RIB sportscrusier market survey

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Martin Tilbrook, Oct 2, 2006.

  1. Martin Tilbrook
    Joined: Sep 2006
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    Martin Tilbrook New Member

    Hi

    Are you interested in long-distance cruising at high speed? This may be for you. Here in the UK I am talking to a British Marine Federation naval architect specialising in high performance RIBs, with a view to starting low-number production of a new 8.5m sportscruiser RIB using surface drive and a stepped deep-vee hull. The next step is a detailed concept design but first I would like to hear the views of RIB enthusiasts to gain a feel for market demand. The boat would be aimed at the premium end of the market. If you have a serious interest in this kind of RIB, please email me and I will send a copy of a short market survey asking for your opinions on performance, handling and design features.

    I will store information supplied in compliance with the UK’s Data Protection Act 1998. Any (optional) personal data you supply will not be passed on to any third party for any purpose, and details on design features will only be passed on to the designer employed by me to refine the design.

    Please contact me with any questions.

    Yours sincerely


    Martin Tilbrook
    York
    UK
     
  2. im412
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    im412 Junior Member

    as you would know, marketing is more important than the product
    make sure you can get market share before you sink too much money into it
    high speed pleasure ribs are a small market to start with and you have some big names out there, military and pleasure
     
  3. Martin Tilbrook
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    Martin Tilbrook New Member

    Hi Jack

    Thanks for your message. You make a very fair point about the competition in the RIB industry - there are a good number of high quality products by established manufacturers out there. I am planning very much a niche product, and from my research there is a potential opportunity to create an exciting RIB with some unique qualities in terms of performance, handling and design. I agree entirely that effective marketing is essential, but cannot agree that it is more important than a quality product. I would be happy to discuss further,

    Regards

    Martin Tilbrook
     
  4. im412
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    im412 Junior Member

    Martin for all i know you may already have a successful marine bussiness and this is just an extension to it
    you know if it's "an exciting RIB with some unique qualities in terms of performance, handling and design".
    i like this one, although its 10yrs old and probably wouldnt cut the mustard now
    http://fbdesign.it/a38rib.php
     
  5. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    RIB survey

    Hello Martin,
    I believe you will find a much bigger market in Europe than America to conduct your survey. The USA is still only learning of RIB appeal in great numbers.

    I might suggess you spend some considerable time researching back thru this RIB forum, http://www.rib.net/forum/index.php?

    I have a little project in mind that you might find interesting, and can send you a short proposal letter if you give me your email address.
     
  6. Felix2001
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    Felix2001 Junior Member

    Dear Martin Tilbrook,

    I am interested to know more on your project and design, in fact as Motoryacht builders & Naval Designers for some 30 years in Argentina we have some project to develop and build special custom RIBs.

    By the way, we have also built and exported to Europe a prototype rigid deep V hull for a client in the CE, that we can build again in any lenght up to 9,30 mts. May be boatbuilding in Argentina is another option considering that final cost here could be now 1/3 the cost of boatbuilding in de CE.

    Dr. Felix Martinez
    PRESTERA & MARTINEZ
    TRIMARINE ARGENTINA
    Buenos Aires, Argentina
    e-mail: trimaran2001@yahoo.com
     
  7. intrepid71
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    intrepid71 Junior Member

    I am curious about the appeal of RIBs as stand alone pleasure craft. It seems to me that these boats are carrying around tubes of air that take up a lot of useful space and detract from the aesthetics of the vessel. Obviously for a tender or even a coast guard rescue boat, where pulling alongside a larger vessel in a seaway is a likely occurance, the inflatable tubes are a first class fendering system. Otherwise, I dont really see what the advantage is.
     
  8. Crag Cay
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    Crag Cay Senior Member

    Well, you're obviously the sort of person who can't see the advantage of driving a Hummer round the streets of a big city either. RIBs are the 4x4's of the boating world.

