RIB Boat for Military purposes with general characteristics, performance and construction details

July 22, 2012 - PRLog -- RIB Boat is the layman’s term used for a rigid-hull inflatable boat, also spelled RHIB and better identifies this water craft as a RIB Boat and not a lamb, beef or for that matter human rib. RIB Boat is the best term used and will remove any frustration; as a matter of fact you will find exactly what you are looking for amongst the range found in RIB Boat.

A RIB Boat is light-weight, high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull, usually of fibreglass with flexible tubes at the gunwale (a nautical term that describes the top edge of the sides of a boat). A RIB Boat provides stability and seaworthiness as the inflatable collar allows the vessel to maintain buoyancy.

RIB Boat development began with inflatable boats and includes uses such as work boats in Commercial Operations, Leisure Boating supporting ship to shore facilities on larger ships and yachts as well as uses such as life craft boats and MILITARY Boats, used to patrol at sea and transport troops between vessels.

A small RIB Boat used for diving.

RIB Boats are commonly available from 4 to 9 metres long, however, a reputable manufacturer can usually make smaller or larger boats to order, as small as 2.5 in length up to 18 metres and is usually propelled by one or more outboard motors or an inboard motor that creates a water jet or stern drive. Generally the motors range from 5 to 300 HP .

RIB Boats are used as rescue craft, safety boats for sailing, dive boats or tenders for larger boats and ships. Their shallow draught, high manoeuvrability, speed and relative immunity to damage in low-speed collisions are advantages in these applications. RIB Boats up to 7 metres in length can be towed the road on trailers.
RIB Boat technical details.

Performance

A High-performance RIB Boat, Hydroplaning.
A RIB Boat is light weight and designed with a V shaped hull that enables hydroplaning. The RIB Boat hull enable these boats to outperform some types of similarly sized and powered boats, although a pure fibreglass speedboat with similar dimensions should typically be faster, due to its being lighter with an arrow like water cutting shape.

High-Performance RIB Boats can operate at speeds that vary between 40 and 70 knots (74 and 130 km/h), depending on the size of the craft, number of passengers and the weight of any cargo or equipment that is being carried. Speeds achieved would also be dependant on engine types and sizes.

Construction

The “Deep-V" rigid hull of a RIB Boat

Hull

Hull can be made of steel, wood and aluminium, however, the most common materials these days is a combination of wood for the structure and glass fibre reinforced plastics which are technically referred to as GRP or FRP composites to provide for the intricate shaped and smooth surfaces and in some cases Kevlar is included for extra strength.

RIB Boat hulls are shaped to increase the performance of the boat in the water by optimising its hydroplaning characteristics. "Deep-V" hulls cut through waves easily and require greater engine power to start planing than a "shallow-V" hull does. “Shallow-V” hulls plane at lower speed and deliver a bumpy, choppy and uncomfortable ride.

As with the design of most boat hulls they represent a compromise of different design characteristics. Modern "all round" RIB hulls combine a deep v hull at the bow which flattens out to present a broad planing pad. This is a flat area on the rear of the hull designed to allow the boat to have a stable surface to plane on.

Tubes

Tubes are generally constructed in separate sections to ensure support of the boat from the remaining un-punctured sections of tube and thereby reduce the effect of a puncture, each section having its own valve to add or remove air as required. Larger boats (7m+) have 6 or more chambers with a valve for each chamber.

Hypalon

Hypalon and uPVC (Polyvinyl chloride) are the preferred material for tubes, though some manufacturers use PU (Polyurethane). Hypalon tubes are easy to manufacture and repair by a novice and simple puncture repair kit. Hypalon is not airtight and must be combined with Neoprene to make tubes airtight. These tubes are known to last for 20+ years.

PU tubes have been found to be stronger when new but deteriorate after the second or third tear and generally do not last longer than five years, while a Hypalon/Neoprene tube, by the age of five years will have similar levels of durability to that of a PU Tube, which is why Hypalon/Neoprene is mostly used on RIB Boats.

PU (Polyurethane)

Polyurethane (PU) tubes are difficult to manufacture, hard to repair and are consequently not the tube of choice for RIB Boat construction. PU has the advantage of being very tough, it can be made knife-proof o bullet-proof. Unfortunately to make PU airtight it has to be used in layers combined with neoprene. PU ages quickly and lasts 10 to 15 years.

Wheelhouse / Cabins

RIB Boat with a small wheelhouse
RIB Boats can have hard-tops known as a Cabin or Wheelhouse and usually made of Fibreglass. A cabin offers protection from the elements to both crew and passengers at the same time protecting equipment, suspension seats and navigation instrumentation. Some RIB Boats have cabins with accommodation for two people with chemical toilets.

Locating the RIB Boat best suited to your requirements.

Found the boat that you desire?

For recreational purposes you will find both a wide range and the specific ASIS RIB BOAT to meet your individual requirements, it is certainly worth the time invested to make the most cost effective decision from the comprehensive range available.

Once you have chosen your boat, you will then be able to choose from a range of optional extras to meet the specific application for which you intend to use the boat.http://www.asisboats.com



All inquiries contact:
Mario EL Hoyek
ASIS Boats
Jebel Ali Industrial II, Dubai , UAE
Email : marioh@asisboats.com
Web site: http://www.asisboats.com