Introduction for new RIB enthusiasts
This guide for new RIB enthusiasts was written by Nos4r2. Many thanks to Nos4r2 for permission to reproduce it here.
There are a few people who I'd quite happily go to sea with in a RIB, but also quite a few who through no fault of their own haven't got a clue as they are only just starting out, buying their first RIB and doing it on the cheap etc. This is for them.
RIB Trailers and Towing
Make sure your RIB is SECURELY fastened to the trailer before towing. The winch strop is NOT enough to secure a RIB. Chain the bow eye of the RIB to the winch post too. Use tie downs to hold the stern of the RIB down. Contrary to some people's opinions, a RIB can bounce off a trailer!
Cover your propeller with a fluorescent bag or bucket while towing. This is a legal requirement.
Make absolutely certain your outboard is tilted and cannot drop down while being towed.
There should be about 25kg of weight or 5-10% of your outfit's weight (depending on the weight/setup of your RIB) on the tow ball of your car from the trailer. If there's significantly more or less then move the gear in the RIB or if that's not enough move the trailer axle as they usually move on U-bolts. If it snakes about at normal motorway speeds at all then it needs adjusting.
Always check your trailer tyres for cracks and correct pressure, brakes for binding and operation (if braked) and trailer wheel bearings for stiffness, rumbling or notches before towing. None of these last too well when they get dunked in salt water regularly. If it's got grease nipples on it then buy a grease gun and use it regularly. Make sure you hose your trailer down with fresh water after every recovery, including the brakes.
Regularly check the bolts holding your trailer together. The trailer may well be galvanised but bolts still rust and may well give way. Pay special attention to the bolts holding the tow hitch on. You really don't want to kill someone or lose your boat when it decides to cross 6 lanes of a motorway before it hits a car head on.
On unbraked trailers use a safety chain that will stop the tow hitch hitting the ground if it becomes disconnected.
On braked trailers use the correct wire breakaway cable, this will apply the trailer brakes then snap if the trailer becomes disconnected from the car while being towed.
Check your trailer lights work properly every time you use it. The one time it doesn't you'll get stopped by the police for it.
Trailers are NOT allowed in the outside lane of the motorway. The guy you saw last week doing it will eventually get points on his licence for it. IT IS ILLEGAL.
Your speed limit while towing is 60 mph on motorways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and 50 mph on a single carriageway A road. Don't forget your braking distance will be around double your braking distance without a trailer.
Slipways and Launching your RIB
Most slipways have an area in the car park for preparing your RIB. Do not prepare in the way of anyone launching or on the slipway itself; this will really upset your fellow boaters!
DON'T FORGET THE DRAIN PLUG and CHECK YOUR BATTERY is charged before you launch your RIB!
Whatever method you use for launching, get your RIB away from the trailer as fast as possible. One idiot could ruin your whole day with his wake as your hull smashes against the trailer!
RIB Safety Equipment
EVERYONE on board your RIB should have and wear a lifejacket. They aren't expensive and may well save a life.
You should also have a flare pack onboard your RIB. Go to a proper chandlers (not one that specialises in yachting fashions!), tell them what RIB you have and what you plan to use it for then ask what they recommend. Make sure your flare pack is within it's expiry date and that you know how to use it.
Get the best VHF radio you can afford. Steer clear of handheld VHF sets unless it's the only option you have due to the layout of your RIB, but if you do buy a handheld be aware that their range is somewhat limited. Unless you have a marine radio licence don't transmit on it unless you need to call for help, you might get fined but it's better than being dead. Monitor channel 16 and the local coastguard channel, use channel 16 for calling other vessels and for EMERGENCIES ONLY.
ICOM make a good range of marine VHF radios. Two of their most popular models are:
If you've got a licence you'll know the correct procedures anyway but if you haven't that is as much as you need. Remember that when you transmit (button on side of microphone) then you can't receive at the same time so don't talk over the person who you're calling, they won't be able to hear you at all until he stops transmitting. Mobile phones don't always work on the water, but have one as backup in a waterproof bag so it doesn't get wet, for example:
Even if it does work it takes a lot longer to speak to the local coastguard via mobile than via a marine VHF.
Click here for further information on choosing a marine VHF for a RIB.
GPS is a very useful tool to have onboard your RIB, it means that if you're in trouble you can tell the coastguard, lifeboat or helicopter exactly where you are to within a few metres. Handheld sets are fairly cheap but they do use a lot of batteries so make sure you have a spare set. The best bet is a fixed GPS set, but they aren't cheap. They are also very useful for finding fishing marks! Click here for further information on buying a GPS or Chart Plotter for a RIB.
Get an auxiliary outboard as backup engine for your RIB. A good size for an auxiliary engine is 4hp for a RIB up to 4m. After that add 2hp per metre of RIB length and round it up to the next available engine size. For example a 7m RIB would need a 12hp auxiliary to be adequate. Run it every time you go out and get it serviced with the main engine. Get one that has its own tank and uses the same fuel tank fitment as your main engine if possible, or get one with an inbuilt tank that uses the same fuel as your main engine.
Carry a set of paddles. You'll be surprised how useful they are in a RIB.
