When it comes to fuel efficiency, RIBs have been ahead of their times and the US Market is just catching up. For this reason, RIBS have enjoyed incredible popularity in Europe over for decades.
Unlike the United States until recently, Europe has long suffered from high fuel (petrol) costs. These higher costs forced Europeans to look to smaller fuel efficient cars and smarter more efficient boat designs when it came to on the water activities. As such, Europeans have preferred RIBs over solid sided boats for decades because of their fuel efficiencies.
RIBs sport a light weight design and sleek hulls with far greater planning capabilities. They require less horsepower to achieve the same speeds as solid sided boats because they are lighter weight and have less drag through the water. These design characteristics deliver excellent efficiencies which lead to fuel savings.
With the fuel challenges in the U.S. hitting everyone, RIBs are the answer to stress free boating and represent future of the boating market.
In his August editorial, Soundings Magazine Editor William Sisson, raised the question of whether or not rising fuel costs will fundamentally change how we get out on the water in the decades to come? He stated that the auto industry is in the midst of retooling to produce more energy efficient automobiles and that boat builders will need to do the same. The result, he said, could be a new generation of hulls both lighter and more efficient.
Sisson theorized that perhaps people are going to have to change their expectations about speed, performance and in some cases ride. He wrote: "I suspect we will need to readjust our priorities about what we expect out of our boats". Sisson says that successful planing boats of the future will be lighter, have flatter sections aft, and run on longer narrower hulls – as a result they can be powered by smaller, lighter engines, requiring less fuel capacity but he says you'll have to sacrifice performance in rough weather.
People no doubt will begin looking towards improving fuel efficiencies. For those of you who already own a RIB you already have it. A RIB delivers all of these "futuristic" properties Sisson discusses. But what a RIB doesn't do is sacrifice performance – instead it improves it. So, I agree that people's expectations will change, but it will be that they can finally have their cake and eat it to - better fuel efficiency and better rough weather performance.
A RIB is the boat of the future available today. Gone are the days of people looking to heavy hard-sided boats like Grady White and Boston Whaler. Boaters will now do as they've done in Europe for decades and turn to RIBs.
Military Special Forces were among the earliest adopters of RIBs. The reason, quite simply, is safety, performance, and versatility.
First and foremost, a RIB is ideal for keeping the crew safe while en route to their intended destination. For many Special Forces and tactical teams, a RIB is used as a means of deployment to a land or water based target. They rely on speed for the element of surprise and to insure mission success. While at speed, the crew and members of the tactical team can be subject to severe impacts and harsh elements for long periods of time. A RIB, with its deep V hull and inflatable tube, mitigates that by providing a far smoother and dryer ride than hard sided vessels. A less bruised and battered group of Special Forces is far more capable to perform at the top of their game when they reach their destination.
Tactical forces require an open light weight high speed platform that provides the utmost in sea keeping abilities, maneuverability, and responsiveness. They need a boat whose performance is not only reliable, but predictable. Many tactical forces use their boats to deliver boarding parties to larger vessels – a RIB's maneuverability and inflatable tube is essential for these operations as they come alongside their targets. With the tube a RIB is generally more immune to damage from low speed collisions.
These days with the increased threat to Homeland Security, it's no longer just the military that have Special Forces. Law Enforcement Agencies, both at the state and local level have seen their responsibility grow to include more maritime interdiction and anti-terrorism missions. Even U.S. companies that have manufacturing facilities on larger bodies of water overseas, be they factories or oil platforms, are providing tactical security forces to patrol and protect their interests. Like the early adopters, these organizations rely on the safety, performance, and versatility of a RIB.
I've been asked countless times how the tubes on our boats are made and though I've explained it verbally, I think you would all agree a picture and video is far better than a thousand words. I found these three videos showing how a tube is made on YouTube and thought you'd all enjoy. Though not a RIBCRAFT tube, the process is very similar.
You'll notice that the video is sped up in places which makes watching it a little easier. Too bad it doesn't take 27 minutes in real life to make a tube.
Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions.
Part 1:
Selecting and cutting the fabric, sanding all pieces, attaching the sections, installing the fill and pressure relief valves.