    So in case you are still confused here's the gist of the marketing: Both the military and professionals use them so therefore if you have one you will be a professional. They are safer - think of the children. If you're rugged man you need a rugged boat. Women want to be shagged by men who drive RIBs.

    These are perhaps not a very rational arguments but they worked for 4x4's and are working for RIBs.
     
  9. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

     
  10. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    Market for RIBs

    The market for RIBs?? In the interest of brevity I’m just going to extract a few quotes from a recent article on the subject from the trade publication “International Boat Industry” in which two-dozen companies took part.

    “after 45 years the RIB has established itself as probably the most versatile type of boat yet invented”

    “lower down the range there’s also much anecdotal evidence from within the inflatable industry that RIBs are becoming an increasingly popular alternative for smaller tenders, often replacing the fold-up inflatables”

    “the general impression is one of continued steady growth in the recreational market, ahead of most other sectors”

    “the market is starting to grow up, especially in North America which is one of the most conservative markets with its clear domination by conventional fiberglass boats. More and more new RIB players are coming and most of them are successful”

    “it’s the RIB sector that’s the most dynamic sector of Grand’s business at the moment. RIBs take 75 percent of our production volume and this part is growing every year. A new factory in Canada has given Grand Marine three times its previous production space, which it used to up its production by 25% last year. It expects to increase volumes by a further 35% in 2006”

    “In the USA, RIBs have not taken off, but suddenly they’ve woken up over there”

    “the major volume growth is in the 4m-6m range”

    “people tend to consider RIBs more and more as real primary boats for their main use, whereas before, people were seeing them primarily as tenders or rescue boats. In this perspective, it is logical to observe that RIBs tend to get bigger and that inboards engines are likely to be part of the RIB’s future”

    “the widely held perception that Zodiac produces about a third of the world’s inflatables is true. What is most certain is that RIBs are probably the most dynamic sector of the boating market. Zodiac of North America announced in Nov the start of production of zodiac RIBs in a new plant in South Carolina”
     
  11. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    Brunswick to launch new RIB series

    By IBI Magazine

    Brunswick Corp announced today that its Commercial and Government Products (BCGP) division will be marketing a new rigid inflatable boat (RIB) series. The Impact RIB product line ranges in size from 4m-12m (14ft-39ft) in length, with centre console and cabin models and propulsion options that include inboard, diesel, waterjet and outboard configurations.

    "Expanding our product offering is in direct response to customer demand," said Jeremy Davis, BCGP sales manager, in a statement. "A high-quality, professional grade RIB is essential to some agencies. Those same agencies understand the economic challenges in the marine industry today, and want to deal with a company that has a solid history."

    The new Impact RIBS will be officially shown for the first time at the Multi Agency Craft Conference (MACC) in Norfolk, Virginia in early June.

    (25 March 2009)

    Brian notes: Tough boat market (all markets right now) to be entering, but it must say something about the viability of this segament of the boating market?
     
  12. Cookee
    Joined: Mar 2009
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    Cookee Boat builder and racer

    Maybe we should talk - we make these!
     

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  13. Kobus Potgieter
    Joined: May 2004
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    Kobus Potgieter Naval Architect

    Martin
    If you are looking for some ideas, we will be able to help. Have a look at my website: www.kobusnavaldesign.com
    We have our own Rapid prototyping department creating scale models and to take it the full 9 yards, we have our own 5 AXIS CNC facility to produce plugs and moulds if need be. Regards
    Kobus
     
  14. Submarine Tom

    Submarine Tom Previous Member

    Intrepid71, in a word, buoyancy. If this means nothing to you, then don't worry about it.

    Martin, I am not interested in buying one but I have logged thousands of hours driving them and would be interested in what you're proposing and sharing my thoughts.

    Tom

    R.H.I.O.T. School graduate 2000, Bamfield, BC, Canada
     

  15. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    Check Dates on Previous Postings

    I might make note to a few of the most recent respondents to this subject thread that many of the postings that are being replied to are 2006 postings.

    I revived the subject thread looking for more recent additions to RIB market questions considering the current economy and state of the boat business.
     
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