Shop in Puget Sound to Restore a RIB Tender?

Cleaning the tube not work?
Your painters still there?
I have seen pretty good paint on tubes.
Yes, just a few years but it looked for a while longer.

Ouch. Bummer.

Yep, no cleaner for you !

d_meister does remind me;
As much as we luv to rebuild our boats and engines, RIBs have been to me, typically disposable.

When we go on long trips, I usually buy up a lil used RIB on its last leg, bolt on my ole craftsman air cooled outboard and have a tender for a few weeks.
When we come back to Jax, I sell, trade or give it away (less the lil outboard) and never see it again. So, with this silly story, you can tell I'm not invested in an expensive RIB.

But if I was, my logic would go here;

Do you resole your shoes or get new ones.
Yes, you can re-sole or re-tube, maybe saving a few pennies, or just go for a whole new model with warranties and not worry about it again for a while.
If you really (really, really) like the engine, move it to the new RIB.

RC... remember these are not 8-9ft dinks here. When you get up to 14ft. CC dinks there's a few more bucks involved, as we know the fiberglass part and everything in it is still very useable. So even if you pay a few G's for retubing your still ahead of the game.

I am afraid, a new tube installed is more than a few Gs.
But, like my 45 year old boat.
After I fixed her up last year, new shaft, new swim platform, new bottom, prop work and a tab representing a large percentage of her total value,, she is still a 45 year old boat that did not increase in value.
That new lip stick does look good though.

It may be the same for DM's RIB and should be considered.

BTY
Gongrads on you 1000th post.
I am honored it was towards me.

Nuff Said

May I modify your thread?
Are you shopping for another RIB?
What makes air tubes so worthy over a regular V bottom hull?
It's not the room they offer.
I don't see any better ride, cost or much weight savings either.
So, your shopping for a tender? Micro fish boat? Something for the kids to play in?
Explore in?
Or you like the ole bumper cars.

A few years ago, I was introduced to a family that made aluminum prams, Jon-boats and tenders.
I was intrigued with a nice 13 foot v hull. Unsinkable, stable, piles of engine and control options and a beautiful D rail that bounced off of everything like a RIB.
Less the engine, I could pick up the hull myself.
They were excited with their area niche and was asking about if installing a jet option would be interesting.

Then suddenly, they were gone. I understand a truck wreck.

I was chicken stuff at the time (broke as usual), should of bought the one I was looking at.
I have still been interested with what I found and can only wonder why somebody else has not stepped up with a similar tender offering.

Somewhere, somehow, there has to be a line of lil alloy boats to compete with these overpriced RIBs.
I was hoping there was some offerings on your side of the world.

My partner was shopping for RIBs a few years ago. Although he was excited about an aluminum hull RIB, he needed something that week and picked up an AB model with console and Yam outboard.
Later, he admits he should of waited for the aluminum RIB. So much lighter.
He does think the air chambers cushion the ride. I don't think this but he has made himself happy with what he has.
Oh, the two of us can not fit well on it.

Fuel gauge has an issue. Is reads empty.
Make sure that is fixed before delivery.