Rigid dink vs Hard bottom Caribe
I currently have a 9' 6" Caribe hard bottom dink with a 15 hp Yamaha. I am
considering buying the 10' dink from Rigid Boats. Does anyone on the list
have direct experience with the Rigid boat? Is it really lighter than my Caribe?
I don't know how long Rigid has been around but what about longevity of the
boat will it last as long or longer than a Caribe style dink? How about
handling in waves etc? How about strength of the boat is it a hardy boat or
somewhat delicate? Any information will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Jim
"Semper Fi"
From: JSpence47@aol.com
I currently have a 9' 6" Caribe hard bottom dink with a 15 hp Yamaha. I
am
considering buying the 10' dink from Rigid Boats. Does anyone on the list
have direct experience with the Rigid boat? Is it really lighter than my
Caribe? (endsnip)
This boat looks very much like the Boss Boats. First, I can't see how it
could be lighter. The website says the 10ft model weighs 275 lbs, and your
Caribe couldn't possible weigh that much. According to what I can see, the
C9X model Caribe weighs 141 lbs.
I will say that the Boss Boats and Rigid Boats are very good looking boats!
I started with a 10 ft Avon RIB, and had a chance to get a very nearly new
10 ft Boss boat at just over half price, so I bought it. It was much rougher
riding than the Avon, the "watertight" compartments weren't, and you have to
use fenders unlike the inflatables. I had a friend that wanted it, so I let
him have it and went back to the Avon. Now I think he's about decided he'd
rather have an inflatable himself.
Keith Emmons of the list also has a 10ft Boss and I think he recently
decided he would rather have an inflatable. Maybe he'll comment.
Bottom line, I wouldn't reccomend it. What few advantages it has are
outweighed by many disadvantages.
Brent Hodges
tender, "Littleship" t/t Friendship
10ft Avon with 25hp Merc 2 stroke.
(Man, will this thing fly!!) :o)
My decision to go to a RIB is based solely on weight of the Boss 10 and
equipment. I really like the boat, but cannot hoist it up to the upper deck
of the Krogen by myself. To lift it up the side without dragging it, you
have to lower the boom pretty far out. Then once it's airborne, you have to
raise the boom to bring the dink more to the centerline of the boat. With a
4:1 set of block and tackle, the dink is too heavy. I had installed a winch
up there, and it's still too hard. I recently replaced the current block and
tackle with a 6:1 set, but have already decided the Boss is just too heavy
to deal with like that. I don't want to tow it everywhere, so I'm putting it
up on the market pretty soon, and probably getting one of the new Walker Bay
RIBs - cool boat!
As far as the hard pounding with the Boss... that's correct. I had a couple
of cushions made by C-Cushions down in Rockport, TX, bolted them to the
sides onto the tube access covers, and made this tolerable. I wouldn't be
running full throttle with the 25 HP engine in rough water though!
If you've OK with towing, or have the capability to lift that heavy little
sucker up onto your deck without a problem, I'd recommend them. However, if
you're sensitive to weight, I'd skip it.
Keith
Reason to smile: Every seven minutes of every day, someone in an aerobics
class pulls a hamstring.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brent Hodges" vbhodges@cableone.net
Keith Emmons of the list also has a 10ft Boss and I think he recently
decided he would rather have an inflatable. Maybe he'll comment.
For anyone considering a Boss Boat - don't! Not saying anything about the
boats themselves, but you do not want to deal with that company. If you want
the gory details, I'd be happy to share privately.
Stephanie Wakelin
I second what Stephanie is saying.. I had nothing but problems with our Boss 10. The sides leaked at the seams, the plugs leaked, the fuel tank line didn't work, and heck not even all the stuff we ordered with the boat showed up. We ordered the cushion set and the lifting harness neither showed up until I harassed them for 6 months. Due to the water that leaked into the boat my lights became inoperable within the first 3 months of the boat, and I had to replace switches due to the salt water intrusion. Then the final straw came as we got a letter from the company telling us to apply a sticker the re certified us from 1100lbs(Including engine) to something like 400 lbs.. Both are just estimates because I can't remember the exact amount because the boats been gone for almost a year and a half(We had to give it away). The company was a real pain to deal with and I'm super glad that we don't have that boat anymore.
I'm sure that there are people out there who are happy with them because I did do some research prior to us getting the Boss Boat and I received a lot of feedback. But from my personal experience I will never buy a product from them again.