August 09, 2011
An Inflatable Solution
We took a fully inflatable AF14 out for a sea trial today. At 13’9” it can be assembled by and easily launched by two people for search and rescue operations. This makes it a popular alternative to the RIB among first responders. The boat pictured below is being delivered to a police department in NJ who required a boat that they can easily deploy at a variety of location for rescue operations.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 02:17 PM
February 11, 2011
No Trailer Needed
A friend recently sent along this picture that he took of a 4.8 while at a regatta this past summer. Believe it or not we have seen several sailing programs transport their 4.8's this way. By loading the support boat onto the truck, it allows the team to trailer their fleet of Opti’s or Laser’s behind the truck at the same time. A RIB, naturally being lighter than a hard sided boat, makes this option possible and at 15'7" the 4.8 is the ideal size.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 09:08 AM
February 04, 2011
Seasonal Boating? Not at RIBCRAFT!
Here in Massachusetts we have gotten storm after storm almost on a weekly basis since the end of December. So what is the cure for the winter blues? Going boating of course! We build and ship RIBs year round, which means we sea trial them year round as well. This week was no exception, so while it was 19 degrees out we put on our thermals and all of the foul weather gear we could find and headed to the launch ramp. The boat that we were testing performed great and topped out at just over 30 knots! Even though a temperature of 19 degrees while going 30 knots makes for a BITING wind chill, there is still nothing quite like time on the water. Here is a photo that was taken from the boat looking out at the harbor and the snow covered lawns in the distance.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 04:43 PM
July 09, 2010
Mad for the RIBCRAFT 7.8
Daily boating magazine MadMariner.com, which provides a wealth of information on all things boating, posted a great article on the RIBCRAFT 7.8. It’s clear that the writer loved it as much as our customers do! Here is a link to the full article.... read more
Posted by ribcraftusa at 04:48 PM | Comments (0)
February 04, 2010
A RIBCRAFT Hard at Work
One of our customers recently sent a few photos of the fire department's Deputy Chief and the dive team onboard their 5.85. I love seeing RIBCRAFTs hard at work and thought I'd share one of them.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 08:37 AM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2010
RIBCRAFT Rubstrake Gives Durability a New Meaning
Here at RIBCRAFT when we say our boats are professional grade, we mean it! Recently we had a 4.8 come in with seriously damaged rubstrake from a nail in the dock. The picture below is a testament to the heavy duty, high profile, high density rubstrake that we use on every boat we build. The rubstrake certainly did its job! Had this been a lower profile rubstrake, like what many of our competitors use, there would have definitely been damage to the tube as well.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:54 AM | Comments (0)
November 05, 2009
Ringing Praise for RIBCRAFT
We love to hear from our customers and we just received some great feedback from the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California. They purchased two RIBCRAFTs last July and said, “The two RIBCRAFT RIBs are excellent. Perfect for our needs and they handle the bay amazingly well!” We look forward to hearing more from the club as they continue to spend time on the boats!... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 04:39 PM | Comments (0)
June 03, 2009
RIBCRAFT Donates to Hospice of the North Shore Annual Regatta
Hospice of the North Shore has cared for terminally ill patients and their families for over 30 years, providing a great deal of help to those in our local area. We are proud to not only donate to the Hospice of the North Shore Annual Regatta, but to be participating again this year as well. There is also a silent auction, which has already begun and will run until June 22nd. RIBCRAFT has donated a factory tour for up to five people, along with an on-water demonstration and t-shirts for each person in attendance. The winner will get an inside look into the process of building a RIB and then get to go out on the water and experience its unparalleled ride. Click here to check out this and other auction items donated in support of a great cause.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 08:04 AM | Comments (0)
June 01, 2009
My Ideal Yacht Tender
