<IMG SRC="/generic/mov/barnet2.gif" WIDTH=250 HEIGHT=125 usemap="#barnet2" BORDER=0>
  Choosing a 4m plus RIB

Barnet Marine Centre Ltd
14 West Burrowfield, Welwyn Garden City
Herts, AL7 4TW, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1707 331 389
Fax: +44 (0) 1707 331 383
E-mail info@ribs.co.uk


    Choosing a 4m plus RIB  

If you need a Rib for leisure use the array of sizes, internal layouts and motor types can be daunting. Below is a brief guide to some of the options available. Please note this guide IS NOT MEANT TO BE DEFINITIVE For further details on the different craft shown please follow the links.

PRICES CHANGE ALL THE TIME AS DO MODEL SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE VERY LATEST DETAILS CONTACT US ABOUT THE CRAFT THAT MAY INTEREST YOU.

4 m - 5 m up to 60 hp

Avon 400 / 40 hp 		5.2 m - 5.8 m up to 130 hp

Bombard SB 550 / F 80 		6.0 m and Above

XS 600 / F 115
Package Cost;
£5.5 - £14 K
Package Cost;
£1 - £25 K
Package Cost;
£18 - £30 K + (!)
Trailer Type;
Probably Unbraked
Trailer Type;
S/Axle Braked
Trailer Type;
D/Axle Braked
Ratings (out of * * * * *)
Ratings (out of * * * * *)
Ratings (out of * * * * *)
Towing Ease
* * * * *
Towing Ease
* * * *
Towing Ease
* * *
Water Skiing
* * * *
Water Skiing
* * * * *
Water Skiing
* * *
Inshore Use
* * * *
Inshore Use
* * * * *
Inshore Use
* * * * *
Coastal Use
* *
Coastal Use
* * * *
Coastal Use
* * * * *
Offshore Use
*
Offshore Use
* * *
Offshore Use
* * * * *

The fundamental decision you have to make is whether you go the leisure style of craft like the Bombard SB range or whether you go with a more traditional style of craft like the XS. The leisure boats will have all the creature comfort, ability to have sun loungers, drinks holders, loads of locker storage, lots of style where as the XS type craft will PROBABLY for its size have a higher bow sheer, deeper V hull, bigger tubes, greater freeboard, in fact all together be a better sea boat. It is horses for courses and the leisure craft will suit most family users well but if you want cruising range then the more traditional type of Rib will have the edge.

Go to Top of the page

Avon 400 / 50 hp

Above: Avon 400 / 50 hp showing the standard rear bench seat with offset console, this layout is ideal for a general inshore water sports use. This craft is also available at 4.5 m

Below: a more traditional layout XS 460 / F 40 with jockey seats.

XS 460 / F 40 with jockey seats

The Medline 1

The Medline 1 is a very high specification craft that offers superb standard equipment and excellent sea keeping.


There are a wide choice of seat set ups in craft this size, this is a popular one as it allows easy movement around the boat.

XS-540 / 50 hp

The XS range are exceptional value, they have models in this size class at 4.5-5-5.4 m and a wide range of seating options are possible

Bombard SB 500 / F 60.

Bombard SB 500 / F 60: This craft offers excellent value and space for a 5 m boat

Commonly Asked Questions about 4-5 m Ribs;
What can I do & where can I go with a Rib of this size? All forms of watersports, skiing, "Tubes" etc, Ideal to act as a rescue craft for Dinghy sailing as well as limited "calm water" cruising.
What size motor do I need to Ski with? On any Rib at this size 40 hp plus, two or Four Stroke, Power Trim is a great option if within budget. 50/60 hp will give "good" performance!
How quickly can I expect to go? 40 hp motors give 30-40 mph, 50-60 hp will give up to 45 mph depending on which boat they are on.
Is a boat like this easy to tow? Any boat of this size will tow easily behind any car of 1.6 litre and above, braked trailers are not normally required.
Can I have a bench seat rather than a jockey set up? YES! But if you are in a boat on your own and sitting off centre the boat will "list" as it goes along. Rear bench side by side set ups work best as they eliminate list but there are other seating options as well, see the pictures with this section
How safe are Rib's of this size in the sea? Can they get punctured easily? Any Rib over 4m will ride the roughest of seas well, though something a bit bigger would be a better bet if you are in a rough sea. All boats have at least 3 compartments in the collar (often 5) and are very hard to damage anyway.
Are Ribs easy to drive, do I need a licence? No licence is required in the UK but in continental Europe they are. These are easily obtained on a weekend power boat course. Ribs are probably the easiest and most forgiving of craft to learn to drive as they compensate for mistakes you make!
What sort of range do boats like this have? Normally these boats have a 5 gallon tank giving a range of 30-70 miles (or 1-2.5 hours running). An inboard tank or extra 5 gallon tank can double this.
What will it cost on top of the basic boat purchase? Allow £600.00 to cover Insurance, anchor, mooring ropes and life jackets. The main items to allow you to use the boat are included in OUR packages, straps to hold the boat on the trailer, a light board on the trailer, prop bag etc.
What will the Package include and how much does it cost? We provide packages of boat, motor & trailer that are ready to use. Cost of packages is dependant on spec, below is a GUIDE cost to those illustrated.
Avon 400-450 Packages From £9,500.00 inc vat & Trailer
XS- 460 Packages From £9,990.00 inc vat & Trailer
Zodiac Medline 1 Packages From £14,260.00 inc vat & Trailer
Bombard SB 500 Packages From £12,700.00 inc vat & Trailer

