Ribs for Sale (Rigid Inflatable Boats) (Visit this link)

RibsforSale.com is the website for JBT Marine, a marine brokerage based near Portsmouth on the UK south coast. They offer large selections of either new and used RIBs, or rigid inflatable boats, to be found anywhere in the country.

RIBs are lightweight craft that use a rigid hull in conjunction with inflated, flexible tubes forming the gunwale. The inflated tubes make these boats exceptionally buoyant and safe while the overall design is very stable, even in rough seas. As well as being safe, maneuverable boats they can also be incredibly fast when powered with suitable inboard or outboard engines.

RIBs achieve their high speeds due to their hull design which makes them hydroplane over the water. This means that the boat is skimming over the surface of the water rather than being pushed through it, thus reducing the drag. It is not unusual for high performance RIBs, which are lightweight with high power engines, to achieve speeds of 40 to 70 knots (up to 130km/h).

RIB racing is now a popular sport in the UK having started around 18 years ago. A group of RIB enthusiasts kicked off the competition in 1990 with a long-distance endurance race around Scotland and the Highlands. RIB design and RIB racing has progressed immensely since these early days. There are now several classes of rigid inflatable boat and engine combinations from a 5.6m craft fitted with a single 110 horse power outboard through to incredibly powerful 7.5m boats fitted with dual 320 horse power inboard engines.

As well as racing, another sport in which RIBs are put through their paces is wakeboarding. This is becoming increasingly popular, even in chilly British waters. Larger RIBs are often used such as a 7.5m Ribeye with a 200 horse power Yamaha outboard motor. This boat has seating for up to 10 people and can achieve incredible speeds in excess of 50mph. Ideal for both wakeboarding and waterskiing.

The exceptional stability, buoyancy and maneuverability of RIBs have made them popular with many of the world’s sea rescue services as well as the military. They are exceptional craft in rough seas, capable of cutting through choppy waters, at speed, to reach sailors in difficulty. There are many yachtsmen who will be eternally thankful for the help provided by the British RNLI speeding to their rescue in a powerful, fast RIB.

There are a number of notable RIB manufacturers including Avon who are based in South Wales. Their distinctive RIBs are built to the highest standards and have an outstanding reputation for safety and seaworthiness. These RIBs are favored by many of the world’s safety and security agencies including the British RNLI, the United States Coast Guard, NATO and Greenpeace.

Ribeye are another notable UK manufacturer with a reputation for comfort and exceptional reliability. This particular manufacturer is relatively new, having begun production in 1998. Their craft are very much aimed at the family leisure and sports markets. Their headquarters are in Dartmouth, Devon but production was moved to South Africa.

A particularly well known RIB manufacturer is Zodiac. Their name is so synonymous with inflatable boats that many people refer to RIBs as Zodiacs. The Zodiac story started way back in 1908 with the formation of the ‘French Airship Company’. It was during the Second World War that some of the first inflatable boats were developed using scrap barrage balloon fabric. It was after the war that Dr Alain Bombard made his momentous Atlantic crossing in a Zodiac RIB proving the seaworthiness of these tough and practical craft.

One of the world’s leading high speed RIB manufacturers is Revenger. They make some of the most sophisticated, high end, top performance RIBs available today. Not surprisingly, Revenger started in the speedboat business before entering the RIB market in 1994. Revenger, based in Southampton, have a packed trophy cabinet having raced successfully in a number of RIB formula 1 and formula 2 class events. They hold the records for both the fastest lap around Great Britain and around the Isle of Wight.

The staff at JBT Marine are experienced sailors and RIB riders. They are happy to share their expertise with anyone interested in RIBs and you can experience the thrill and exhilaration of cutting through the Solent seas, at high speed, if you take up their offer of a test drive from their boatyard in Emsworth near Portsmouth.

You can also find more listings from this category, here: Ships and Watercraft