I was recently reading the latest issue of Yachting Magazine and while looking at all of the beautiful yachts and their tenders I started to think about the perfect RIB for a yachtsman to have onboard. Large yachts have at least one, if not two tenders onboard, but what they don’t all have is an adventure seeking RIB. The RIBCRAFT 6.8 would be the ideal model and at 22’7” would work great as a tow-behind or onboard tender. The boat itself would cater to almost any water sport that passengers could think of. I would first opt for a specially designed console offering convenient storage for water-skis, wakeboards and safety equipment. This particular console also offers two integrated drop-down swim/dive ladders for easy access into or out of the water. The T-top would also have four rocket launchers for those passengers who would like to go fishing. I would also add a pair of telescoping outriggers and a 20 gallon... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 03:32 PM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2009
Sea Trial
Just got back from a sea trial on a 5.85. The boat performed beautifully and the weather was great as well. Perfect way to start the day.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 09:16 AM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2009
RIBCRAFT Drop Test
All in a days work here at RIBCRAFT… well sort of. Take a look at this video of the RIBCRAFT 9.0 drop test. The boat, loaded with over 10,000 pounds of weight, was dropped three times from a crane as part of its CE Certification. As you can see from the video the boat performed beautifully and was completely unphased by the drops. Check out how quickly the boat stabilizes itself – within seconds of being drop the boat is completely at rest. Now what really amazed me was just how dry the boat was – even with the sharp entry into the water and the splash, no water ever made it's way into the boat! This test is a true testament to the performance and benefits of a RIB!... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 01:09 PM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2009
Fire Departments' Ever Growing Responsibilities
In recent years, the pressures on Fire Departments have increased as their roles and responsibilities have expanded. In most cases their missions have expanded beyond simply putting out fires and rescuing stranded cats in trees. The days of the bright shiny red truck with a bunch of ladders and firemen running through town is no longer. As life becomes more technical and complicated, so too does the role of the local fire department. Today's departments have haz-mat teams, specialized equipment for fighting forest fires, ice rescue apparatus, and yes boats in some cases though not often enough. The increase in boating, improved water access for activities such as kayaking, fishing, and swimming, the higher incidence of flooding and natural disasters, and added congestion along waterfronts, has brought an increasing need for rescuers to have apparatus that can respond to water related calls. This has taken on even greater prominence for those departments located along the Coast – who have been... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2008
RIBCRAFT On The Move
With all the doom and gloom over what seems to be a daily worsening of the economy out there, I thought it would be a nice change to share some good news with you. As most boat builders are scaling back production and in some cases closing down for good, we at RIBCRAFT are very fortunate to be growing and expanding. RIBs continue to gain popularity as more and more marine professionals and recreational boaters choose them because of their inherent efficiencies and unsurpassed performance over solid sided boats. We are pleased to announce that we have expanded our production facilities to meet the growing demand from professional and recreational customers for RIBs. This increased production capacity will allow us to continue to meet this rising demand. As part of our expansion, our corporate offices will be moving into the same building as production which are currently located a little over a mile apart. We will be in our new... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2008
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.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 03:00 PM | Comments (0)
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... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:54 AM | Comments (0)
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.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 04:04 PM | Comments (0)
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.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:56 AM | Comments (0)
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... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 06:33 PM | Comments (0)
October 29, 2008
Day in the Life of an Outdoor Enthusiast