Part 2:
Preparing and forming the baffles, adding the bow section, beginning to form the tube
Part 3:
Forming the tube, installing the baffles, and beginning to attach to the hull
Kathy's question to my October 4th posting was a great one. It brings up a great point – that in theory, a removable tube is a good idea, but in practice doesn't always work. The thought is that if you have a problem with your tube, you can easily remove it, package it up, and send it to the manufacturer to repair and then simply "slide" the tube back on the boat when it's fixed. The reality is, it's just not that simple, as Kathy has learned.
9 times out of 10, customers with removable tubes have to bring the boat to a local service center to have them removed or reattached. In my opinion this defeats to purpose of having them.
It's always intrigued me why our competitors that offer RIBs with removable tubes would tout how easy a tube is to remove for repair. It begs the question why you need it to be easy to remove in the first place. I'd rather have a tube that doesn't need to be repaired often, that is hard to remove (because it's permanently glued to the hull) and won't accidentally detached or leak at the hull bond, than one I can easily remove for repair.
At RIBCRAFT, we focus on building Hypalon tubes that withstand commercial wear and tear so that you hopefully don't have to have them repaired. In the off chance you do, you can bring the boat to a local service center (just like you'd probably have to do with a "removable" tube) or try the repair on your own. With the exception of the RIBCRAFT 7.0, our tubes are glued and permanently attached to the hull. This results in a safe, reliable, and watertight bond.
We’ve long said, that the United State’s RIB market is about 10 years behind the European boating market and though I still believe that to be the case, I saw a beautiful site this weekend. While out on a RIBCRAFT 5.85 Sunday morning, within a few short moments I crossed paths with four other RIBs enjoying one of the first real days of summer in the North East. For a RIB enthusiast such as me, it was truly invigorating.
Still excited, I decided to count the number of RIBs I saw on my way back in. In our harbor alone, I counted over 25! (I defined a RIB as any rigid inflatable over 13’ with a center console). Though there is still a long way for RIBs to go in the US until we catch up with the UK, it’s nice to see that more and more boaters and safety professionals are seeing the light!
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.
Honda has finally launched the redesigned BF75 and BF90 outboards, at the Southampton Boat Show in England. We at RIBCRAFT have been waiting for this for quite some time as the Honda 90 is our engine of choice for the 19' RIBCRAFT 190 and 5.85.
Designed and built with RIBs in mind, these new fuel injected engines are lighter, 20% more fuel efficient, and far more powerful than their predecessors.
With these two models, Honda has launched a new technology called BLAST which is fantastic for the RIB world. BLAST stands for Boosted Low Speed Torque which advances the engine’s timing to deliver incredible acceleration out of the hole that some have noticed was lacking from the older 90HP engines.
In addition to the low end power/ acceleration, the new 90 engine enjoys a turbo-like kick when operating from about 4900rpm through to the engine’s new 6300rpm rev limit. This new “turbo” is a result of Honda’s VTEC technology or Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control.
Weight has always been an issue with the Honda engines, but we’re glad to say that the new 90 is somewhat lighter than the old, weighing in at 359 lbs which is always a good thing for a RIB. In fact, Honda claims that these engines are the lightest in their class.
Cosmetically, these engines have also entered the modern market, following in the footsteps of the previously redesigned Hondas with a sleaker and tapered engine cover. But the changes on the outside are more than superficial, the new 90 has a redesigned gear case and lower unit which should help reduce spray and increase hydrodynamic efficiency to further improve overall performance.
It’s clear by Honda’s unveiling of the new 75HP and 90HP back in September at the Southampton Boat Show that they see these engines as perfect for the RIB market when they unveiled the new engines to the world on RIBs. (The 75HP was debuted on a RIBCRAFT 5.3!)
These new engines have just made their way to the US market and we’ll have a full report on how our RIBCRAFT 5.85 and 190 handle with this new engine within the coming month.
There was a comment to one of my postings from a month or so ago that raised the question of who was the first to dream up the concept of a RIB. I thought it was an excellent comment, so, where did the RIB come from? Its origins date back to around the turn of the 20th Century. To talk about the birth of RIBs, one has to discuss the advent of inflatable boats.
