Hypalon is a better material but this new German made PVC looks promising,
what do you think.

Where are you going to be using it? And how are you going to be storing it?
If you're not in the caribbean and are going to put a cover over it then
you're fine with PVC. If it's going to be sitting out in the blistering sun
365 days a year then you can't go wrong spending the extra money to get one
made of hypalon.

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:31:54 -0400, wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:09:16 -0600, cavalamb himself
wrote:

I'm a bit surprised about the RIBs as I didn't suspect they would
be that popular. Something to think about.

One of the nice things about RIBs is the ability to beach them without
tearing up the bottom. That's important when you are cruising in the
boondocks and want to go ashore.

I have a wooden dinghy and I am just about to order a RIB.
What is your take on a single hull vs. the double hulled RIB
Hypalon is a better material but this new German made PVC looks promising,
what do you think.


Hypalon is the gold standard for durability, wouldn't have anything
else, and I agree with Geoff on the double hull.

To those who say don't get a RIB, be aware of what you are not
getting: Seaworthiness, load carrying ability, redundant flotation,
drier ride (by comparison) and speed - not necessarily in that order.

There is a reason why Navy SEALS use RIBs and not FoldBotes.

On 22 Feb 2008 16:53:02 -0600, Dave wrote:

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:40:24 -0500, Wayne.B
said:

There is a reason why Navy SEALS use RIBs and not FoldBotes.

Ergo, if your needs are the same as those of a Navy SEAL, buy a RIB. Why do
I not find that too persuasive?

So get something else.

wrote:
On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:40:24 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:


On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:31:54 -0400, wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:09:16 -0600, cavalamb himself
wrote:


I'm a bit surprised about the RIBs as I didn't suspect they would
be that popular. Something to think about.

One of the nice things about RIBs is the ability to beach them without
tearing up the bottom. That's important when you are cruising in the
boondocks and want to go ashore.


I have a wooden dinghy and I am just about to order a RIB.
What is your take on a single hull vs. the double hulled RIB
Hypalon is a better material but this new German made PVC looks promising,
what do you think.


Hypalon is the gold standard for durability, wouldn't have anything
else, and I agree with Geoff on the double hull.

To those who say don't get a RIB, be aware of what you are not
getting: Seaworthiness, load carrying ability, redundant flotation,
drier ride (by comparison) and speed - not necessarily in that order.

There is a reason why Navy SEALS use RIBs and not FoldBotes.


Umm... Having owned both, I can say that the Porta-Bote is every bit as
seaworthy, has more useful room for a given size boat, has a drier ride, can be
rowed easily in a straight line, sailed or motored while full of water without
capsizing, and planes with a very small lightweight motor. Mine eagerly jumps up
on top of the water with a 3.5 HP motor that weighs 29 pounds. I never have to
tow it, because I can hand launch and retrieve it without a hoist, and it folds
up flat in a few minutes to be lashed to the lifelines.

It costs half what a blow up boat costs, and of course the motor costs a
fraction of what is required for a RIB to perform as well. I don't need a patch
kit, either.



Interesting boat (bote?)
http://www.porta-bote.com/dinghy.html

It for sure takes up less deck space.

On Feb 23, 4:33 am, wrote:
... Umm... Having owned both, I can say that the Porta-Bote is every bit as
seaworthy, has more useful room for a given size boat, has a drier ride, can be
rowed easily in a straight line, sailed or motored while full of water without
capsizing, and planes with a very small lightweight motor. Mine eagerly jumps up
on top of the water with a 3.5 HP motor that weighs 29 pounds. I never have to
tow it, because I can hand launch and retrieve it without a hoist, and it folds
up flat in a few minutes to be lashed to the lifelines.

It costs half what a blow up boat costs, and of course the motor costs a
fraction of what is required for a RIB to perform as well. I don't need a patch
kit, either.

You certainly make them sound nice. What are their disadvantages?
How do they work as a dive boats? Can you run them ashore in the
surf? Can you self-recuse one that's full of water?

-- Tom.

wrote:


Umm... Having owned both, I can say that the Porta-Bote is every bit as
seaworthy, has more useful room for a given size boat, has a drier ride, can be
rowed easily in a straight line, sailed or motored while full of water without
capsizing, and planes with a very small lightweight motor. Mine eagerly jumps up
on top of the water with a 3.5 HP motor that weighs 29 pounds. I never have to
tow it, because I can hand launch and retrieve it without a hoist, and it folds
up flat in a few minutes to be lashed to the lifelines.

It costs half what a blow up boat costs, and of course the motor costs a
fraction of what is required for a RIB to perform as well. I don't need a patch
kit, either.



8' Porta-Bote, (List Price: $1895) Factory Direct Price: $1,349
10' Porta-Bote, (List Price: $1945) Factory Direct Price: $1,499
12' Porta-Bote, (List Price: $1995) Factory Direct Price: $1,599
14' Porta-Bote, (List Price: $2395) Factory Direct Price: $1,859

Does that look about right?

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:09:16 -0600, cavalamb himself
wrote:

I'm a bit surprised about the RIBs as I didn't suspect they would
be that popular. Something to think about.

One of the nice things about RIBs is the ability to beach them without
tearing up the bottom. That's important when you are cruising in the
boondocks and want to go ashore.

Who wants a RIB as a tender? If you beach on a rocky shore you are forced
to drag it unless there are enough of you to lift its weight. And unless
you have a yacht big enough to have dinghy davits you will soon get fed up
with getting the thing aboard even if you have enough people to get it over
the guard rails, plus the deck space to stow it and still be able to set
your sails above it.
If you are big enough to have davits an ordinary rigid dinghy is a much
better solution and much cheaper with less depreciation..
If you get a hypalon inflatable such as an Avon you do not need to drag it
up the beach. You can turn it on its side, hook your shoulder under the tube
and just walk up the beach with it. Plus it can be partially deflated when
stowed on the deck to allow you to set sail above it yet it will still have
enough buoyancy to be useful in emergency But inflatables come with lousy
oars and you will not be able to set an anchor out to windward with one if
your rode is all chain unless you have an outboard.