New RIB owner

[TJLMERC330]

Greetings ..I am new to this site. I had been wrestling trying to replace my old tired PVC dingy with something that didnt have any patches or holes in it. My options were
1. A new inflatable with PVC bottom and a fiberglass/aluminum or air floor (this was the cheapest option)
2. An inflatable boat with fiberglass hull
3. A small skiff ie: Boston Whaler

During my reseach I was informed that my marina will charge me $50/ft additional to keep any 'dingy' with hard sides in my slip with my Grady. Sooo that excludes the Skiff. I intend on trailering and lauching this boat by myself so the PVC hull boat kinda scared me .... Sooo After much debate I settled on a 2009 Mercury 330 Ocean Runner (10'10")... I bought a brand new Venture trailer ($500) and am set to go as soon as the boat comes in ....

Here a a few of my questions:
1. The boat will be sitting in the water (salt water) ALOT of the time, do I paint the PVC pontoons with PVC bottom paint and the fiberglass hull with regular albative bottom paint?

2. The warranty on the PVC is 5 years .(seams etc) when the day comes that the PVC is shot, can new PVC pontoons be attached to the fiberglass hull or is the boat shot?

Thanx .. Tom

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: New RIB owner

I'm not familiar with that boat, but there's a chance the tubes wont even touch the water at rest, so you might not need to worry about painting them. With PVC, you'll want to keep it covered when not in use so buy a quality cover. Coat the tubes with 3M aerospace protectant frequently even with the cover in place. Again I don't know the boat, but I'm sure the tubes can be replaced when they wear out. Every RIB I've seen is that way.

Good luck, sounds like a great setup. What size motor you putting on it?

 

[TJLMERC330]

Re: New RIB owner

I have a Johnson 9.9 .. it was attached to the boat I just threw away ... I bought it as a package from a guy last year ($400) ,,, the boat was shot but the engine runs like a top .... so I'll run the 9.9 till it can't go any more then I'll put a 15 Merc on the back ..... Can't wait till the boats are in the water !

Drowned Rat ... where are you located ??


Goin just a Liiiiiiitle stir crazy .......

Tom

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: New RIB owner

Yeah, the 9.9 will be fun. The 15 will be a blast!

Phoenix, AZ.

 

[lester]

Re: New RIB owner

Tom, congrats on the new Rib. I have also recently acquired a new to me rib as well. I got a 2001 Zodiac yachtline 340 (11'2") and from what Ocean Runner looks like, these are very similar ribs. I would be willing to bet your tubes will be in the water when the boat is just floating. Check out my avatar, this is how the boat looks when in water. The bottom of the tubes are in the water. Anyways you can use regular fiberglass bottom paint on the fiberglass hull and for the tubes make sure to use a paint specific for PVC tubes. I am planning on painting my inflatable soon and will let you know how it turns out. I plan on using Inland Marine's Inflatable TopSide Paint. Retubing is possible, but the cost would probably offset the price of a new shiny one. The best thing to do would be to take good care of thing and you should get more than your 5 years out of it. Lets see some pics.

 

[TJLMERC330]

Re: New RIB owner

I'm not going to paint the bottom until I see how it sit's in the water .. then I can mark the waterline accuratly ..... I'm curious to see how this boat react's to the long shaft motor (my last boat popped a wheelie every time I hit the gas) ...If needed I'll either put a fin on the motor or those little trim tabs they sell for dingy's ..... ... Lester, Good luck with your new Zodiac ! .... Tom

 

[kandil]

Re: New RIB owner

..... I'm curious to see how this boat react's to the long shaft motor

I found this for you http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=290612

 

[TJLMERC330]

Re: New RIB owner

Kandil ... Thanks for the reply/info But ... I'm not going to re-configure my transom to fit the motor I have ... I'm a 'stay within the lines kinda guy' .... if the long shaft is a problem that cant be fixed with fins or trim tabs ...I'll sell the motor and buy a 15hp short shaft ....

Tom

 

[kandil]

Re: New RIB owner

Most would say stay awy from fins

 

[lester]

Re: New RIB owner

Thanks for the reply/info But ... I'm not going to re-configure my transom to fit the motor I have ... I'm a 'stay within the lines kinda guy' .... if the long shaft is a problem that cant be fixed with fins or trim tabs ...I'll sell the motor and buy a 15hp short shaft ....

You should go ahead and make arrangements to get that 15 short shaft now then. Trim tabs or fins will probably help marginally, but because of the long shaft:
-water will probably come in over the transom at WOT and when you slow down
-your underwater clearance suffers
-your speed will be lower due to all of the excess drag from the lower unit

This all comes from first hand experience. You will be much happier if you just go ahead and buy the correct shaft size for your boat.

 

[TJLMERC330]

Re: New RIB owner

I picked up the new toy today. I will hold my final critique until after I see how she rides ... But,,,, I am really impressed with the quailty ..Mercury did a great job with this little RIB .. it's a cool little boat, designed & constructed very well .. 2 guys can lift it with ease ... It'll be no problem lauching/loading at the ramp with 1 person .... it comes with a heavy duty zip-on cover (used when deflated) .... I can't wait till the weather breaks and I can get these boats in the water !!


Tom

 

[lester]

Re: New RIB owner

lets see a few pictures.

 

[Sea Rider]

Engine Updates

Engine Updates

Hola Tom

What is you 9.9 motor brand, if it were a Evinrude/Jonson 96 & up, by changing complete carb to match the 15 model will have a updated 15 HP, if it were a disguised (Mercury/Mariner) by Tohatsu, will need to adjust + timming degrees, 9.9 has bit less ? than 15 model. According to manual both carbs have the same parts, even share same inlet manifold. Maybe will need a wot test to se if current prop is inside min and max rpm for that model.

If it's cheaper, stay with current engine, change carb, adjust timming, depending on model, buy a transom bracket to raise the engine, placing fins or any other gadget won't cure the drag problem as you need to raise the engine to free water drag. One issue that nobody seems to pay much attention at is that all brand engines recommends propper heights from transom to lower anticav plate, generally 3 to 5 cm to perform well with minimun drag. Other issue: inflate tubes to correct working pressure 3-3.5 psi.

Once tail corrected height is achieved, the difference in performance is astonishing. Have gone through this myself and now boating with top end speed and minimum tail drag. Smalll upper plate on leg (not confuse with Anticav plate) should be slightly over the water when in plane horizontal planing position.

Happy Boating