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RIBs, How do you like yours?Aug 28 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Fast, Versatile, Stable, and Unsinkable! Didnt they say that about the Titanic? Today’s boat manufacturers are always looking for the better design, trying to better the competition. Often because of this, basic performance of a boat is forgotten about, and it becomes more a challenge on who can build the fastest boat, or who can have the most toilets in a boat. So it is down to the customer, you and I, to decide which is best. So I thought I would introduce you to the world of the Rigid Inflatable Boat. I have owned a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) for a few years now, a Flatacraft Force4. The good thing about this boat, as with any RIB, is its tremendous performance in open water, especially on the sea, where I use mine most of the time. So what is a RIB? A lot of people don't know what a RIB is, say RIB to someone they start looking at bones. But in actual fact, you probably do know what one is, just didn’t know what they were called. The RIB was invented by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the US Coastguard, in an attempt to produce a fast versatile rescue craft, for use in shallow waters, which larger offshore craft could not navigate. The result was a Standard Monohull with an inflatable collar instead of solid sidewalls. This was a revolutionary design that was set to start a new wave of leisure boats. Enter the RIB. These days, due to new technology and design with better construction methods and materials, there are many designs available, so the problem is not which is best, it’s a case of what one is best for you? Its basic design, is taking the hull from a standard Monohull. This provides the base to the craft. Trouble is, your standard Monohull, for example, Bayliner, Fletcher, Chris Craft etc. Are all very well in calm water, like on lakes or inshore, but when out at sea, they do not have very good stability and performance. The RIB gets over this problem, by removing the solid side walls, and replacing them with an inflatable collar, ‘tubes’ that run from the corner of the transom, along the side, round the bow, and back to the other corner of the transom. Usually projecting about 12inches past the transom, to provide buoyancy to support large engines. The result is a boat, that can perform like any Monohull on calm water, where performance relies on the hull only, yet can perform to almost the same standards 10 miles offshore in a Force 7 gale. There are hundreds of manufacturers throughout the world producing RIBs with a lot of new one entering the market all the time. A lot of your large companies, who before built standard solid craft, have now entered the RIB market as well, as it is growing fast. So why chose a RIB? Well the RIB is probably the most versatile craft available. The inflatable tubes provide excellent stability in rough sea and a stable platform to work from, with a low side making it ideal for rescue craft or workboats where accessibility is needed. Most RIBS are open decked. providing a lot of deck space, which can be used for a large number of uses, for example, fishing, carrying cargo, etc, without the restriction of cabin walls etc, which take up valuable deck space. However cabin RIBS are also available if you prefer. Rescue RIBs - These RIBs range from small boats, (4m) used for small events as support craft, up to the larger, much more sophisticated boats, such as the RNLIs Atlantic 21 (6.5m) and Atlantic 75 (7.5m). They often incorporate self-righting capabilities, and have a large deck space for equipment storage, casualties’ etc. They are usually outboard powered, but due to the design of a RIB, can be twin outboards or inboard powered. Jet drives are also becoming more popular due to the absence of a prop, making them safer to use in confined waters and without the risk of injury from the prop. The big boats in this class can cope with seas, most other boats would fall apart in. And in my opinion, I would rather be caught out in a Force 8 gale in a RIB, than in any other craft. Diving RIBs- If Diving is your game, then again, a RIB is a very good choice. Its low sides make entering and exiting the boat easy and due to the extreme stability of the RIB make long distance trips, a much more enjoyable and safer trip. Many manufacturers offer ranges for divers, including Avon and Humber. Both respected manufacturers. I have never driven a Humber, but have used Avons, and they handle very well in rough seas. We used to go out in one in a Force 7 – 8 gale, and never had any problems or scares, apart from the odd ‘stuffing’, but that’s all part of the fun. Avon have been around for a long time, one of the first companies to produce RIBs and if anyone knows RIBs, Avon does. The designs for dive