Chinese RIB's good enough

[zed57]

Looking to get my first inflatable for my family. We will be exploring southern British Columbia lakes and rivers and sheltered Ocean waters. Fishing as well. I did not think a RIB was in our budget but a local dealer sells and services these Chinese RIB's with an aluminum floot that LOOK great. I know the materials and construction is not the best i.e. not thermo-welded seams etc, but is it good enough? We will be storing the boat in a garage so it wont be suffering UV and the elements year round. Can we get more than ten years out of a boat like this?

Aluminium RIB(CE) - Product Picture From Weihai Noahyacht Co., Ltd.

 

[ssobol]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

Looking to get my first inflatable for my family. We will be exploring southern British Columbia lakes and rivers and sheltered Ocean waters. Fishing as well. I did not think a RIB was in our budget but a local dealer sells and services these Chinese RIB's with an aluminum floot that LOOK great. I know the materials and construction is not the best i.e. not thermo-welded seams etc, but is it good enough? We will be storing the boat in a garage so it wont be suffering UV and the elements year round. Can we get more than ten years out of a boat like this?

Aluminium RIB(CE) - Product Picture From Weihai Noahyacht Co., Ltd.

Unless you are someone who has to have things new, try checking for used ribs in your area. You might be able to find a turnkey rigged setup for about the same money or maybe less as just the new rib boat (which does not come with a motor, trailer, and other gear). In a used boat you can also get a bigger boat for your money.

Especially for a first timer, I'd be looking at used boats.

 

[zed57]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

Thanks, have been checking used mostly, but seems like the used market is mostly SIB's where I am - and there are good deals for sure, but for RIB not so much.

 

[mansters]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

honestly i would stay away from them, i bought a used Chinese one, being that Im a rookie at any type of boat,
it turns out it had a nasty seam leak, i end up fixing it and i went crazy with the glue, i reinforced the crap of the whole boat.
I would shop around and browse dont jump the gun.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

You'll be surprised how many reputed sib/ rib brands builds their watercrafts in Asia. If the local dealer stands100% for the manufacturer's warranty go for it. Which alum hull size are you planing buying ? You have the nice alternative buying 1.2 mm PVC fabrics whether Korean or German, both excellent fabrics, being German slightly more pricey.

Mansters, which used Chinese sib/rib brand did you buy ? You can't throw in same sac all Asian brands just because you had an issue with one sold second hand and probably not knowing a thing about previos ownersip. You could be buying a Pandora box when buying used too, has happened many times. Qingdao made is to boats, as Las Vegas is to gambling...

Happy Boating.

 

[ssobol]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

You'll be surprised how many reputed sib/ rib brands builds their watercrafts in Asia. If the local dealer stands100% for the manufacturer's warranty go for it. Which alum hull size are you planing buying ? You have the nice alternative buying 1.2 mm PVC fabrics whether Korean or German, both excellent fabrics, being German slightly more pricey.

Mansters, which used Chinese sib/rib brand did you buy ? You can't throw in same sac all Asian brands just because you had an issue with one sold second hand and probably not knowing a thing about previos ownersip. You could be buying a Pandora box when buying used too, has happened many times. Qingdao made is to boats, as Las Vegas is to gambling...

Happy Boating.

I bought a new US brand rib from a dealer. The seams at the transom started pulling apart the first time I used it. Yes it got fixed under warranty but it was a big hassle and took a few weeks. There was also an issue with the motor (brand new) that required repair this took a couple more weeks to fix (and was not covered by the warranty).

My second rib (from a different dealer) was used (a Zodiac). For 1/3 less money I got a boat that was more than 1/3 larger than the first one. I had no problems with the second boat at all.

 

[mansters]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

You'll be surprised how many reputed sib/ rib brands builds their watercrafts in Asia. If the local dealer stands100% for the manufacturer's warranty go for it. Which alum hull size are you planing buying ? You have the nice alternative buying 1.2 mm PVC fabrics whether Korean or German, both excellent fabrics, being German slightly more pricey.