If you have removable tanks, carry two. Carry at least three times the fuel you need to get to where you're going to, ie work on the rule 1/3 out, 2/3 back and you should always have enough fuel to get home.
When you buy an anchor, buy the next size up to the one recommended for your RIB size if you plan to anchor in anything other than flat calm. Use 2m of chain minimum on it (but preferably the length of your boat or more if you use your RIB in tidal or rough water) before the anchor rope it will hold better that way. Use three times the depth of water in rope to anchor with.
Carry a method of bailing out water from your RIB just in case. A bucket will do, but a bilge pump and a bucket are better.
Outboard Motors
Never run an outboard motor without a water supply, you will destroy the water pump in seconds and overheat then trash your motor. If using 'flush muffs' then have the tap turned on full, your engine can pump more water than a tap can supply.
Flush your outboard with fresh water using flush muffs every time you take your RIB out of the water.
Never rev an engine out of water. They can rev up to twice their recommended maximum revs when they have no load and they will destroy themselves in the process.
Get your engine serviced at least once a year and make sure that your water pump impeller is changed as part of the service.
DO NOT USE solely copper based anti-seize grease on anything that will be submerged as it causes galvanic corrosion. Use an anti-seize grease that has a high zinc content as well as copper.
DO NOT GO OUT if your water telltale isn't showing. This is a small stream of water from your engine that's sole purpose is to tell you that the cooling system is working. Outboards damage very easily when overheated.
If your outboard is a 2 stroke make sure you use the correct 2 stroke oil at the correct premix or that you have sufficient oil in the tank for engines that mix their own. Motorcycle 2 stroke oil is NO GOOD FOR OUTBOARDS. Your engine will wear out extremely fast if you use it-no matter what it says on the oil bottle, unless it says it's for use in outboards then it ISN'T.
Never use easy start on a 2 stroke. It has the same effect as running it with no oil and will eventually destroy your engine. If it's hard to start then get it serviced and set up properly so it isn't hard to start. If you think your engine is addicted to easy start it's not, it's WORN OUT and you shouldn't be using it at sea. Easy start is also highly explosive and toxic.
Always make sure your battery is charged and that you have an alternative method of starting (emergency rope start etc).
If your engine doesn't have an emergency stop lanyard, get one, fit it and USE IT. Attach it to yourself by looping it round a wrist or leg, don't just clip it to itself. If you fall out while under way your RIB won't race off into the sunset without you. Keep a spare one on board and make sure passengers know where it is so they can restart the engine and come back to pick you up.
It might sound obvious but NEVER GO NEAR A MOVING PROPELLER. Stay WELL AWAY from swimmers for this reason.
Laws While Boating
If you're not sure of speed limits or local restrictions on fishing, launching etc look on the net as most harbours have local byelaws available online. The fines can be heavy for disobeying them.
Some harbours insist on seeing proof of RIB insurance before you launch, so don't forget it.
Read the maritime Collision Regulations (COLREGs) and know who's got right of way. Assume that if it's bigger or less manoeuvrable than you that it has right of way. Don't forget that powered boats MUST give way to sailing boats that are sailing. They will NOT give way to you. If practical, stay out of the way of anything coming anyway. Just make sure you go in the right direction (it's in the COLREGs).
Make sure you have on your RIB the correct navigation lights, and that you can identify other vessels by their navigation lights. Click here for an overview of the main navigation lights.
Learn what the various marker buoys mean. Some mean 'stay well clear' with good reason.
Using your RIB
ALWAYS check the local, inshore and shipping forecasts weather forecasts before you go out in your RIB. If the weather looks like it might turn nasty when you're out then it probably will head in before you get a problem.
Make sure you have a copy of the local tide times for the day you go out (these are available online). Some slipways are unusable at low water.
Don't fish or go near divers while they are in the water. You can tell if a boat has divers down as it will be flying the Divers A Flag (below):
Treat any inflatable buoy near a dive boat as a diver as it will be attached to one. Stay WELL CLEAR, if you get his line tangled in your propeller it will pull him to the surface and possibly kill him.
Watch for floating line near buoys, especially lobster and crab pots. Get this round your propeller and you won't be going anywhere.
When passing chain/wire ferries like the Sandbanks ferry in Poole or the upper Dart ferry in Dartmouth, it is always advisable to pass behind them as the chain/wire is only just under the water at the front of the ferry.
DON'T FORGET THAT ONE SMALL FOUL UP CAN BE FATAL.You can't pull over on the hard shoulder if something goes wrong.
The people who the RNLI spend days looking for are usually the ones who "thought it'd be ok and it won't happen to me" and are blasé to the dangers. It's not much comfort to the relatives when their bloated corpses finally float to the surface.
DON'T BE ONE OF THEM. It doesn't make it any less fun if you do it properly.
Pre-departure Safety Checklist
This checklist is intended as a guide to help improve your safety afloat, it is not intended as an exhaustive list.
To access a pdf version click here.
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Equipment (ensure all are on board and in working order) |
Mechanical (ensure all are in working condition) |
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(should be clear of debris)
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Things to check (ensure all of the following are checked) |
Inform all crew (ensure all of the following are checked) |
(1/3 out, 1/3 back and 1/3 for reserve)
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Things to do (these must be completed before going afloat) |
Documentation (ensure the following are on board) |
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