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On Sat, 08 Apr 2006 18:27:48 -0700, wrote:

Len wrote:
Important criterium for us is llifespan, in other words:UV-resistance.
...
Another criterium : suited for scuba diving from the rib. Joker 315
weighs 53 kg. No problem to get aboard with bottle removed and
floating. African Cats 335 weighs 24 kg (nice for the davits) but won't
this low weight become a nuisance when climbing in from the side?

Most RIBs are very stable and lighter is better in every way. Larger
boats like the ones you are looking at will have bigger tubes which make
for a drier running boat but do make it harder to get board from the
water. Haplon should come with a 10 year warranty, PVC boats that don't
have covers last about 5 years in the tropics but can last indefinitely
with good covers or paint. I'd suggest looking at Aquapro and Force
(New Zealand companies w/Chinese manufacture). Give some thought to how
you will store the RIB, too.

Putting in another vote for New Zealand, we've been using a Southern Cross
brand RIB with an aluminum bottom. It's the lightest 10' we could find,
~60 LB. It seems better made than all the others too. At 4-5 years old
now it's holding up much better than others. We're very happy with it.

A RIB is best for us, but as others have mentioned the Portabote is great
too.

Matt O.