In large part, we have the Titanic to thank for our boats. With the loss of life of the Titanic in 1912 and the considerable losses experienced to US ships during World War I, the need for a solution was clear. After this, an international agreement was signed to provide safeguards for passenger safety aboard ships; creating the first SOLAS treaty. One of its major provisions was to ensure that every vessel had enough lifeboats to provide every person aboard the ship with a place. This was easy enough for cargo ships where there was minimal number of crew members and excess deck space, but for cruise ships and naval ships that had large passenger counts with almost no deck space this created a huge problem; where do you put the lifeboats? Enter inflatable boats…
After World War I, Goodyear (that’s right the U.S. tire company) found a way to join rubber to other materials. They made life rafts that had square shaped inflatable tubes with a rigid floor. Was this the birth of the first RIB? One could definitely argue yes. These rafts were to be stacked vertically on the ships and appeared to answer the storage problem – unfortunately, conservative thinking in the Navy prevented these boats from being developed fully.
Around the same time, across the pond, Pierre Debroutelle came up with a craft that utilized a U shaped inflatable tube. It was the first boat of its kind to be certified by a navy when the French Navy did so. During World War II, they added a wooden transom which was then patented.
During the second World War, everything changed; the need for inflatables increased and luckily so did the quality of the rubber used in the boats. Inflatables were used as lifeboats, to transport troops through shallow water, and to move torpedoes and other cargo. Additionally, their compactability made them easy to store and transport over land.
As with all great innovations, one company emerge; Zodiac. Their boats gained acceptance in the military and after World War II surplus inflatable boats were sold to the public, which continued their popularity in the recreational market. Zodiac quickly became the “generic” name when it came to inflatables.
In the 1950s, a French Naval officer by the name of Bombard combined the outboard engine, rigid floor and a boat shaped inflatable tube. Zodiac built the boat and a friend of Bombard, Jacques Cousteau began to use it. Cousteau was convinced by the performance of the boat and used it for years as a tender for his expeditions. As such, “Zodiac” became the word used for inflatable boats throughout Europe and quickly gained hold in the U.S.
The inflatable was so successful that Zodiac couldn’t keep up with the demand and they licensed production to several companies throughout Europe. By this time, people began “tweaking” the design to improve performance through rough water. They began playing with underwater inflatable hulls – the pre-cursor to the RIB.
The combination of a rigid hull and large inflatable tube was introduced in Great Britain in 1967 by Tony Lee-Elliott and patented by Admiral Hoare in 1969 after research and development at Atlanic College in Wales. RIBs were first introduced as lifeboats and rescue craft in England in 1970.
In my opinion, water jets on RIB’s are a mixed bag. On the one hand, they allow better maneuverability, shallow water navigation, and at high speeds they are more efficient then most traditional propulsion set-ups. But, their efficiency is really a Catch 22.
Though at high speeds jets are rather efficient, operating a boat with a jet at lower speeds is actually inefficient. Jets reduce the horsepower output of an engine by about 20%+ until you hit the sweet spot on the power curve. At that point, the resistance is lowered such where the jet begins to assist as opposed to hurt the efficiency. This is why typically jet boats require larger horse powered engines.
Depending on how the boat is used, the jet is either a good idea or a bad one. For the local harbor cruiser, I'd say no. Similarly I wouldn’t recommend a jet for a patrol boat, harbormaster, or even a local first responder with small boat needs. On the other hand, applications that require high speeds and long range such as interdiction boats and larger SAR boats, a jet is a good choice.
There are three different tube materials used by RIB manufacturers; PVC, Polyurethane, and Hypalon. We’re often asked what are the advantages and disadvantages of the three materials. As a manufacturer of professional grade RIBs, we prefer Hypalon for its overall strength and longevity, however the others do have their benefits. We just think that Hypalon has more – that’s why our standard tubes are made of Hypalon.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
As a material for building tubes, polyvinylchloride (PVC) has the disadvantage of being hard: it lacks flexibility. To make it supple, an additive is used with the polymer. This additive vaporizes as the material ages, making the PVC brittle which allows it to crack easily. A PVC tube is the cheapest option and lasts approximately five years.
