SuPrBuGmAn
Contributor
There is an artical on the Zodiac CZ7 in Popular Mechanics. Its gotta lotta carbon fiber and other exotic materials in it. The damned thing costs $200,000USD!! For a RIB!!! Holy Crap!
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SuPrBuGmAn:There is an artical on the Zodiac CZ7 in Popular Mechanics. Its gotta lotta carbon fiber and other exotic materials in it. The damned thing costs $200,000USD!! For a RIB!!! Holy Crap!
bridgediver:It looks as though I'm the minority here but I don't like RIB's for diving at all - at least in 3 ft waves or more. We had the crap kicked out of our bodies and our gear from the constant pounding. Not one guy went 2 days without a peice of gear geting broken or lost, where's the savings in that? Gearing up and getting in the water is difficult at best - getting out of the water is even worse. This made the diving no fun at all for the first time ever!
Single tanks might not be so bad but for doubles - forget about it! I'll never dive or even snorkle off a RIB again!
My friend OE2X has a very nice RIB and I really like diving with him out of it...overexposed2X:My friend Uncle Pug has an 18' Whaler. While it is nice the ride is not as smooth since it does not have a V hull. My boat is easier to get in and out of since it is lower to the water. You have to take your tank off and clip it to a dangling rope, then dolphin kick on board. The ride is very dry and you can take the boat out in the worst conditions and still get home. Mine has a 140 four stroke Suzuki which I really like. She only burns 7 gal. an hour at 23 knots.
Uncle Pug:My friend OE2X has a very nice RIB and I really like diving with him out of it...
However:
1. My Montauk is 17' long and will only cost $65 per ferry ticket compared to his $135
2. My Montauk will do 43 mph with a 90ph engine... if I put that Suzuki 140 on it I wouldn't need a ferry ticket... I could fly to BC.
3. We don't have to take our tanks off to climb up the ladder.
4. As Chuck pointed out it is tough dragging the rigs up over those tubes... but have someone in the water pushing did help.
5. My Montauk does have a V entry and rides smooth if I don't trim the motor up to get max speed.
6. My Friend OE2X's RIB does ride smoother at 23 than my Montauk does at 43.
overexposed2X:Are you saying that a Bayliner will give you a better ride in these conditions? What is your recommendation for 16'-24' length?