Go to Top of the page

Commonly Asked Questions about 5.2- 5.8 m Ribs;
Can I use a boat like this to go to sea, say in the Solent or off of a West facing coast in Ireland or Scotland for instance? This size of craft with adequate power, 75-115 hp, will be able to cope with more or less any sea. If you do a lot of offshore cruising the longer the hull the better. For any long journey it makes sense for all passengers to be "able" to stand if they have to as this is often the most comfortable way to travel any distance in the rough.
Can I ski with a boat like this. Craft like this make excellent ski boats as they will be quick by default given the larger motors that are normally fitted.
How quickly can I expect to go? At the top end of length and hp (6m - 130 hp) 50 mph + is common. With 40 mph being average.
Is a boat like this easy to tow? Though you need a larger car (2 litre + ) this size of boat presents no real problems when towing, they weigh typically less than 1000kgs all up.
How many people can I actually seat in a boat of this size? That obviously depends on the length but with seating on the front of the console, the console well forward and then seating behind at least 6 and on larger craft more may be possible.
What sort of range do boats like this have? It would be normal to have an inboard tank in a craft of this size, normally in the order of 100l. This will give 100 miles + (4-6 hours running)
Which is best a single motor or twins? If I have a single motor do I need an auxiliary? Bingo the $64,000 question. The answer to this is a Web site in its own right! A lot depends on where you operate and if other craft are around. When safety is paramount then twins are hard to argue against but for most of us a single will suffice, to
What will the Package include and how much does it cost? We provide packages of boat, motor & trailer that are ready to use. Cost of packages is dependant on spec, below is a GUIDE cost to those illustrated.
Avon 580 Packages From £18,600.00 inc vat & Trailer
XS 550 Packages From £14,960.00 inc vat & Trailer
Zodiac Pro 550 Open Packages From £18,500.00 inc vat & Trailer
Bombard SB 550 Packages From £14,160.00 inc vat & Trailer

Avon 580 / F 100 hp

Avon 580 / F 100 hp.Seating for 6/8 and a top speed of 40mph make this an ideal all round sports Rib for a variety of uses. The great feature about the 560 is that it is supplied as an open boat and you can specify whatever internal layout you want.

XS-550 / 90 hp

XS-550 / 90 hp this range of craft have a wide choice of seating options and offer excellent value for money.

Zodiac PRO OPEN 550 / 90 hp

Zodiac PRO OPEN 550 / 90 hp. An ideal general sports boat at great value for money. Zodiac sold over 600 of this model alone last year.


Bombard SB 550 / 75 hp
Bombard SB 550 / 75 hp The SB range from Bombard are probably the best designed and best value for money in this type of craft.

Go to Top of the page

Avon 620 / 130 hp

Avon 620 / 130 hp. This again is supplied as an open boat so any internal layout can be achieved, this boat is very stylish indeed.

Above Tornado 6.8

Above XS 850

Below: The SB 640 is an excellent value craft with a high specification

SB 640

Commonly Asked Questions about 6.0 m + Ribs;
Do I have to have an outboard motor? NO!But there are not many "off the shelf" inboard Ribs at this size. Diesel is an obvious choice to reduce running costs and we offer XS craft with the Mercruiser 1.7 L @ 7 M. Diesel Ribs are costly and they start from £29,000.00 Inc Vat for a package on a trailer.
What internal layout can I have? At this size you have the internal room to do whatever you want. There are a variety of companies who offer well designed seating and console units, using these in conjunction with a high quality open boat anything can be achieved.
How quickly can I expect to go? The top end in terms of speed for a leisure Rib will be a maximum of circa 60 mph, beyond this you need "race boat" preparation. To get 60 mph a 225 hp/7m + package will probably be required. A normal 650 boat will give a good 45 mph + with a 150 hp
Is a boat like this easy to tow? Can be if you are used to towing obviously a 6 m will still be on a single axle trailer and a 7 m plus PROBABLY on a double axle trailer as the craft gets bigger towing becomes more of an issue, at over 7 m a four wheel drive is probably required under this larger cars can cope.
Zodiac Medline II Packages From £26,190.00 inc vat & Trailer
Avon 620 Packages From £20,760.00 inc vat & Trailer
XS 600 Packages From £16,480.00 inc vat & Trailer
Bombard SB 650 Packages From £17,990.00 inc vat & Trailer

Go to Top of the page

Barnet Marine Centre Ltd

14 West Burrowfield, Welwyn Garden City, Herts - AL7 4TW, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 1707 331 389 Fax: +44 (0) 1707 331 383
E-mail info@ribs.co.uk

© Copyright 2001- AboarD / ABsite


aboard These pages are produced and hosted by AboarD.
null