R.I.B. Advice

[mark w]

Hello all,
I am currently considering the purchase of my own dive rib, however what I cannot fail to notice is the excesive price commanded by the majority of manufacturers, even when considering a second hand rib I find them to be way behond my price range.
It is therefore with a great deal of consideration my plan to construct my very own dive rib, I am currently trying to source all the components I will need, therfore any help would be very appreciated.
Looking at the current rib market trends the first thing I seem to need is some very big inner tubes (preferably orange) something around the size of tractor tyres would maybe be large enough, but I can only seen to find them in black.
Secondly come the hull, i was thinking along the lines of an 8 x 4 sheet of chipboard, obviously this would have to be the green chipboard which I believe is water proof.
My major problem comes in the selection of appropriate propulsion, for which I have decided the Lotus Esprit engine would be ultimately suited, a fact made certain by its use underwater by James Bond.
For GPS I have decided upon the good old homing pigeon. I feel that gaffa taped to my rib it would be quite capable of finding the way home, and lets face it has anyone ever found a wreck using the GPS....., I feel this device is nearly always used for the way home.....
Echo sounder-----------A dolphin.......... gaffa taped to the bottom of the chipboard hull.
Have I missed anything..........or am I ok to go to my shed and start building ?????

[parahandy]

Well if you must (ha ha) or be satisfied with a gander at All about rigid inflatable boats -- for RIB enthusiasts and all rigid inflatable boat users

[the goat]

Joshua
you have been told before not to play on daddy s computer when he s asleep as all his friends will read this message and think he s gone a bit mad

[Stesh]

Mark remember to use brass nails or screws when conecting the chipboard to innertube as normal screws and nails will rust.
Since brass costs,a tip is drip ordinary your nails and screws in hot wax or wrap them in clingfilm before use

[Madfish]

Originally Posted by mark w

Secondly come the hull, i was thinking along the lines of an 8 x 4 sheet of chipboard, obviously this would have to be the green chipboard which I believe is water proof.

When the club built ours, they insisted on using marine ply and hang the expense........

Dianne

[dammyla]

have you thought about some sort of back up in case of engine failure?

I was thinking that you could have two homing pigeons and a small length of rope (just to get you home you understand).

After all, as a responsible diver redundancy should be very important to you!

[troc]

African or European?

[Stesh]

on expensive a Ship-to-Shore radio?