RIBCRAFT 7.8 Appears on CBS' Numb3rs
The RIBCRAFT 7.8 returned to the small screen with an appearence in CBS's hit show, Numb3rs. Watch the 7.8's cameo in "Charlie Don't Surf" here or watch the full episode at CBS.com.
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November 24, 2008
November 20, 2008
Support Boat for the World’s Greatest Windsurfing Adventure
Once a year the annual Highland Spring HIHO (hook in and hold on) windsurfing race takes place here in the BVI. With competitors arriving from all over the globe to compete in an island to island race it is dubbed the world’s greatest windsurfing adventure as competitors will race from 150-200 miles on a windsurfer. For the event our RIBCRAFT will need to transport 2 windsurf boards as well as six sets of masts, booms, and sails to various start and finish areas which are often remote beaches difficult to access.
Our RIBCRAFT 5.85 is a perfect boat for this event. The custom top RIBCRAFT built for us has a rack system that allows us to store a large amount of gear keeping the precious deck space clear. The top also provides excellent sun protection for those on board and is ideal for our two young children. In the event a competitor needs to be rescued, the tubes on the boat serve as a soft buffer to protect people and gear. At the same time it's so much easier to retrieve equipment or people that are in the water over the tubes compares to a hard sided boat with a high freeboard.
With top windsurfers regularly racing at 30 knots the support boat needs to be fast and maneuverable to get out of the way fast. However, with an open ocean race the vessel must be seaworthy enough to handle 6 foot seas and 20 knots of wind. Lesser quality RIBS are simply not up to the challenge and are not used for these races.
During the event our RIBCRAFT served a number of functions including general transportation for our family, a start boat, carrying buoys for setting up the course, placing photographers right in the heat of the action, and even rescuing competitors.
So I'm sure you're all wondering what Dave's boat looks like - well here are a few shots of the boat at the HIHO Race.
From Dave Pettigrew, a RIBCRAFT 5.85 customer
November 13, 2008
Building a House Using a RIB
Day In the Life of an Outdoor Enthusiast - Posting # 3
When my wife and I began building our house we wanted to incorporate much of the natural beauty of the islands into the construction. One of our favorite past times is exploring remote islands and beaches in our Ribcraft. As we explored the different areas we often came upon unique pieces of rock or wood or even the odd ship wreck that might have occurred during a hurricane. These items are perfect for the various parts of the house, but the trick is being able to recover these items and transport back to our island.
Unfortunately, many of these beaches are exposed to the seas and are not very approachable by ordinary craft. However, with the diversity of our RIB we were able to not only access these areas, but also anchor in shallow water making it much more feasible to transport from the beach to the boat.
The end result is that we were able to retrieve a number of unique items to accentuate various aspects of our house. One day as we were loading the boat up with paver stones from a beach we over loaded the RIB so much that the transom actually fell below the water line and the RIB filled with water. Filled with heavy rocks and water, I can’t think of any boats that wouldn’t sink except for a RIB.
We pulled the anchor, motored forward, eventually the water drained out, and the boat ended up planning bring us back to the dock at 15 knots.
But our Ribcraft isn't just for work; it’s actually all about play. Next blog – The World’s Greatest Windsurfing Adventure
From Dave Pettigrew, a RIBCRAFT 5.85 customer
November 11, 2008
Selling Like Hotcakes
The market for used RIBCRAFT RIBs continues to thrive. This is especially true with the 19' RIBCRAFT 5.85. Over the past few months, the average time on market for the 5.85 is less than 20 days. It's amazing; we simply can't keep these around. As soon as one comes on the market it sells.
If you currently own a 5.85 (or a RIBCRAFT 190) and are thinking of upgrading to a larger RIB, now is the perfect time to sell your current boat while the market is strong (you don't hear that often these days). Contact RIBCRAFT today for more information.
The popularity of RIBs is growing faster than ever in these challenging economic times, in large part because of their fuel savings over traditional hard sided boats. When you add the fuel efficiencies to the incredible ride of a RIB, the decision is a no brainer.
November 03, 2008
Family Excursion Turns Into a Rescue Mission
Day In the Life of an Outdoor Enthusiast - Posting # 2
There is no question that RIBs are the choice of vessels for most military, commercial, and emergency organizations in need of highly versatile craft for rapid response. Although my 19' RIBCRAFT is set up for recreational purposes it is good to know that the basic boat is designed for these types of uses. I am well aware of the time it takes to maintain lesser quality RIBs and the value of purchasing a top quality boat from the start.
When I worked with RIBCRAFT to custom design my top, we put in a tow hitch high on the frame for towing water skiers and wake boarders. One of my requirements throughout the construction of the boat was that it be of top quality and tough. Little did I know that the very first towing my boat would experience would not be a kid on a wake board but a 45’ catamaran and a 38’ monohull off a reef.
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon when we hopped on our 5.85 to enjoy a lunch on a small island when we witness a 38’ monohull under main sail ground itself on a reef. Soon after, a larger 45’ catamaran arrived on the scene to offer assistance. After a bit of yelling and lines being thrown, it was apparent that the catamaran was also in need of assistance.
I grabbed my mask and snorkel, hopped on my RIBCRAFT and rushed to the seen. The monohull was grounded and the catamaran was resting 90 degrees with its starboard side against the stern of the monohull making a “t”. The rescue line was tangled in the prop of the catamaran. The waves were now pushing both boats against the reef.
The captain of the catamaran threw me line which I secured around the tow hitch. I was a little hesitant to test my new boat and tow hitch in this situation, but had no choice but to act quickly. As the line pulled tight I notice the catamaran would not straighten out and was being pulled broadside to my stern and to the wind. Upon closer inspection I realized that I was not only pulling the catamaran sideways up wind, but also the 38’foot monohull that was secured to the catamaran.
With just one tow, my little RIBCRAFT 5.85 with a 115 horsepower engine managed to free both vessels from the reef. This initial test only reaffirmed my insistence in having only the highest quality boats. Suffice it to say that my tow hitch should be plenty strong to pull a water skier or wakeboarder. It is this type of quality that originally attracted me to RIBCRAFT and a reason why years later I am pleased to share my stories as a testament of their product.
From Dave Pettigrew, a RIBCRAFT 5.85 customer