While RIBCRAFT's focus is on building commercial quality RIBs for professionals, I thought it would be fun to highlight some of the recreational uses of every day RIBCRAFT owners. One such owner is Dave Pettigrew, an outdoor enthusiasts who purchased a 5.85 as a means to seek adventure for his family in the British Virgin Islands. Because Dave uses his RIB for a wide number of activities, I've broken his posting into several parts. I hope you enjoy the stories and if you would like to share yours with us, we’d love to hear them as well. Posting # 1 – Fishing Experiment “19’ RIBCRAFT versus 38’ PowerCat” As an avid fisherman I have often toyed around with the possibility of quitting my day job and starting a little fishing business. Talking with other fishermen, it was apparent that the biggest costs were boat maintenance and especially fuel. With the fishing grounds 20 miles out to sea, the thought of... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 06:31 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2008
RIBCRAFT 7.0 On Sea Trial
Check out this footage of a standard 7 Meter shipboard RIB with a foam hybrid tube after successful sea trials.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 02:36 PM | Comments (0)
October 07, 2008
What To Look For When Purchasing A New RIB
People always ask me for advice whether they're an agency, yacht club, or recreational boater whenever they're in the market for a new RIB. Because of this, I've been meaning to post the top things people should consider when buying a RIB, but my colleage Matthew recently beat me to it. He was asked by WindCheck Magazine in their October issue for the top things people should consider when buying a rigid inflatable boat. For those of you thinking about buying a new RIB for yourself or business, take a look at what Matthew had to say - he has some good advice.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)
July 09, 2008
RIBS: Ahead Of The Times
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... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 06:07 PM | Comments (1)
June 12, 2008
Beach Patrol In Action
For a glimpse into the day and life of one of RIBCRAFT's customers, Kill Devil Hills Ocean Rescue, click here to see how the Beach Patrol prepares for their day on the water. You'll also get to hear about one of the more unusual uses of their RIBCRAFT 5.85.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 10:29 AM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2008
Rescue Efforts in China
We recently learned that a fleet of RIBCRAFT used by Chinese fire departments played a critical role in the earthquake rescue efforts. With the roads destroyed, the first rescuers reached the epicenter of the quake by water on board their RIBCRAFT 4.8s. In the photo below you can see a 4.8 delivering additional rescue personnel. Though taken from far away, the photo gives a really good idea as to the extent of the devastation.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 05:48 PM | Comments (0)
May 30, 2008
Now You See It… Now You Don't!
Check out the acceleration of this RIBCRAFT 9.0 with twin 225HP Honda engines. Literally one minute you see it and then seconds later it's nothing more than a speck on the horizon. This RIBCRAFT goes from 0 - 40+ knots in just seconds is quite impressive for a 30' boat.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 03:16 PM | Comments (0)
May 22, 2008
CSI Miami Features A RIBCRAFT
The RIBCRAFT Mitigator returned to the spotlight in a recent episode of CBS’s hit show, CSI Miami. Check out the first five minutes of the episode, "Death From Above" at minute 2:30 and right after the opening sequence at minute 4:58 for the best views of the Mitigator. Watch the opening scenes of the show with the Mitigator here or go to the CSI Miami website to view the full episode.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 05:25 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2008
The Secret to Success: OUR PEOPLE!
At RIBCRAFT, our success in building quality professional grade RIBs is a direct result of our fantastic employees. Since beginning our U.S. operations in 2001, we've experienced significant growth - developing into one of the leading manufacturers of rigid inflatable boats in North America and the entire Globe for that matter. Our meteoric rise is a direct result of great people. As we continue to strive to deliver the best RIBs and service available, we are always searching for talented and motivated people to join our team. Currently, we're looking for people who want to be part of our exciting and growing company as members of our sales, accounting/ finance department, and production teams. If you harbor a desire to join an energetic growing company in the only expanding segment of the marine industry that is committed to delivering the best, then send an email with your resume to jobs@ribcraftusa.com. And to our current employees - Thank you!... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:00 AM | Comments (3)
March 17, 2008
Practical For Tactical
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... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:53 AM | Comments (1)
March 03, 2008
Rescue Boats
