As we prepare to get back on the water in the colder climates and for those who are on the water year round it’s important to not overlook a critical component of a RIB: the safety equipment. Just as we routinely service the engine, inspect the tubes, and bottom paint as needed it’s essential that all safety equipment is kept up to date and safely stored onboard.

Over the next week or so, I will cover some of the basic safety equipment required by the U.S. Coast Guard as well as other items that though not required are a good idea to always have on board.

So – the first thing that is A MUST are PFDs (Personal Flotation Device). Every recreational boat must carry one wearable PFD (Type I, II, II or Type V) for each person on the boat. Any boat 16’ and longer must also carry one throwable PFD (Type IV).

All PFDs must be Coast Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition, and the appropriate size for the intended user. To put it simply, the best lifejacket is one that you’ll wear so it’s important that you select the ones to keep on board that you’d actually want to wear.

Other basic PFD requirements from the USCG:

- PFDs must be readily accessible
- You must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency
- Should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked compartments, or have other gear stowed on top of them
- Throwable devices must be immediately available for use
- Inflatable PFDs must have a full cylinder and all status indicators on the inflator must be green.
- USCG approved inflatable PFDs are allowed for people 16 years or older
- Children under the age of 13 must wear a USCG approved lifejacket unless they are below decks or in an enclosed cabin.

For more information, visit the United States Coast Guard safe boating website at www.uscgboating.org.

Posted by ribcraftusa at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

YOU CAN’T! I’m not too sure how many people know about this, but many of the leading outboard manufacturers, Yamaha, Honda, and Mercury to name a few, have done away with model year designations on their engines. Yamaha started in 2006 followed by Honda and Mercury with what was to be the 2007 model year. Their reasoning for this was to help dealers and boat builders so that they wouldn’t be stuck with engines from the “wrong” model year.

For me, it’s aggravating and rather single-minded on the part of the engine manufacturers – what about us, the consumer? What they didn’t think of was the customer – how can we be sure we’re getting latest and newest engine? What about when it comes to financing a new boat – will not having a model year wreak havoc on the process? But more importantly, what if I want to buy a used boat – how do I know how old the engine is?? Well, the good news is that retailers are starting to have some of the same questions and are discussing them. Stay tuned and if I hear anything more about this, I’ll let you know.

Posted by ribcraftusa at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (35)

We recently completed a successful sea trial of one of our new 21’ aluminum RIBCRAFT 6.5s. What a boat! I’ve attached a few photos for you to enjoy.

It was a freezing cold day – not much above 9 degrees – but I’m thankful the boat was equipped with a canvas enclosure. It really did exactly what it was intended to do – protect the crew from the elements. Choosing to go with a T-top with drop down sides is a great cost effective alternative to a full fiberglass or aluminum enclosure. This set up will provide needed protection and warmth in the colder months while still providing the feel of an open boat during the summer.

Posted by ribcraftusa at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)