boats, are well thought out and incorporate a centre console and plenty of storage space for equipment, and seating for crew. They range from 4m upwards, and no matter what your expedition is, there will be a RIB designed for it. Cruise RIBs - RIBs are not just for high powered workboats, they are also very good cruise boats. There are some very powerful, luxury boats available, usually incorporating equipment such as, GPS, VHS Chart plotters etc. and being a RIB make good boats for long trips out at sea, which a lot of solid boats would not do. Sizes again range from 5m upwards depending on your budget with a typical range of around 100 miles, depending on fuel tank size. A good thing about these types of RIBs is the versatility. I use mine for Skiing, fishing, cruising, and as a workboat, but could also be used for racing etc with no modifications required. Being open decked, they do not make good holiday boats, due to the lack of sleeping area and kitchen areas which a lot of cruisers incorporate. Cabin RIBs - As the name suggests, these are not open decked. They look and are used like most solid cabin boats, but have the inflatable collar making them more stable. These boats are generally expensive, but you get a lot of luxury refinements for your money. Usually being inboard diesel engine powered, (single or twin depending on size of boat) means they are cheap to run, and have a lot of power. Good range makes them ideal for long excursions across the sea, or around islands etc, with the facilities to live aboard for a short while, comfortably. Wheel House Ribs - Wheelhouse RIBs are another version of the closed deck RIB, but these are workboats. They don’t have the refinements of cabin RIBs but offer protection making them ideal for use out at sea in all weather conditions, they are commonly used by the North Sea oil industry, and as pilot boats, Tugs etc. As rescue RIBs, a lot incorporate self-righting capabilities. Not ideal for you average family user, but if you are looking for a good offshore workboat, then they may just be up your street People often think of RIBs as cramped basic boats. And don’t look at them in the same way as solid boats such as Fletcher, Chris Craft etc. But if your budget will extend, there are RIBs available which match a lot of the big expensive boats. With such a large range available, you can almost custom design your own boat to have all the features you want. For example Teak Decks, Leather seats, sunbeds, etc. However again, these are expensive compared to solid boats, but again have advantages which you don’t get from solid boats. So far I have mentioned RIBs which are used as the main boat, but they are also commonly used as tenders for larger boats. Due to the lightweight and design, they can be stored on board large boats or hung from transoms, without a problem. And make getting ashore a lot easier, especially in remote places, where maybe landing facilities are not available, as they can be run up on beaches etc without fear of damaging them. Of course if you just want to go fast, or maybe want to get into the racing scene, then again, a RIB could be the answer. A large range of engines is available, and a RIB can go any speed that a solid boat can do, if not faster. Look at it like a Sports car. The Porsche is very fast, but not much use for taking the kids to school. A Fletcher is very fast, but not much use for heading across the Irish Sea. A RIB however, is very fast and could take you across the Irish Sea no problem. And then of course, there is Jet RIBs. great fun with the design of a jetski but with the practical advantages of a boat. If you just want to race up and down mudflats or shallow waters, a jet RIB is the answer as they can operate in water as little as 6inches as there is no prop to fowl. A lot of commercial companies are using jet drives, especially companies offering pleasure trips to islands, as they can be beached for loading and unloading passengers, which a prop boat would require man handling. a jet drive can be drove up a beach, loaded and reversed off all using the power from the engine, so the boat can be larger. A final mention is the RBB, or Rigid Buoyancy Boats. Not inflatable, but use the same design, usually have collars made from Aluminium. They are very popular in the Fish Farm trade, as they can be banged around into the farms, without puncturing the tubes. Some are being constructed in maintenance free Polyurethane and are being used to great effect. Hopefully all this has opened the eyes of potential boat buyers to the world of the RIB. If you get the chance, try one out, and take it out into some rough water, I promise you will have an experience you will never get from a Bayliner. www.ribmagazine.com offers a lot of information on the RIB and it's uses. Happy boating :o)  |
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