Polyurethane
Tubes made of polyurethane (PU) are difficult to manufacture and even more difficult to repair. PU has the advantage of being very tough, but unfortunately to make PU airtight, it has to be used in layers, combined with neoprene. The biggest disadvantage with PU is that it ages quickly: thermal and mechanical wear-and-tear and exposure to ultraviolet-light are problems. PU tubes are found in applications where strength and durability are needed. Replacing the tubes when they wear out, usually costs one third of the complete RIB.
Hypalon
Tubes made of hypalon are easy to manufacture and even easier to repair with simple puncture repair kits.
Hypalon is not airtight on it’s own so must be combined with neoprene when used to build tubes. Tubes made with hypalon and neoprene layers can easily last 30 years or more. Although early in its life a PU tube will be stronger than a hypalon/neoprene tube, by the age of 5 years they have similar levels of durability and that is why hypalon/neoprene tubes are often found on RIBs that are owned by commercial and high value leisure users. Hypalon tubes are the industry standard among professional users.
I was flipping through a boating magazine this morning and counted four ads showing powerboats soaring out of the water looking, in my opinion, very much out of control. In a time when boating safety is moving to the forefront as it should, I’m amazed that manufacturers would show their boats in such a state. I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t really make me think of safe responsible boating or that my experience on that boat will be safe when I see a boat flying off a wave with spray flying and propellers spinning in a blur – though in some respects it does appeal to my male ego and gets the testosterone flowing. To see an image like this suggests that either the boat is poorly designed or the manufacturer in some indirect way condones unsafe and irresponsible operating habits. With boating fatalities and accidents on a rise, I think all of us in the marine industry need to be careful with what we show in our ads and not only talk about safe boating but portray it. What do you think?
Even though RIBs are still relatively new to the US boating scene, there’s still a great variety of RIBs to choose from. So, what should you look for when it’s time to purchase a new RIB?
I've come up with a brief list of 6 major items to think about and look for when buying a RIB that should help you through the process.
1) First and foremost - decide how you plan to use the boat. Will you be using the boat for work or pleasure? Do you want a boat that can handle anything mother nature throws your way or are you looking for a boat that’s comfortable for lounging around on and having cocktails during the evening harbor cruise? Perhaps you want a boat for diving or fishing? This simple question will make your decision much easier and your search more focused. If you’re looking for a rescue craft, then look at the companies that specialize in building professional grade boats and if you want a plush yacht tender, then look to those who focus on that.
2) Hypalon, PVC, or Polyurethane? There are benefits to all three of these tube materials, however, if you’re looking for the best all around product that will last the longest, require the least amount of maintenance, and is most UV resistant, then you should go with the only time tested material, Hypalon.
3) Details – You can tell a lot about a boat simply by looking at the details. I recommend looking at the quality of the fittings and stainless steel hardware (hinges, latches, cleats) on the boat. You should also take a close look at the tubes. You don’t have to be a RIB expert to know good craftsmanship. Examine the tube attachments; do you see areas where the manufacturer over sanded or didn’t clean all the glue?
4) Price – Only you know what your price range is. The good news is that RIBs cover a broad spectrum of prices, so you’re sure to find one that fits your budget. My only word of advice - you get what you pay for!
5) Reputation – Ask around and look to see who’s using RIBs. What does the local harbormaster, fire department, yacht club, or even Coast Guard station have for a RIB? Go on line. There are several good resources and forums out there too. I recommend RIB Net, Hot RIBs, RIB International Magazine, Inflatable Boats Magazine, and Fred’s Blog (of course).
6) Customer Service - Just as important as the five items listed above. I think this pretty much speaks for itself. Is the manufacturer willing to work directly with their customers. Are they responsive to your needs and willing to answer your questions? If they don’t get back to you right away when you’re interested in buying a boat, will they should you need help once you own a boat? Do they have service centers in place?
I’m sure I’m missing some important factors, so, if you’ve recently (or not so recently) purchased a RIB, please feel free to add your own two cents.
I love hearing of how RIBs respond in action and in real rescue situations. It's always great to see the boats and their operators being recognized. If you know of any such stories, I'd love to hear about them. Here's one worthy of some additional recognition -
"The American Boat & Yacht Council Foundation honored Zodiac of North America and the Zodiac Academy Flood Response Team with the Bunzl Boating Safety Award for their rescue and relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina.
