The vessel is provided with the following equipment:

• Bow and transom mooring points
• External lifelines
• Foot pump
• Access hatch to fuel connectors
• Deck drain sump
• Windscreen wipers
• Free standing locker/cupboard
• ‘Copperbot' antifouled hull
• Non-slip tube panels ... Canvas read cuddly panel with clear panels
• Outboard engine protection bar
• Aft deck taw post (1000kg cap.)
• Double `D' fender around tube
• Internal bow `U' bolt
• Stainless steel stem shoe

The UK RIB builder Ribtec has never enjoyed more public exposure than that which has surrounded its activities of late. The recent 60 boat Camel Trophy contract has afforded both Ribtec and Honda considerable exposure in markets that would not otherwise even be aware of the handsome delights associated with hi-tech sea going `rubber'. In fact, since its launch last summer, Ribtec's highly customised Camel Trophy creation has perhaps done more than most in further promoting the image of the RIB as being the marine equivalent of the off road 4x4 vehicle. However, whilst the company has been busy fulfilling both its Camel and on­going leisure boat commitments, the latter being mainly in the form of the ever successful `Freeway', it has, of course, continued to supply its share of commercial RIBS to the professional market.

As any RIB builder worth his salt will tell you, the latter is really where much of the choice business lies. Government bodies, the military, law enforcement and SAR agencies are the people who generally place sizeable orders for high specification boats that often form part of fleet orientated contracts. Not only that, such organisations tend to purchase their equipment according to set buying cycles, which is good news for those suppliers they choose to do repeat business with.

One commercial contract that Ribtec recently had the opportu­nity of tendering for was for the now well publicised Fisheries Protection Agency's vessel based in Teignmouth on the South Devon coast. Traditionally, the vessels used by the agency in the past have been built by Avon, the last in I the line being a 7.5m Avon Searider powered by two fuel guzzling straight-carb Mercury 225hp outboards. It was a mighty boat, but those in charge of the purse strings no doubt acknowl­edged that it was time to move with the times and equip the operation with a brand new vessel, one that not only reflected the many advancements seen in boat building, but also in marine power systems too over the course of the last five years.

As is probably obvious by now, the agency did not choose to buy another Avon. Their reason? Price, according to Derek Clifton the coxwain of the Teignmouth vessel. Indeed, even a publicly funded authority cares about that, you know. So, it was goodbye Avon, hello Ribtec, and hello too to the comforts of life aboard a RIB with a cabin. Indeed, with such a vast sea area under their jurisdiction to be patrolled 365 days a year, one can hardly blame the crew for desiring a little protection from the elements. With this new 9 metre craft, courtesy of its fully enclosed centrally heated wheel­house, her operators are guaranteed a near total all weather surveillance capability. Plus, with her low sleek profile, all grey livery and almost silent outboard propulsion system, Nemesis as she is known, can achieve almost stealth-like status.

In the first instance, the boat was purchased pretty much bare from Ribtec before the job of fitting out was undertaken by Tony Hole Marine of Plymouth. Tony, and the company which bears his name, has a very fine reputation in the trade for consistently achieving a high standard of work along with thoroughness. Certainly, the level of understanding he has for his `art' is apparent in the case of Nemesis. The most striking feature on this boat, of course, is its cabin. This was supplied to Tony Hole as a simple shell with little or no interior niceties of any kind, but ready nonetheless to first take the extensive wiring installation, to be followed by the electronic navigation and communication systems, heating and other on board necessities.

Designed primarily to accommodate a crew of two, the fully enclosed cabin/ wheelhouse though not large, is certainly ideal for the purpose in hand.

Two forward armed suspension seats for helmsman and navigator ride a real pleasure. With the adjustable damping system, seats can be `tuned' underway according to both the weight they are accommodating and the prevailing conditions. Excellent all round visibility is afforded the crew from these seats with the external wipers and window heating vents helping to maintain a clear view out. It's evident that careful advance thought has been given to the overall layout within the cabin for the finished result ensures all items, whether they be helm or navigation orientated, are nicely to hand and in full view. This frees the crew to concentrate on their prime responsibilities and helps to ensure all 'flight deck' equipment truly enhances the work of the operator, as opposed to being a cause of distraction. The main console itself runs the full width of the cabin interior and houses an extensive range of systems, of which the greater part are Raytheon orientated. Colour GPS Chart Plotters, Radar, Weather Fax, forward looking sounders, GMDSS VHF and cellular communication systems etc. form the essential items, but the full array is impressive to see in action with each system working as if 'midi linked' alongside its correspond­ing partner.

