Some of Ribjets Most Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do your boats stack up against some of the competitors? (Gas Models)
A: A lot of thought and development went into the design and build process of the Ribjet series of jet yacht tenders. Our gas range has been specifically designed to compete head to head with the larger production manufacturers such as Williams tenders based in the U.K and Aquascan of Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Below is a comparison between comparible size models from all 3 manufacturers for reference.
Ribjet 10 Gas Williams 325 Aquascan F-10
LOA 10'7" 10'10" 11'
Beam 5'4" 5'8" 5'11"
Height 34" 36" 35"
Weight 550lbs dry 715lbs dry 800lbs
Engine 60hp 80hp 110hp
WOT 40mph 41mph N/A
Fuel 7 gal 11 gal 15 gal
Capacity 4 persons 4 persons 4 persons
Price $31,900 $38,750 $39,00 plus
Q: I have heard that jet yacht tenders are harder to maintain. Is that true? (Gas Models)
A: Jet tenders in saltwater over the years have gotten a bad name. We have dealt with tons of poorly maintained units from Avon, Nautica, Zodiac and Williams. The older 2 strokes are smelly, harder to service and find parts for as well as burning through fuel at a much higher rate. With advancements in technology the newer four strokes engines have improved the serviceability and performance of jet yacht tenders the past few years. We utilize a Rotax Ace 900 engine that was released by Sea Doo in their Spark model personal watercraft in 2014. This is hands down the most fuel efficient, easiest to work on, well-engineered engine package we have seen. There is absolutely no smoke from the wet exhaust, oil checkups are easy, replacement parts are affordable, it boasts a 4 star carb rated engine and is naturally aspirated so no worry of maintenance on a turbo or supercharger. Fuel range is great with a custom built 7 gallon internal EPA compliant tank and also helps to keep our overall weight at a minimum.
A lot of the problems with jet tenders are from lack of maintenance, poor storage practices and overall neglect from lack of use. For the most part the tender is usually an afterthought when it comes to maintenance and upkeep when compared to the mothership. The tenders are routinely pulled onto the mothership, a cover is put on and the owners just walk away. This results in corrosion problems not only within the jet pump housing but also the exhaust system and engine compartment. To help combat this habit every one of our tenders comes standard with an easy to attach fresh water flush inlet. A standard garden hose hooks right up to it. It takes less than 2 minute to flush the exhaust system and pump and since the Rotax Ace engine is closed looped cooling there is no need to worry about salty or dirty water circulating in your engine. A detailed instruction pamphlet accompanies each tender to assist with the maintenance routines. Each vessel has a standard ball valve to switch between flush mode and running mode. Each vessel also has a standard ball valve for towing the tender behind the mothership if needed that closes off the pump inlet from the wet exhaust. This helps to avoid water intrusion into the exhaust system while underway.
Overall there are a lot more systems in a jet tender than a conventional outboard version tender so with all the extra electrical, drive shaft alignments etc. we have a lot more parts that need to work in harmony to keep the boats running well. A little maintenance goes a long way.
Q: What is the lead time to have a custom boat made to my preferences?(Gas Models)
A: Lead times vary depending on time of year and complexity of the build. Most of the time we can have a custom boat built within 4-5 weeks from the date of order and deposit. We do stock certain baseline models during the winter season and usually are 3-4 hulls ahead of what we actually need. We also stock 2-3 complete boats worth of parts ahead of our production on the floor. Any extras like custom tube sets and upholstery colors can add to the build time however bolt on options (stereo, lights etc) do not add time.
Q: How are you able to sell a U.S. built product for so much less than your competitors? (Gas Models)
A: There are multiple factors that go into our price structure that allow us to sell far below our competitors and still deliver a superior semi-custom product line. We pride ourselves on being a small family owned company. We do not have outside investors, large credit lines with suppliers, nor massive amount of employees to manage and we focus on a specific range of products. We operate and run a very efficient but small factory that saves us both on overhead costs and keeps us in touch with each customer directly as their tender is constructed. We have found that concentrating on one specific market segment (jet yacht tenders) allows us to focus all of our resources on producing the best possible product, quickly and at a very competitive price. We do have a few select product representatives in key markets around the world to help with new boat sales as well as after sales service. We work with many OEM yacht builders directly and the factory does not attend boat shows with product. This helps to save on advertising and travel that might otherwise might be included in the retail price of the boats. (You may still see some of our boats at shows around the world through our stocking product representatives as each is independently owned)
Q: How do your boats handle in the water and what kind of performance can i expect?(Gas Models)
A: Our gasoline fueled jet yacht tenders are essentially little rocket ships. They accelerate from a standstill to wide open throttle in just a few seconds. They easily come on plane with a full load and are considered to be a very dry ride with our pump forward design. The boats are designed to be light, nimble and quick without sacrificing storage and passenger capacity. Our pump forward designs helps to keep our boats on plane at lower speeds, maintain straight-line performance at idle speed, provide superior reverse capabilities and help protect any people in the water during water sports or towing activities. With a light load our stock 60hp configurations can achieve 40mph WOT speeds. Our hull design also allows our tenders to handle differently than others. Most jet yacht tenders have the habit of skidding out or sliding in turns once the pump loses connection with the water. Our pump forward design allows our intake to consistently hook up with the water and provides a go-kart like handling experience. You can drive the tender hard into turns without it wanting to break loose or spin out. This feature is further increased by our extended hull strakes and downward shear built into our hull design. Our boats can turn on their own axis at idle speeds and reverse is easily controlled allowing for fantastic close quarters maneuvering or docking.