RIB or not

sarbog

Member
Aug 22, 2008
135
Emerald Isle NC
Boat Info
'05 340 Sundancer
Garmin 7610xsv
1951 Penn Yan 9' Aerodinghy/2018 AB 9vl w/ 15 hp Evinrude 2-strk
Engines
Twin 8.1 Horizons v-drives
I am scouring the internet for used dinghys. Many more inflatable keel than RIB (if I can even find one in my area). For those of you that have them, do I really need a RIB? It will go on the back of a 340 on davits so I want to keep it 9'6" or less and lite. I don't need to hot rod around, in fact even planing isn't a necessity for my usage: getting to and from the beach from anchorage or to the dock. In other words overwhelmingly short 1-200 yard trips with up to 4 adults and maybe a dog. years ago when I lived in Hawaii I had a 12' Nouvarania(?) with a 25hp 2-stroke. It had an air keel and would fly with my neighbor and I (we were both 200'+), our diving gear and 4 tanks for diving off Oahu. We made some fairly long trips and the air keel did fine. I can save a fair bit of change going with an inflatable keel but I don't want to buy a dinghy twice, if you know what I mean. So seeking advice and input from those that have been down this road. I may ultimately buy new but I want it to be an informed decision. Thanks.
 
We prefer a RIB. But then we will take trips of 5-10 miles on it.

Based on how you describe using it, that it is going on a 340 (assuming fixed swim platform) - not sure the extra cost of a RIB is worth it.

End of the day - you know what you expect to use it for.

Mark
 
We went with a Highfield aluminum RIB. Very happy with it. I thought the same as you at first but after making the decision to go with a RIB we wouldn't have it any other way. When you are fighting a bit of wind or current and getting splashed on the quick ride to the beach or dock becomes and uphill battle.
 
How does the Highfield fit on your 320 and how do you carry it? My platform on the 340 is marginally bigger but comparable, and once I decide which route I'm going I then have to decide on a davit system.
 
I have a Mercury 310 hypalon RIB fibreglass bottom on a 330. I think it's great but I used it for fishing once anchored and run some distance so the bow deadrise makes it smoother in chop. It is heavy compared to a high pressure air bottom though. Sounds like you are using it for short hops so may not need that feature.
 
How does the Highfield fit on your 320 and how do you carry it? My platform on the 340 is marginally bigger but comparable, and once I decide which route I'm going I then have to decide on a davit system.

We went with a 9,6" mounted on davits with an 8 HP tohatsu. Here's a few pics. Fits perfectly.
 

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Highfields CL 290 on a 340DA: (I put this on another post with more detail recently about davits, you might want to poke around there too)

IMG_20170521_115453240.jpg

IMG_20170521_064320860_HDR.jpg
 
We went with a Highfield aluminum RIB. Very happy with it.

Can't go wrong with highfield. I'm on my second one and couldn't be happier. Almost everyone on my dock has one too.
e047f40082da59657f7c2936a55fb865.jpg



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A few cliche's for you to think about - better to have and not need than need and not have. There is no replacement for displacement.


I have an air keel with a 6hp, figuring I would only run to/from the beach. One long trip (1nm) convinced me otherwise when the tide was going out and I was trying to get back in with my family.

I switched to a RIB and a 9.9 then a 15hp. It's saved my butt more than once. I've used it to unground me as well as to travel 10+nm to other islands in the Bahamas.

My kids are now using it to tow a kneeboard
 
If you want an inflatable keel dinghy, I'll sell you mine. It's not 3 years old yet and I hate it. Seeing a 1-foot wave coming makes me cringe. Full throttle on my 9.9 tightens sphincters I didn't know I had.

My previous dinghy was an Avon with a roll-up floor. It rode like a living room rug, but I could deflate / inflate it in minutes. The 4-piece plywood floor in my new one is a nightmare. The next time I have to assemble it I might just hire it out. (that's if the plywood is still intact 11 months from now - I doubt it will be)

Thanks for the opportunity to rant!
 
