Beach landings and tubes

[Bowline]

Hi all,

I have had a few ideas jangling about for a while and I would like your opinions on one of them please. I live in Kent and do most of my boating around the whitecliffs coast and the local rivers, neither of which are blessed with ideal launch and recovery locations.

Most of the beaches are steep and made of large pebbles, and the rivers are flanked with rotting old jetties or vertical banks. Because of this I spend every launch/recovery worried that something is going to cut a slice in the bottom of my F-rib, it's pretty much a certainty that one day it will happen...

Do you think that glueing wide rubbing strakes to the underside would be a good idea? Obviously close consideration would have to be made as not to impeed the folding of the boat, but to my eye it looks possible. The strakes I have been looking at are made of EPDM and are 3.5mm thick by 120mm wide, and can bought by the metre. Does this sound ike a stupid idea?? I did notice a similar design on a Takacat video a while ago, so it been done before. Has anyone else tried this?? Cheers.

[chris moody]

I believe several members on here have fittes keel guards / hull protectors to their F-Ribs. Try talking to The Gurnard.

[Martin]

Hi, This link will take you to the relevant thread..
http://f-ribsandsibs.com/viewtopic.php? ... d&start=40

[Bowline]

Apologies but reading back I may have been too vague, I thinking of attaching the strake to the tube not the hull.

[Martin]

Ahh, I see.. But then i don't see
Surely the hull will get the damage before the tubes?

[kaman]

I think bowline is referring to the possibility of tearing a tube on the likes of "old rotting jetties" or other similar submerged hazards?
I doubt I would just be extra cautious or revise where I went sibbing or consider a different boat.
Striking a submerged hazard is a real risk that all boaters face.
Some more than others - dependant on where you go boating.
Dunno if beefing up the fabric of the tubes is the way to go - I'd be inclined to go for a Polyethylene boat like a Whaly or Funyak if I was getting overly concerned about slicing or tearing a tube on every trip.

[Bowline]

Hi kaman, that is my exact concern. Don't get me wrong I'm very careful with my boat, but the tubes seen very vulnerable and the boat can be a right handful to recover even in small breakers. Realistically it's a two person craft, so I'm always light on manpower when manhandling it. I did look into the possibility of a more robust boat but my car can't tow, so the F-rib was a great compromise. I'm interested to know why you don't think protecting the tubes is way to go?

[DouglasW]

Well Gurnard and I have similar landings on barnacle covered rocks etc. If it is just a brief stop I tend to leave the boat afloat on a short painter. (I keep my main anchoring rope separate). We both have the same attitude to gear, care and maintain but don't be over fussy during the course of use. Scratches are inevitable and are badges of honour.


Being a sea kayaker, I put Gurnard onto KealEasy when he got his new F-Rib and I see several here have also used it.

With respect to initial launch and recovery are you able to consider alternative locations that may offer more shelter depending on the conditions? This would make launch and recovery easier and less likely to cause damage.

Douglas

[Bowline]

Thanks all for your feedback, there is a consensus that avoiding the situation entirely is the best course of action. I am surprised however that tube damage of this type is not more common. I have noticed that kealeasy is a popular recommendation on this site, so how does the tube escape damage? I too am not adverse to a few 'signs of use' it builds character, but i am worried about serious damage on a boat that has little track record of being repaired.

Some great pictures by the way, I'm very envious of the playground you and the Gurnard have!!

[Paul]

Yup that part of the country can be rough on a boat as those pebbles breakup and are of flint producing sharp edges
With the F-Rib you have I'd most certainly fit the recommended keel guard to the hull and possibly to the next line of chines for added protection being the lowest point of contact/damage which shouldn't effect the handling of the craft to a great degree
As for fitting the strakes you mention my concerns are of restricted folding of the boat for transportation and if they're not fitted/glued correctly they'll peel and separate from the tube fabric .....that being the case you'll only have the one chance of getting it right and could be a disaster
We can only take care, travelling slowly when landing/launching our inflatable boats, avoiding hazards using fish-finders/plotters can assist us but they're no guarantee unfortunately
Boating, even in a hard hull without tubes is not without its problems hitting unknown hazards whether fixed or floating on the water
Take as much care as you can and above all enjoy your boating