The Flood Response Team, with Zodiac’s support, immediately answered the call to action in the Gulf region. The rescue team deployed to New Orleans with trucks, trailers, RIBs, engines, generators, communications equipment, fuel and a team of volunteers who aided in the search and recovery effort.
The rescue team was instrumental in training first responders on how to operate the inflatables and RIBs to scout areas of the flooded city for survivors, according to ABYC.
The Bunzl Boating Safety Award is named for Richard C. Bunzl in recognition of his contributions to the ABYC Foundation in support of boating safety. Bunzl spent 30 years volunteering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary."
Here’s a great little excerpt from an article in the online publication MarineLink from today entitled “Prime RIBs”, in which Zodiac’s Coast Guard customer support manager Bob Beck reinforces just how versatile and durable RIBs are:
“The group set up Camp Katrina in Algiers, directly across the Mississippi River from the devastation in New Orleans. "We did search and rescue, transporting dead bodies and a hundred other things these versatile RIBs can do," Beck reported. "We carried out these missions during the day and repaired any vessel that needed work at night. These RIBs traveled over wrought iron fences, debris in the water and submerged cars, putting an end to those who thought RIBs were not tough enough for these severe, even brutal conditions," Beck added. "We served basically as the maritime arm for the 82nd Airborne who did the "heavy lifting" as far as the missions were concerned. I will never forget traveling down Canal Street in a RIB," Beck concluded."
Excerpted from “Prime RIBs” MarineLink.com, March 20, 2006
For some reason, RIBs don’t share the same popularity here in the United States as they do in Europe. But their acceptance and reputation is growing leaps and bounds; in fact the RIB market is the fastest growing segment of the marine industry in the States today. Even still, Europe, and especially the UK, is about a dozen years ahead of the US RIB market. Brits have long enjoyed the many advantages of RIB’s while the vast majority of boaters here in the US are just beginning to understand what these boats are all about.
One of the best indications of how RIB popularity is gaining strength comes from evolving perceptions at boat shows. We started keeping track of people’s reactions and comments at recreational boat shows four years ago, at that time their comments said it all: “what is it?”, “what do you do with a boat like that?”, “those seats look like mail boxes”, “it must be like riding a horse”, “do you use the tubes to store fuel?” But with each year, acceptance and understanding of RIBs began to take hold as RIBs become more prevalent at shows and on our waters. Now the entertaining comments have all but ceased. Today, we’re at the point where everyone has probably at least seen a RIB. They may not fully understand the many benefits, but they’ve noticed the Coast Guard, local police or harbormaster, and even their own yacht club using RIB’s. With that comes understanding, acceptance, and a willingness to give them a try for themselves.
The challenge is, distinguishing a RIB – a RIGID inflatable boat from an inflatable dinghy or tender. Like anything new, an early bad experience can leave a sour taste in one’s mouth. We’ve talked to many people who think they’ve tried a RIB. Some equate the performance of their roll-up soft bottom dingy to a RIB or they’ve bought a yachty looking thing with lots of white cushions and cup holders and expected it to be the ultimate SUV of the seas. There is a big difference between a cushy yacht tender, a roll-up, and a RIB! Once they get out on a genuine RIB, they see for themselves what a RIB is all about – unbelievable performance, incredible safety, and unbeatable fun. After they’ve taken a spin, they’re hooked.
Today, those who own RIBs are proud to have something different. Something their neighbors don’t have. RIB buyers tend to be well educated, accomplished boaters, and thrive on being pioneers. In many cases, they’re looking for something new and an alternative to their generic looking solid sided boat that they get beaten and bruised on every weekend when there’s a chop or rough seas.
There’s almost a cult like following among RIB owners in the US. They love to talk to other RIB owners here and abroad – something you’d never see from the 20’ center console, solid sided crowd! RIB owners compare what they like, don’t like, how they use their boat, how it’s configured, powered, and equipped, and what kind of seas they took their RIB out in. There are even a couple of great online chat rooms that help facilitate these discussions; RIBnet & HOT RIBS, check them out!
The RIB market in the US is evolving and growing. It’s still very much in its infancy, a new frontier really, but all of us, RIB owners and manufacturers alike are proud to be sculptors shaping and forming the market. Pioneers in a way.
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