Achilles LEX 96 here with inflatable keel and sectional ply floor. Two years on and still very happy with it. Can't say I have any dramas putting it together - 10 to 15 mins and it's together and inflated. I mainly use it to go from moorings to the beach on coastal trips or around the local marina during holidays. Horses for courses.

An old Practical Sailor review of inflatables.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/26_23/features/4459-1.html
 
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Can't go wrong with highfield. I'm on my second one and couldn't be happier. Almost everyone on my dock has one too.
e047f40082da59657f7c2936a55fb865.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You are my hero! My son can never see this thread, once he sees that we can get that and a lift on our boat I will never hear the end of it!!! As soon as I trip over $40K I'll add the lift and that tender. Seriously that is a tender not a dinghy, LOL!!! But the wife dictates that we add your camper canvas first!!!

Nice work!!
 
You are my hero! My son can never see this thread, once he sees that we can get that and a lift on our boat I will never hear the end of it!!! As soon as I trip over $40K I'll add the lift and that tender. Seriously that is a tender not a dinghy, LOL!!! But the wife dictates that we add your camper canvas first!!!

Nice work!!

Lol thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
SARBOG: I've been working on this dinghy issue for a while. I have a 2004 340. (I'm in Raleigh but my boat is in Wilmington). I tried Weaver Snap Davits raised platform and Outboard Motosto. It didn't work very well for me. I end up with Dinghyramps. You lose the platform space but no motor removal. I have a West Marine 310 RIB with a 9.9 Mercury. With ramps it's very easy to dump and retrieve with two people. But heavy for one person retrieve. Boat and motor are about 190 LBS
I just bought a Mercury Dynamic 270 with a Yamaha 6HP. Much lighter (140 LBS), I think I'll be able to retrieve this boat myself. If this RIB works better I'll sell the old WM 310 and 9.9 Merc. Both RIBs are 5.11 Beam. Nothing over 6 beam will work on ramps in a 340. Both RIB are 4 people about 900LBS capacity. I'm able to plane 3 people with the 9.9 HP.
There is a lot to talk about the different set ups. PM me if you want to talk longer about it. I can also txt you pics of my boat with the dinghy on. I have both RIBs here in Raleigh now if you want to see them.
BTW all soft bottom with wood transom are not very good. Poor performance. They only last 3-5 years. The roll up are better option if you want a soft boat.
 
I've been through several dinghy's over the years with my 340. I made the mistake of buying lower end dinghies that were not hypalon. I also tried engines from 4hp to 9.8. I now have a light weight (100 lbs.) Achilles inflatable RIB made of Hypalon and a torqeedo electric outboard. I use it to do short dinghy rides around the harbor and to get to and from shore. It's the ideal set up for me. Light enough I can pull it up on the davits solo (the 340 I have is a high swim platform) and the torqeedo has been bullet proof for several seasons and is the equivalent of a 3.5 horsepower engine. I'm very happy with the setup for my use. I do have a dinghy cover for when the boat is docked. Going on the 4th season now with this set up...
 
I've been through several dinghy's over the years with my 340. I made the mistake of buying lower end dinghies that were not hypalon. I also tried engines from 4hp to 9.8. I now have a light weight (100 lbs.) Achilles inflatable RIB made of Hypalon and a torqeedo electric outboard. I use it to do short dinghy rides around the harbor and to get to and from shore. It's the ideal set up for me. Light enough I can pull it up on the davits solo (the 340 I have is a high swim platform) and the torqeedo has been bullet proof for several seasons and is the equivalent of a 3.5 horsepower engine. I'm very happy with the setup for my use. I do have a dinghy cover for when the boat is docked. Going on the 4th season now with this set up...

I've been debating purchasing a RIB for years, but continue to do fine without one. Your setup sounds perfect. What models did you buy?


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I went with the Achilles HB-300FX and a torqeedo 1003. If you just troll to and from shore and around the harbor, this is a great set up. The torqeedo let's you know how much longer you can go distance wise, based on how fast you are going and battery burn. On longer stays on the boat, I just take the battery off and charge it over night. For a long weekend, I can usually last on one full charge.
 

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