RIB Amigo 315F. Foldable RIB.

Caution! Lots of photos!

Everybody knows that a boat can be inflatable or rigid. Even beginners know this fact. Each type has its pros and cons. Of course when you own rigid boat you are considered as successful and prosperous person, but nowadays inflatable and rubber boats are still leading on the world market.

There is another type of boats, it is rigid inflatable boat – RIB. Everyone has heard about RIBs, everyone knows everything but still they are not so common worldwide. Even though RIBs have a lot of advantages, such boats are transported on trailer or at least on roof of a car and often when deflated. So if one has a trailer it is thought preferable to have a metal boat because metal is always considered better that plastic or inflatable watercraft although synthetic materials are often more useful than aluminum. And boats with rigid bottoms and inflatable boards without doubt have lots of conveniences.

But transporting question is still topical. And then producers of foldable RIB simply solve this problem. So today we are examining Amigo 315F boat – «Amigo mio» or «My foldable friend».

Instead of introduction

This is not a test, because only mass produced things should be tested. And we have pre-series sample that will be improved before batch production starts, producers specialists are working hard. Today we show just a small article to attract more attention to this extraordinary design.

Advantages of RIBs

RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) were first designed for not really peaceful purposes as many other things. It is thought that boats with inflatable boards and rigid bottom were first used by Americans during notorious operation in Bay of Pigs in 1961. Americans failed but the boats showed so many competitive advantages that soon they became popular in the whole world, and the most useful they became for people living in areas where words “storm” and “safety” mean a lot. What advantages do unusual RIBs have? Firstly, RIB is almost impossible to sink or capsize. About this we will write little later but this fact is the reason why RIBs are essential complement of a yacht as a lifesaving device. Or for example RIBs are main watercraft for naval raiding forces at least in American action films.

Secondly such boats are more handleable and stable than any other inflatable boat due to rigid bottom.

Third point is that RIB needs less horse powers due to its light weight and they start planning more quickly thanks to shape of bottom when compared with inflatable boats.

But to be objective there are disadvantages as well.

First has been defined. Classical RIB causes difficulties in transportation and storage.

Due to inflatable boards inside room is much smaller.

This boat needs careful treatment as plastic bottom is durable enough but can look worse for instance if a boat is moored closely to rocky shore…

Another fact is that if you have RIB without slats it is uncomfortable to stand in this boat. Flat surfaces provide steadiness and there is only two seats that are parallel.

As most of existing things, RIBs has advantages and disadvantages. One can do nothing but accept it. But some people did not accept the problem with boat’s transportation. That is how AMIGO 315F the foldable RIB appeared.

About the company

Aqua-Storm Company from Dnepropetrovsk City has been producing inflatable boats for a long time already. It has big share of the market, enough to be claimed third or second, depending on the source, within manufacturers of inflatable boats in Ukraine. They mainly produce classical RIBs but also have wide range of simple inflatable boats from tiny ST190 to huge and useful STK450E that has great seakeeping abilities and holds six passengers.

The company also has different models of RIBs (the biggest and the longest is AMIGO 510 that weighs 320 kg!!!).

Moreover, the company produces good launch with sweet name “Alisa”.

Beside this Aqua-Storm Company is also official representative of several trademarks of fishing tackles and even produces bait. But this is just a complement to designing and manufacturing of classical inflatable boats, with rigid bottom as well.

First encounter

We have seen Amigo 315F for the first time at “Hunting and Fishing” exhibition. We have noticed it from a distance because of visually big buoyancy tube (as for 3m. watercraft) and unusual design.

Immediately we were offered to test new product with pleasant serial number 0004. We had nothing to do but agree. The only thing that could cause a problem on the last day of exhibition was transportation. Although Amigo 315F has foldable bottom the boat looked quite imposing and I had my spacious car repaired at that time.

I called my friend who owns big sedan but he misheard or thought that it would be ok and came on matchless Daewoo Matiz. A bag with boat visually took as much place as Matiz on parking…

So here the first and significant advantage of Amigo 315F becomes clear. RIB not only was placed in mini car but also left enough space for a passenger next to a driver. It was difficult, sometimes it was like closing woman’s wardrobe full of “I’ve got nothing to wear” or dragging an elephant though eye of a needle… But with help of another friend that appeared in time we managed in 4 minutes.

