Advice about size and type

[ChrisParish]

Most people sit either on the tubes, the seats (which slide to your preferred position on the FRIB) or on a cooler. Personally i sit on the tubes.

Boats like the FRIB and the Honwave are totally different from the kind of inflatables designed to be used as tenders. I had a 3.1m Zodiac infalatable which I thought was good but the 3.8m Honwave I now have is a proper capable boat.
A large boat is nice but these small, powerful and well equipt boats are just so easy to handle for one person. Don’t be fooled by the relativly small engines; these boats weigh in at less than 120kg ready to go - that’s lighter than a 70hp outboard on its own!

I have found that the trick to handling a heavy engine is not to lift it more than neccesery - get a sack truck and modify it or buy an outboard trolly. I carry my outboard for a total of about 2m - 1m from the trolly to the car and 1m from the car to the transom!

[The Hobbit]

I would be happy to take this out to the 12 mile insurance limit

I didn't know about a 12 mile limit.
I'm insured with craft insure and don't remember reading that

[Cliff]

I would be happy to take this out to the 12 mile insurance limit

I didn't know about a 12 mile limit.
I'm insured with craft insure and don't remember reading that

It's on the first page of the Craftinsure policy...
Territorial Scope:
Whilst ashore or in transit or afloat on inland and coastal waters of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and for a period not exceeding 30 days in any one period of insurance in Europe
Coastal waters are defined as 12 miles from the mainland

[sparerib]

Just so you are aware, my wee Mercury 340 is over powered with the 30.... previous mod done by the original owner.... too good a deal to pass up apparently.... have a look on the Mercury dealers website for “proper” options !!

Yes it needs trailering it’s a fixed rib as opposed to a folding one. This year it’s been coast to coast from Inverness to Oban loaded with a weeks camping gear and is very capable in rough water. And a few other places. Don’t discount tiller steer Sibs, a similar sized Honwave for instance is also a very capable boat with loads of space

Where to sit?? Anywhere is the easy answer !!

[harrison]

Gosh this is a difficult one, anyway here’s my ‘two penneth worth’.

Currently running a 5m rib with a 60hp motor. Based on the North East coast it’s proving ideal for our mixed use/location - 2/3 on board with main use wakeboarding but also bay hopping, longer coastal jaunts, trips around Farne Islands (4miles offshore) and occasionally taking fishing buddies drift fishing around 1 to 2 miles offshore.

Having said that we’ve done all this with our previous sibs ranging from 3.5 to 3.8m powered by a 20hp motor. We also briefly had a F-rib 375. The benefit of the rib just means we can go out in more varied conditions, that bit faster, and in considerably more comfort.
Reading between the lines I get the feeling you’re probably hankering after a small rib, although the larger sibs with 20hp motors are extremely capable craft.

If you speak to many ribbers then you’re ‘gonna die’ if you venture out in anything under 6m and 150hp. Not really the case in the real world, although would be nice.
As previously mentioned I think looking at something like the Mercury Ocean Runners like Paul and sparerib of this parish have are worth consideration. As a guide price a new 420 package may be;
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2689240264

If practical I would recommend a trip to the Southampton boat show where you can see and compare quite a few sibs and ribs in the flesh, and Barrus usually have the Mercury Ocean Runners on their stand.

No idea if this is will be of any help. Only you can decide, but good look in your quest for a new boat.

[chris moody]

Solarsurfer

My advice would be to get out on the water for a trial run in a small tiller steer sib, an F-Rib, a small wheel steer rib with seats, and a small boat without tubes but with wheel and seats (e.g. a Warrior or Dory) before you buy anything. Between members on here, the boat show, and boat dealers if you are thinking of buying new, you should be able to try a variety of different craft. All the aforementioned are all very different in the way they handle and their capabilities. Don't be put off by small size, you can get some very capable boats that will fit on your driveway, in a standard household garage, or even fold up small enough to fit in a shed. But don't rush into a purchase before you have tried them all.

[Alan]

Solar, When I was considering my first boat I looked at the Honwave T32. Great craft, but I was unsure about the physical size. This was the point I marked out the interior and exterior dimensions of the T32. I used string placed on the floor and actually sat in my string boat with the Mrs and the little girl.
It took me seconds to realise the T32 wasn't going to be big enough for my needs.