Fire departments must always work to meet the many needs of the people they protect. For some, water rescue and the ability to respond to water related accidents are among these. You might be amazed to learn as I was, that in some cities and towns water related incidents outnumber fire-related injuries and fatalities. You don't need to be located on the ocean to justify or require a fire/rescue boat. Many landlocked towns are using boats on reservoirs, rivers, and lakes. If a town has a marina, homes tightly nestled along the water's edge, thousands of recreational boaters and swimmers be they on a lake, ocean, or reservoir a rescue boat is essential to respond to the inevitable accidents. Beyond the expected rescue responses, a rescue boat also provides departments with access to remote locations that aren't accessible by land – be it an island or remote wooded area located on a large lake or along the ocean. A proper... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2008
Lights, Camera, Video
When you can't get out on a RIB yourself, the next best thing is to watch a video of one. Take a look at this video of a RIBCRAFT 5.85 cruising through the marshes. Too bad it's not rough, but I think you'd agree this gives you a pretty good idea of what it feels like to be on a RIB. For more great RIB videos, check out YouTube and search for "RIBCRAFT" or browse the RIBCRAFT website for videos of the RIBCRAFT 9.0, RIBCRAFT 7.8, RIBCRAFT 5.85, the RIBCRAFT 4.8 and the US SAILING RIBCRAFT 15. Stay tuned over the next couple weeks as we add more video to the site and create a video gallery for your one stop shop for RIBCRAFT videos. I know when you're looking for a new boat, it's not always possible to get out for a sea trial, so hopefully by providing video of our boats in various sea conditions will help paint... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 02:46 PM | Comments (0)
January 28, 2008
RIBs in Action
For those of us in the throws of winter, thought these pictures of people using their RIBs during warmer months or in warmer climates would be a nice reprieve from the cold temperatures. I'm always looking for photos of RIBs "in action" so please feel free to share your pics with us!... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2008
Winter Show Time
Though it’s the dead of winter for those of us in the northern climates, January is a busy month for RIBCRAFT. We start the month off at the National Sailing Programs Symposium (NSPS) in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 9th-13th. Hosted by US SAILING, this four day event is the pre-eminent sailing education conference in the country. The NSPS provides an excellent opportunity for sailing progams and industry to communicate, share ideas, and learn about pertinent issues in the sport. Having long recognized the needs of sailing programs and yacht clubs for commercial grade safety, coach, and mark boats, RIBCRAFT and US SAILING partnered in February of 2007 to create the US SAILING RIBCRAFT 15. This 15’ RIB, designed exclusively for yacht clubs, sailing programs and sailors alike, will be exhibited at the NSPS and available for demos. This boat is the only boat designed specifically as a coach and support boat. Changing gears. For those of you looking to... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 08:53 AM | Comments (2)
December 07, 2007
RIB Diversity
Walking through the production floor today was like looking at an ad for what you can do with a RIB. As I looked at the various boats in production this morning, I was amazed at the variety of customers and their intended uses. There's a 5.85 for a fire department's dive team, two 7.8s for a presidential security force, a 5.85 for a yacht club that will use the boat as a safety and work boat, a 9.0 for an adventure tour company, a 7.0 for a recreational customer who wanted a diesel engine configuration for exploring the San Juan Islands, a 150 for another recreational customer who is buying it for his children so that they can have a boat to use on their own and learn about boat handling, and another 5.85 for a marine research lab. Whether it's for work or pleasure, a RIB is the ultimate boat for any on water activity. The diversity of our... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:28 AM | Comments (2)
September 28, 2007
Pod Seats: Comfortable, Functional, Safe
Looking at the video I posted the other day of the woman and her passenger getting thrown from the boat, I am reminded just how much I like the RIBCRAFT pod seats. First, a pod seat is RIBCRAFT's version of a jockey seat. At first glance most people's reaction is that they don't look comfortable. Some people at boat shows have made such bizarre comments as it looks like an old fashion lunch box or even a mailbox. To an extent I would agree with that initial impression, however, they are anything but uncomfortable and more important they do what their meant to do – keep you in the boat. A RIB is the ultimate performance boat and though they are designed to go through anything safely, we passengers aren't without help. I like to equate a pod seat to a bucket seat in a high end sports car. You don't see large bench seats in a Porsche 911 or... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 09:07 AM | Comments (4)
August 22, 2007
Wet & Wild RIB Gathering!