Mansters, which used Chinese sib/rib brand did you buy ? You can't throw in same sac all Asian brands just because you had an issue with one sold second hand and probably not knowing a thing about previos ownersip. You could be buying a Pandora box when buying used too, has happened many times. Qingdao made is to boats, as Las Vegas is to gambling...

Happy Boating.

its an 2000 Oceaner 12ft sib, PVC. I search and search for this brand, and no dice, so came to a conclusion is just a Chinese one, i had a mercury quicksilver 11ft sib, and the pvc on the 12ft one is much stronger than the quicksilver, it had a seam leak right where the transom meets, I almost gave up on it, but i end up cutting the tube to place a super large patch inside, it work

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

We have probably other commercial point of view, that's why we always inflate all our sib/ribs at shop to max stated working pressure for 24 hours along overall inflatable condition total check to assure everything is well glued and in good working order before final delivery to client. That way will know for sure product is 100% free of unspected issues when out of the box.

Happy Boating

 

[Luvinflatableboats]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

Hi,

My conclusion is that you get what you pay for. I had a used Zodiac Zoom (made in France). The quality was quite good but it was abused and I was told that they gave it to a youngster who abused it. In any case I kept the motor and bought a Chinese RIB. The RIB handles better but there are a lot of issues such as the draining that were better on the Zodiac.

If I had to do it again I would buy a brand name boat such as Zodiac or Brig they are better made and made to last and work. In terms of engines I would get a Tohatsu since they are the best value for money. I would definitely stay away from Chinese motors at this time.

Boating is about having fun and what fun can you have if your boat lets you down. I have a Yamaha 20HP 4 stroke that was not well looked after but I have given it some TLC and it has given me great service and starts with the first pull.




My 2 cents.


D.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

Zodiac drain valves are much better than Chinese ones due to having thinner diaphragms which drains more water faster. If that's an issue, simply buy Zodiac diaphgrms and swap them with current delivered ones and voila!! Tip, when there's lots of water draining from valve sometimes diaphragm is expelled by water pressure and lost. When placing a new one, once installed, apply some silicone on diaphragm stem end, let dry, you won't lose it again...

Happy Boating

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

Looking to get my first inflatable for my family. We will be exploring southern British Columbia lakes and rivers and sheltered Ocean waters. Fishing as well. I did not think a RIB was in our budget but a local dealer sells and services these Chinese RIB's with an aluminum floot that LOOK great. I know the materials and construction is not the best i.e. not thermo-welded seams etc, but is it good enough? We will be storing the boat in a garage so it wont be suffering UV and the elements year round. Can we get more than ten years out of a boat like this?
Thanks
Aluminium RIB(CE) - Product Picture From Weihai Noahyacht Co., Ltd.

Since you are in BC.
Why not contact Walker Bay.
Walker Bay

 

[joemac356]

Re: Chinese RIB's good enough

I'm old enough to remember when the words, "Made in Japan" were thought to mean of inferior quality.
Sometimes, the reputation was deserved, due to the influx of low quality junk that the post-war Japanese were exporting in their effort to rebuild their war-ravaged economy.
It eventually evolved that those same words on a product would mean quite the opposite.
Cars, motorcycles, cameras, electronics... they sure could (and did) produce finely-crafted goods.

In the sixties, Japanese guitars flooded the market. They were, for the most part, junk.
By the early seventies, the quality of guitars from Japan had reached, and sometimes surpassed, those built in the USA.

I now own an acoustic guitar that was made in China that I've had for over ten years. It is so well-made and sounds so great that I sold off my other acoustics, including a 1969 Martin that was worth about twenty times the cost of the Chinese import. My son liked it so much that I bought him one for Christmas that year.
It's the best acoustic guitar I've ever owned, and I've gone through a lot of them in fifty-some years.

Not everything from China is junk.
The Intex inflatable I just bought was made there. Time will tell...

Just a thought.