I'm looking for a small boat to take my 7 year old son out on. I plan to take
him tubing, waterskiing, and maybe some occasional fishing. I would also tow it
behind my boat to close destinations to use as a tender. I would like to keep
it long enough so that one day he can take it out on his own. I owned a 13
foot whaler as a kid and I though that this would be a good choice. I've also
been looking at some Ribs in a similar size like the Novurania 400DL, and Avon
YL400. The ribs seem to be quite a bit more money buthave more bells and
whistles than the whaler. Can anyone give me the pros and cons of purchasing
the whaler vs one of the above Ribs.
Thanks
Jay

On 05 Mar 2004 22:34:58 GMT, (FixinBones) wrote:
I'm looking for a small boat to take my 7 year old son out on. I plan to take
him tubing, waterskiing, and maybe some occasional fishing. I would also tow it
behind my boat to close destinations to use as a tender. I would like to keep
it long enough so that one day he can take it out on his own. I owned a 13
foot whaler as a kid and I though that this would be a good choice. I've also
been looking at some Ribs in a similar size like the Novurania 400DL, and Avon
YL400. The ribs seem to be quite a bit more money buthave more bells and
whistles than the whaler. Can anyone give me the pros and cons of purchasing
the whaler vs one of the above Ribs.
============================

The RIBs make a better tender in my opinion because of the soft sides,
outstanding stability and lighter weight. On the other hand, there's
no arguing the long term durability, value and appearance of a Whaler.

I think it depends on your priorities and primary use.

Subject: 13foot Whaler vs similar sized RIB
From:

I'm looking for a small boat to take my 7 year old son out on. I plan to take
him tubing, waterskiing, and maybe some occasional fishing. I would also tow
it
behind my boat to close destinations to use as a tender. I would like to
keep
it long enough so that one day he can take it out on his own.

Go with the Whaler.

I owned a 13
foot whaler as a kid and I though that this would be a good choice.

It was.

I've
also
been looking at some Ribs in a similar size like the Novurania 400DL, and
Avon
YL400. The ribs seem to be quite a bit more money buthave more bells and
whistles than the whaler.

More to go wrong. And many of the "bells and whistles" are not needed.

Can anyone give me the pros and cons of purchasing
the whaler vs one of the above Ribs.

The Whaler will last forever with a little TLC and you can put a heavy duty
soft rub rail on it for tender use. The RIB costs way more and will not last as
long as the Whaler.
And the Whaler will never deflate and have to be patched.

Go with the Whaler. No matter how your son treats it, (within reason) it will
still be around for his son.

Capt. Bill

Jay,
You've owned a Whaler so you know what that's about. I rented one down
in Ft. Lauderdale once, actually I wasn't impresses by the ride. It felt a
little skittish at high speed. The ride reminded me of a Chrysler cathedral
hull kind of fluttered over the chop. A friend has a 10 foot RIB with a six
horse outboard. The RIB is a soft bottom type. The portability is great, he
stows it on his swim platform, tilted up. The ride in a chop with four
people is a bit wet from splash but not real bad as you're usually in a
bathing suit anyway. On the other hand, you can't saw a RIB in half. :-) My
thoughts.
Paul

"FixinBones" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a small boat to take my 7 year old son out on. I plan to
take
him tubing, waterskiing, and maybe some occasional fishing. I would also
tow it
behind my boat to close destinations to use as a tender. I would like to
keep
it long enough so that one day he can take it out on his own. I owned a
13
foot whaler as a kid and I though that this would be a good choice. I've
also
been looking at some Ribs in a similar size like the Novurania 400DL, and
Avon
YL400. The ribs seem to be quite a bit more money buthave more bells and
whistles than the whaler. Can anyone give me the pros and cons of
purchasing
the whaler vs one of the above Ribs.
Thanks
Jay

Subject: 13foot Whaler vs similar sized RIB
From: "Paul Schilter"

A friend has a 10 foot RIB with a six
horse outboard. The RIB is a soft bottom type.

Then it's not a RIB.


Capt. Bill

Bill,
Opps, you're right. Thanks for the correction.
Paul

"LaBomba182" wrote in message
...
Subject: 13foot Whaler vs similar sized RIB
From: "Paul Schilter"

A friend has a 10 foot RIB with a six
horse outboard. The RIB is a soft bottom type.

Then it's not a RIB.


Capt. Bill

Subject: 13foot Whaler vs similar sized RIB
From: "Paul Schilter"

Bill,
Opps, you're right. Thanks for the correction.
Paul


You're welcome. :-)

Capt. Bill

"FixinBones" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a small boat to take my 7 year old son out on. I plan to
take
him tubing, waterskiing, and maybe some occasional fishing.


Sounds to me like the Whaler would be better.


An inflatable makes a great dive boat, or tender to a larger yacht. They
are almost impossible to tip over due to climbing in or weight distribution.
They make pretty lousy ski boats, however. I also doubt that an inflatable
that you buy now would still be serviceable in another 9 years when your son
might want to take it out on his own.

Rod

"I also doubt that an inflatable that you buy now would still be serviceable
in another 9 years when your son might want to take it out on his own."

We have a 10 foot Achilles that has been used every weekend in season that
we purchased new in 1985.