope that helps a little....
Enjoy the forum,

Martin

[Andy]

Have a look at the Ellings. Because they are basically a catamaran, they go quiet well on low power engines.

https://boatworld.co.uk/boats/boatwor ... air-floor

[derektim]

Thanks for the replies, which are where my thinking was..

My thinking is that the F-rib will offer better performance, difficulty is OH does not like the colour scheme at all.

She likes the light greys of the Honda and our previous sib was the Walker Bay 340DL in white, but no way could we pull that up the pathway.


Looked at the Elling, but too large/heavy for this purpose, we will be looking for a 4m with 25hp on back for longer trips.


In the same price/weight band are the aluminium hulls such as the AB UL8 or 9..

Does anyone have experience with the solid aluminium hulls, aside from it wont fit in the boot.. ?

[Martin]

Thanks for the replies, which are where my thinking was..

My thinking is that the F-rib will offer better performance, difficulty is OH does not like the colour scheme at all.

She likes the light greys of the Honda and our previous sib was the Walker Bay 340DL in white, but no way could we pull that up the pathway.

A little chat with Alan at F-Rib South East ,might see you able to obtain a different colour scheme, give @F-Rib South East a shout and i'm sure he'll do whatever he can to sort you out.
You can email him or pm him from here, alternatively give him a call..
Tel 07865 091155
https://www.frib-se.co.uk/

Martin

[harrison]

If you don’t like the F-Rib livery ask them nicely about importing an equivalent Winboat. Much nicer two tone colour schemes which may please the missus.

If your not bothered about folding then look at the aluminium Quicksilvers, Highfield Ultralights/Classics and Ribeyes. All light, fast and efficient mini ribs. Harsh ride though just like the F-Ribs.

If looking at light, fast and efficient sibs look at the cats...Takacats, Elling 350.

[DrHair]

Whats wrong with orange and grey!!??

[derektim]

That's a nicer grey..

[derektim]

Thanks for the input.

We have bit the bullet and bought an F-Rib 275.

Ex demo, shaved a little more off the price.

No idea when ill get it near water, but we will see.