Then two of us took the boat out of the car in garage. However, it worth mentioning that it took more attention and efforts because we did not want to damage the car or the boat. To conclude, Matiz is not the best option to transport a boat with rigid bottom, do not try to repeat it.

By the way, while placing the boat into the car and taking it out, we found out that even though the boat in big it is lightweight so two people easily carry it.

Technical characteristics

Let’s have a look at official paper - certificate.

Due to the certificate Amigo 315F name fully reflects its length that is 3 meters and 16 centimeters. Diameter of buoyancy tube is 41 cm. Weight is 39 kg. But it seemed to be less while transporting. Width is 150 cm. And all these numbers are nothing compared with stated motor power. As it is said in the certificate, Amigo 315F is made for outboard motor of 20 horse powers! Just think about it – 315 centimeters, 39 kilograms and 20 horse powers. It could be fun…

Set of this boat is quite simple. Boat with pump are in one bag; seats, oars and fasteners in another. Because of fasteners it is so important not to leave a bag with ours at garage. We left it and waste plenty of time in traffic jams…

Assembly

Anyone can assemble Amigo 315F as it is extremely easy. Unfasten the bag.

Unroll the boat. You will see that the bottom is divided into three parts and there are holes for fasteners.

Tighten screw-nuts, remember to put rubber gasket from the set on the inside part of the joint. We weren’t able to tighten them only with hex key from the set so we used pliers.

Tighten as much as possible - it is motor boat no oversights should be done.

Gaskets from the set are little soft and aren’t resistant to deformation after that the joint starts to veer. When possible they should be replaced by more rigid and elastic ones.

Slightly inflate the boat, put seats.

And continue inflating the boat.

Don’t need to place plywood floor and fix naughty side joiners. Therefore, don’t need to look for flat surface and put oars under the bottom. Just take out, unroll, tighten two screw-nuts and get a boat with rigid bottom. Without consideration of time for inflating (for example using electric pump you can assemble gear while it inflates the boat) it takes 5 minutes especially when you have done it at least once.

What do we get?

Some details we noticed before started boating.

1. The boat has narrow cockpit. Its width is only 68 cm. when the length is 226. You can’t move freely inside particularly if there are two passengers.

2. Bottom is made of fiberglass. It is alright but without slats inside part of the bottom has the same shape as outside part and Amigo has substantial deadrise. One has to place feet at an angle. You can’t place your boxes with fishing tackles or other important things.

3. Drain plug in our boat was fixed upside down so there was water in the stern.

4. Light weight still causes concerns. But on the other hand people who place a boat in a car alone or have ever tried to load 60 kg boat on a back seat will definitely love Amigo 315F. It’s so lightweight.

Motor

It is specified in passport and on nameplate that “maximum power allowed is 20 horse powers”. But to say the truth we doubt and its first voyage Amigo 315F made in the company of 15 h.p motor.

The first impression

Weight of Mercury 15 was really too much for this boat. As soon as we mounted the engine there were only 10 cm. of it under the water surface.

The weather was not good that day, there was strong wind from north-west that was going through Kiev Water Reservoir and broke into calm estuary with great power. So the motor was too heavy for this boat. With one passenger on back seat it went almost upright and the stern was flooded all the time.

After the second passenger was on board in bow of the boat the situation got better but not drastically. Lightweight watercraft on big waves couldn’t go fast along the wave (thinking of safety) and when we tried to go against the wave water was getting into cockpit.

This is serious problem by the way. When you are boating in the sea in a boat with half meter buoyancy tube and a slat made of heavy bakelite plywood you do not pay attention to such things. But when the tube’s diameter is 41 cm, the rub rail is narrow (to economize as I can understand) and the speed is (terribly) low, water immediately fills the boat.

Engine power should be less. 6 horse powers are optimal. You can try 9.8 but everything higher is kind of madness. Taking into consideration all these facts, Amigo with its oars is good and keeps the course thanks to the keel.