Behind the main seating points, there are a couple of small seats built into the side bulkheads where items such as the microwave oven and various stowage compartments are located. Immediately behind this section a walk through hatch/door opens onto the large aft deck. This area represents the main working platform from which such duties as the inspection of nets and pots, recovery of injured sealife or the boarding of other vessels is carried out. Remote controlled search lights for night operation, radar, the vessels flying gear etc. Such items are located well out of harms way - atop the cabin roof.

As one would expect, all the deck hardware, ie: sampson post, outboard engine protection bar, towing post (1000kg capacity) and deck hatches, are all very strongly fashioned and designed, like the remainder of the craft, to survive the perils of hard use and exposure to all weathers on a mooring. She's quite clearly built to last. In terms of her overall build, though her structural arrangements are simple, they are nonetheless robust. Essentially, her lower section constitutes a heavy duty ply-wood deck which is quite simply bonded to the hull with twin longitudinal ply hull stiffeners. The stem and keel area are additionally reinforced for protection against impact and possess an integrated stainless steel stem shoe. The twin outboard styled transom is also reinforced by means of supports which are bonded as part of the main longitudinal structure.

The Ribtec 9000 utilises a fairly typical chine hull/spray rails design, which I'm happy to confirm based upon my day's trial means she constitutes what her makers proudly claim her to be... "a dry running boat". The 1400GSM hypalon sponsons fitted to this craft also naturally play their part in helping to deflect the spray away from the upper reaches of the vessels superstructure. Although the design of this boat features a moderate bow sheer to assist the boat's performance in a difficult sea state, the height of her bow is not exaggerated. Hence, the crew's forward visibility is not impaired when peering out from behind the cabin screens. Windage too is also reduced with this type of profile, which means in a cross wind the boat is less likely to heel over and slam on the flat of her chine. Twin s/s 250 litre fuel tanks located under deck, directly beneath the cabin sole, ensure the central point of gravity is kept low, plus with this natural ballast positioned just ahead of amidships, the boat's commendable level running attitude is aided even further.

The matter of proper weight distribution is an important one to consider, especially with a craft featuring an engine set up of the kind seen on this particular RIB. The Honda 130hp 4-stroke weighing in at 208kgs is a heavy old lump in relation to its power output. This engine is comparable to most 225hp 2-strokes in terms of its overall weight. Ultimately, therefore, that not only means performance loss but also the number of craft to which this motor might be suited are going to be reduced. In its favour, however, it is a beautifully engineered product which, of course, has other distinct advantages, not least its astonish­ingly quiet, hyper clean and fuel efficient running characteristics.

Except for one matter, the day of test confirmed in my mind that the boat would handle her all year round operational role admirably. She was clearly much less fatiguing than the conventional open boat equivalent, being stable and very comfortable underway with the latter factor enhanced dramatically by the addition of the excellent suspension seats. The 9000 model is clearly a naturally sea-kindly boat, a quality not wholly attributable to her size alone I'm sure, for in my experience the majority of Ribtec hulls are much the same in this respect.
In terms of the quality of build, standard of fit-out, seakeeping, instrumentation etc, all these aspects were of a very high standard indeed. Nevertheless, as alluded to a moment ago, the one factor that did let the boat down was the fact it lacked any sparkle. Safe it might be, exciting it is not. Sure, it can creep up on its prey, stalk it even, but what about giving chase? Neither the boat or the engines were at fault they were just ill matched. With a sea area some 100 miles wide to patrol, I would have thought the need for more power and speed would have been a real necessity. Of course, in adverse conditions the advantage of having plenty of reserve power relates less to speed and more to safety. In a big sea with a heavy load up, I can't help feeling Nemesis' helmsman would soon be pushing the Hondas to their full limit putting both his nerves and his silver cowled friends under a serious amount of pressure in the process.

In conclusion then, I wouldn't mind betting that as soon as Honda add a 200hp version to their current range, the Fisheries Protection Agency will be the first to place an order. That's right, you read it here

HMS

Builder
RIBTEC LTD
Swanwick Marina, Southampton, Hampshire SO31 1ZL, UK.

Tel: +44 (0) 1489 885773
Fax: +44 (0) 1489 885774

Email: JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING
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