It was a made to order day for RIBs; sunny, 70 degrees, 20-25 knots of breeze, and 3'-4' seas. Our RIB Rendez-Vous on Saturday was a great success and lots of fun. 10 RIBs gathered in Marblehead and en masse we headed out of the Harbor in a scene that Dan Tucker mentioned was reminiscent of Apocalypse Now. As we made our way to Boston, a small craft advisory was issued and the area yacht clubs cancelled the day's sailboat races due to too much wind. The day was definitely a testament to RIBs. With the 3-4' waves and strong steady breeze, there wasn't one of us who were dry by the time we made it into Boston (less than 40 minutes I may add). As we sat and ate our picnic lunch at the Courageous Sailing Center in the heart of Boston Harbor, we all agreed that we couldn't wait to get back out there but couldn’t imagine doing... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:52 AM | Comments (1)
August 08, 2007
RIBCRAFT Continues To Be At the Center of Sailing Programs and Regattas Around the Country This Summer
From California to New Jersey and Texas to Wisconsin, every day there are coaches teaching children how to sail from their US SAILING RIBCRAFT 15 and and race committees setting marks from a RIBCRAFT mark boat. The following partial list of clubs and sailing programs use their professional grade RIBCRAFT RIBs every day for race management and junior sailing. read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 10:34 AM | Comments (0)
July 17, 2007
What A Fish!
Who said you can't fish from a RIB!!!... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 09:15 AM | Comments (2)
July 12, 2007
Congratulations Blue Yankee
Congratulations are in order for RIBCRAFT customers Bob and Farley Towse and their 66' sailboat, Blue Yankee for taking line honors (first to cross the line) in the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race Race. Here at RIBCRAFT we like to believe that their RIBCRAFT 5.85 that is used as a tender to Blue Yankee contributed to their success, but I'm sure it had more to do with their crew's ability than their RIBCRAFT. For more information on Blue Yankee's performance visit Sailing Scuttlebutt or check out the official Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race website.... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2007
Taking The Worry Out Of Coaching
For many yacht clubs and summer camps, this week marks the start of their junior sailing programs. With that comes hundreds of excited children making their way down to the docks for the first time of the season. For some that excitement is trepidation for the dreaded swim test, while for others it’s an eagerness to dust off the cobwebs and get back on the water. For instructors their excitement is much the same. Yes, they dread the swim test too (but for different reasons I’m sure), but for some their excitement is one couched in anxiety at seeing the caliber of sailors they’ll have this summer, and for many the excitement is a concern based on the question that’s always in the back of their mind of whether or not the coach boat will start when they need it, what’s broken now, and will it be functional. For the lucky coaches (and clubs) that have purchased the new US... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 04:16 PM | Comments (0)
June 21, 2007
Under Water Lights
Here’s the ultimate option on a RIB for someone who has it all! These thru-hull underwater lights not only make your boat stand-out in the crowd, I hear they attract marine life to the surface. Some search and rescue groups have even used these underwater lights (clear instead of blue) for searching in clear waters. (Psychedelic look not included with lights.)... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 02:35 PM | Comments (2)
May 10, 2007
Great Weather - Great Boat
Ahh – as the weather get’s nicer – so do the sea trials. Making it even more enjoyable is a fantastic boat with the perfect layout. I just sea trialed a 25’ RIBCRAFT 7.8 built for a recreational customer who is going to use the boat for use as a tender for his fleet of sailboats. The boat featured a center console, leaning post, fore and aft tow posts, and a transom extension which allowed for our newest feature, an aft bench seat. All metalwork was completed in stainless steel – making the final appointments refined and flawless. Not only did the boat look great – it performed beautifully. With a small chop and a westerly 15 knot breeze, the boat easily popped onto a plane and maneuvered empty moorings in the harbor like a professional slalom skier. Perfect for recreational use – this layout would work great for harbormasters, yacht clubs, and marine patrols. Don't forget to check out... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:02 AM | Comments (2)
April 04, 2007
Add A Touch of the RIBCRAFT 5.85 And A Touch of the RIBCRAFT 7.8 and You Get...