A quick stretch of the string and my T32 turned into a T38ie
Wow... all of a sudden, 600mm extra seemed to make my string boat huge

I purchased a T38ie, In the time I had it I can honestly say I never wanted anything bigger, I just wanted more power
I had 4 adults and one child in my T38ie, yes it was a little cramped but it handled it superbly.

I sold the T38 and bought an F-Rib 375 and a larger outboard. Power gain was had and the frib is nigh on the same size as a T38.

Let me tell you, The sibs and fribs of today are very well underestimated. They'll easily handle anything that you would probably consider going out in, the air floor Honwave will ride it smooth but cut through the waves a little with its high-pressure V floor.
A frib will do just the same and more, but it can be a little jolty on the old bones if you dig the stirrups in.

Reading your later posts, I kind of get the feeling a Honwave T38ie or a frib 360/375 might well be the boat for you. Easy to self-launch/recover, They can be packed away or trailered, They require smaller more portable outboards and the sheer possibility of launching wheels attached make beach launching a breeze.

Don't underestimate their capabilities at all.
I've maxed my frib out at 33mph (28.6knts) and my Honwave maxed at 28mph (24.3 knots) - Both max speeds in perfect conditions and I think I had a good tail wind and following tide with the Honwave - but I do have it registered on my Navionics gps count.

Watch this video to give you a little idea of the capabilities of todays smaller craft, you'll be amazed !!
This is me and mine in my little Frib 375...

Frib 375

As you can see, At 3.75m in length, we fit in just great with plenty of room to spare.

Capability and stability..
Here’s an image of that too

Fribbing Nutter !

Perhaps a SIB or frib is the answer for you after all?

Martin

[Andy]

Hi
Thought you would all like to know how your advice is going down, and you will be pleased to know I think I am nearing my conclusion.
After spending lots of time doing some research, the fact that "Martin" posted a good vid, sent me off to good old Youtube to do a bit more, and found some great info about how stable they are. Also it has kept me off the dark side by getting one without a console and a jockey seat, so now a new one with tiller stearing becomes more affordable. Also now a Frib becomes something I can look at, because I have lost the stuff that stops it folding up !
A trolley has solved the problem of carting all the stuff from the car to the beach, and watching a dude with a sib on youtube with a 9hp OB, means I dont need a heavy OB to get the job done ! Now its down to size and how to kit it all out.

I would like to know if there is a link here that shows someone adding a mobile chart/depth/satnav/fish finder setup, this obv needs a batt. A radio is easy, buy a portable one.

My other question is, can a frib have stuff screwed to the floor ?
Can the seats be moved ?
How do we balance the fribs if only one person is on board sitting at the back ?
Is there other stuff I should be aware of with a frib, like no bilge pump ?
How much customising can i do to a frib, eg add seats etc ?
Obviously I cannot have an A frame, no radar deflector, no night lights, all the bling stuff etc.

Thanks guys, your help is immense and ill have to pop up to some of you lot "upnorth" and buy you a bevvy !

Solar

[ChrisParish]

I can’t speak for f-rib specifics, but depth finder / mobile mounting is dead easy - most make something which bolts to a seat.

I use Railblaza mounts and I have made a bracket to hold the fish finder and my iPhone which I use for gps. The battery is in a box screwed to the bottom of the seat.

Railblaza and Scotty both make some great mounts which you can bolt to the seats and transom and even stick to the tubes. These can hold everything from fishing rods to navigation lights (so yes, you can have Nav lights)

I have two Railblaza sideports on the transom which can take rod holders or the boom for my camera mount. The side port is the black thing mounted at the top.

You could even fit a frame over the back of you are prepared to build something - the limit of your imagination.

[Paul]

Solarsurfer
Going back to your original post I'm wondering why you'd go for a FRIB if you've no need for the boat to fold up for transportation and outboard weights shouldn't be a worry to you if your setup is sat on a trailer having a folding rib comes at a cost premium BTW
As a comparision a 4.2m mercury ocean runner can be had for £2300, full retail was £2700 when I was looking, the 4.3m FRIB was £3,800
Merc, flat deck, can be tiller steered if you prefer and add the 'bling' you mention
I'm not knocking the FRIB as I owned one for 3+ years and loved it but do your homework to buy a boat to suit your 'needs'
Just my 2p