When we tried to balance the boat with two men of similar weight one on the bow another to the tiller the things got better but it wasn’t comfortable. The passenger in a bow was rescued by his waterproof clothes only but it couldn’t last forever.

But in calm water with middle engine this boat is amazing. On slight ripple it goes about 38 km/h with motor of 9.8 h.p. Videos aren’t our strong side so we took our colleagues’ and partners’ video (it is the same RIB Amigo 315 but it isn’t foldable).

Dmitry Mihaylenko, skilled fisher:

"With low powered engine and its great seakeeping abilities RIB Amigo is the best thing I have ever tried or used. If it had slats…”

To stand in the boat without slats is uncomfortable. You can stand only along keel line and slip al the time, moreover, the boxes are also slipping down. It is more comfortable to stand near the stern as the deadrise is less but still not enough. I hope the slat will be added soon and this problem will be solved.

There is a little inside space, because of buoyancy tube. Cockpit is long but narrow – 266 x 68 cm. Two passengers will feel alright while fishing but they can’t change places especially when there are waves. It is impossible or at least dangerous.

Another inconvenience is septum that fixates the bottom. If you are alone in the boat you can forget about it and stumble.

Stability

RIBs are good in everything and in their stability as well. Amigo didn’t really try to upend but worried us all the time. Even if you stand in a boat alone and is near to the buoyancy tube it makes you feel uncomfortable. But I’m sure it isn’t hard to get used to it.

Strong points

It weighs 39 kg. One can place it in a car put it afloat alone. After that you can not only go on fishing but are cheerful and feel great.

It is assembled quickly. If you know how to do it, it is much faster to assemble Amigo315F than any other inflatable boat. Moreover, there much less problems with this RIB than with others, that is quite impressive.

It has rigid bottom. Considering weight and maneuverability in transportation you get a motor boat with rigid (with batch slats it also will be comfortable) bottom. Isn’t it a dream?

Another big advantage is safety. Even if you manage to tear all compartments, the boat is afloat. We didn’t tear them, but deflated. You can see the result on photos.

Weak sides

There are two things we did not understand and, therefore, did not like.

1. Waves really overflow the boat. It isn’t right, and I’m sure it will be solved in batch production; slats will add weight to the boat so it will resist to motor’s attempts to upend a boat better. Setting of classical rub rail can solve this problem. But I think the reason is stated in 2 point.

2. 20 horse powers are stated. To mount an engine with power enough for any metal watercraft on 3m. boat, it doesn’t matter that the boat is RIB. No, I don’t understand that…

Price

Today RIB Amigo 315F costs about 900 American dollars. It isn’t cheap, although its analogs are much more expensive.

Summary

It is interesting, convenient and fresh. It will become almost perfect for those who like spinning alone if the motor power if chosen correctly and the problem of overflowing is solved in mass production. It can be easily assembled and disassembled, it has great maneuverability with low powered engines and is economic. So it can be great fun. As for me I’m waiting forward to seeing batch boat.

 

Amigo 315F scores
Fulfillment	Model needs improvements but in general everything is qualitative and correct	7
Appearance	Nice	8
Technical characteristics	If the problem of slats is solved and more qualitative gaskets are set, it is almost perfect	7
Price	It isn’t cheap, but it is cheaper than its analogs	7
Availability	It’s not a problem to buy in Ukraine or Europe	9
Average score		7,60
Grade: 1=horrible, 2=bad, 3=unsatisfactorily, 4=usual, 5=ok, 6=good, 7=very good, 8=great, 9=excellent, 10=amazing!

 

Advantages	Disadvantages
It is a boat with rigid bottom but it is compact while transportation	It needs slats, for instance AIR DECK
Good seakeeping abilities	It needs change of gaskets material
Safety – it stays afloat with an engine when buoyancy tube is deflated	Rub rail is not the best, or to say correctly rub rail is almost absent
As for RIB it has small price	It is advisable to change fastening system to assemble a boat without additional equipment
	6 to 10 horse powers are good, not 20 or 15.

To find out more details about RIB Amigo 315F click here.

Original article: www.rybalka.com (Russian)