A truly great RIBCRAFT 6.8! We sea trialed one of our new RIBCRAFT 6.8s and the boat’s performance exceeded our expectations. With a steady north easterly breeze funneling down Marblehead Harbor producing a steady 2-3’ chop, it was a made to order day for a RIBCRAFT sea trial. Equipped with twin 90HP Honda four strokes, the 6.8 performed beautifully, smoothly slicing through the chop without an ounce of salt spray touching the tubes. I’m a huge fan of the 19’ RIBCRAFT 5.85 and the 25’ RIBCRAFT 7.8 and I have to say that the 6.8 seemed to be made specifically for my likings. It had the maneuverability and agility of the 5.85, yet the power and balance of the heavier offshore 7.8. Though it was a cold and dreary day, I didn’t want to get off the water – the 6.8 made me want to stay out there all day. Here are some pictures of the boat. This boat is... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2006
A RIB For All Occasions
What do you do with a RIB?! It’s a question I used to get all the time, but these days with RIBs becoming more prominent in US waters the question comes up less and less. It’s too bad in some ways – because that question really speaks to the versatility of a RIB. As I’ve said countless times before in answering this question, with a RIB you can do everything you do with a hardsided boat, only much more. I recently scanned a list of our customers and to my own amazement I was quite impressed with the multitude of activities our RIBs are used for. For Work our customers use their RIBs for: Coaching, Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Patrols, Security Work, Interdiction, Education, Philanthropy, Tourism, Officiating, Diving, Towing, Research, Exploration, Salvage, & Transportation. For Play our customers use their RIBS for: Entertainment, Adventure, Cruising, Fishing, Hunting, Exploring, Spectating, Family Fun, Escapes, Diving, Thrills, & Enjoyment. I know I... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 04:35 PM | Comments (5)
November 06, 2006
Rescue Craft Sea Trial - Double the Performance
I just got back from a fantastic sea trial. As part of our quality control program, we sea trial every boat prior to delivery. Each boat is taken through the paces and pushed to the limit to insure everything is functioning properly. Should there be any failures we want to know about them before the boat leaves our facilities so we can fix them while the boat is still in our possession. This morning I was fortunate to get out on two identical RIBCRAFT 4.8 Rescue Craft. These two boats performed perfectly. I’ve been on hundreds of sea trials and they just don’t get old. Whether with prospective customers, marine editors, or colleagues, the 4.8 is one boat that never disappoints! The two 4.8s were equipped with the 60HP Mercury Big Foot four stroke engine. Though not always a favorite of our riggers, these 60HP engines moved the boats perfectly. Topping out right around 40 mph, the boats easily held... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 01:48 PM | Comments (5)
September 21, 2006
Forward Thinking... RIBCRAFT's Console Placement
I’m often asked why the consoles on RIBCRAFT models appear to be placed further forward than many of our competitors. It’s a great question - and as you can imagine their placement isn’t done simply by happenstance or by some marketing guy who thought it was a great marketing gimmick. BALANCE One of the chronic problems with RIBs is that they tend to be extremely stern heavy and can struggle when it comes to getting the bow to come down while coming onto a plane. We’ve all seen RIBs with the bow shooting high into the air. This is extremely problematic – not only do you lose visibility, but it can be very unnerving. By placing our consoles forward, we improve the overall balance of the boat by offsetting the weight of the engine(s) with the weight of the operator. You will find that a RIBCRAFT RIB easily pops up on a plan and rides nice and flat. Though this... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:02 AM | Comments (4)
July 27, 2006
RIBCRAFT Gear
Show your RIBCRAFT Pride with new RIBCRAFT T-Shirts, Polo Shirts, Hats, and Window Decals. Click on "RIBCRAFT Gear" on the RIBCRAFT home page to order your own shirts and hats today. Whether you own a RIBCRAFT or not, everyone looks good sporting RIBCRAFT Gear!... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 02:23 PM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2006
Run a RIB!
Check out this great video of a 21' RIBCRAFT 210 underway in what looks like 1-1.5' chop. Nothing runs like a RIB as these two RIB junkies know! In case you're wondering, the footage was shot from a 25' RIBCRAFT 7.8 Mitigator. RUN A RIB! By the way, if any of you have footage of your RIB underway - I'd love to see it!... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)
June 14, 2006
Soaked, Battered & Hindered - Not In A RIB
It was the first real nice day of the season here, so I decided to head out on a RIBCRAFT 5.85. You could tell too by the number of SeaTow, Tow Boat/US and Harbormasters out responding to breakdowns - that for many this was the inaugural cruise of the season and the excitement of the moment didn’t magically put fuel in their tanks or fix their engine problems from last year. It was a rough day with a strong westerly breeze that made for a wet rough ride for anyone not in a RIB. I am still amazed to see the area Harbormasters and towing companies struggle with their hard-sided boats in theses kind of conditions. As I sped comfortably by at 25 knots, it was a sad sight to see the harbormaster in his 25’ hard-sided center console with a T-Top and blue light flashing slowly flogging their way out of the harbor. Not making more than 10 knots,... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 04:33 PM | Comments (0)
June 08, 2006
To Sea Trial or Not To Sea Trial – There Is No Question
Matt Provenzano, RIBCRAFT’s Director of Operations When folks ask me why I spend so much time on our boats, I quote Kenneth Graham’s famous line, “There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” My goal since I started at RIBCRAFT was to build the best RIB in the industry, period. And spending large amounts of time on the water on our RIBS as well as our competitors’ boats is the best way I have found to flush out desirable and undesirable characteristics. As everyone at this company will attest, I don’t go “boating” - I go out with the sole purpose to put these boats to the test every time I hit the water. The Sea has a way of finding any kink in the armor and exploiting it. My goal and job is to find that kink first. I typically spend at least two days a week on the water sea trialing... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 05:57 PM | Comments (1)
May 01, 2006
On the Water With Vessel Assist
I was fortunate enough to get out on a RIBCRAFT 7.8 on the Pacific Ocean the other day with a customer in Ventura California. What a beautiful day in Southern California, the sun was shining, a nice gradual swell was rolling in, and the 2 foot chop made for ideal conditions for a RIB ride and for the dolphins that joined us. When it was my turn at the wheel, I put the boat to the test – cutting in among the surf and pushing the boat through tight figure eight turns. As always – I’m continuously amazed by the performance of a RIB! The RIBCRAFT 7.8 we were on is a machine – complete with twin military spec 150HP Johnson Enforcers, a shock mitigating seat for the operator and two aft pod seats for crew. This boat is used by Channel Watch Marine, a Vessel Assist Tow and Salvage operator. As a commercial tower, it’s an excellent platform for... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 06:14 PM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2006
Pods or Leaning Post?
This past weekend I was fortunate enough to go boating. I took to the water in a new RIBCRAFT 190 featuring our brand new leaning post. It had been a while since I was on a RIB with a leaning post and to be honest it was a nice change. I must say that I enjoyed the space and clean look it provided. Now a standard option on the new RIBCRAFT 190, customers can choose either the more mainstream leaning post or two jockey style pod seats as part of the base boat. Though I liked the comfort of the leaning post while cruising around the harbor, after my ride today, I still much prefer the peace of mind, safety and comfort the pods offer while underway. With the pods I have the option to either sit or stand, but no matter what, I know that I am fully supported and secure in the boat. While standing, using the backrest... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 09:20 PM | Comments (4)
March 02, 2006
RIB PIONEERS ON THE FRONTIER
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... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 10:29 AM | Comments (0)
February 27, 2006
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
We want it, you deserve it. Welcome to Fred’s Blog. As the first Blog dedicated to RIBs in the United States, we want to make sure our customers and all RIB enthusiasts are front and center. This blog was created for you. Fred’s Blog is your resource for the latest thoughts and ideas from all of us at RIBCRAFT on topics pertaining to RIBs, RIBCRAFT and our boats (professional & recreational), and the RIB world as a whole. Basically, anything that’s relevant and important to your personal RIB experience. We hope you find this helpful and entertaining. To that end, please feel free to post comments and share your thoughts on what we have to say. Good and bad, we’d love to hear them all. As one of the few RIB manufacturers in the U.S., we want to be a resource, not just for RIBCRAFT customers, but for all RIB owners in the United States. Bookmark this page and check... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 01:15 PM | Comments (2)
Back To Index