I have a 12' garage in my toy hauler. I'm thinking about getting a boat, rigid inflatable boat (RIB). I don't know a lot about these boats. I'm thinking that i could partially deflate one that is longer than 12' to fit it in my TH garage. I was wondering if anyone who knows about these boats could guess how large a RIB I could fit into my garage?

Depending on brand West Marine, Mercury, Zodiac, go to website and look at deminsions. A RIB will definately ride better, but they do make inflatable keels also that can roll up and stow easier. I think a 10' boat would fit best and be great for two people maybe four for very short runs and I mean short runs on flat water.

when I bought my inflatable quicksilver, I considered a RIB. IIRC there was some issue in semi-deflating it for transport, so be sure to check out how much dis-assembly is required for this.bumpy

Assuming the tail end of the tubes are inflated with nothing solid behind the transom, you could probably buy 12-18" by deflating. Just be careful of chaffing. If the tubes rub against the walls, they will eventually fail.If you have one of the beds that raises and lowers, you could probably modify it hold the dingy and you raise it up to the roof to keep it largely out of the way.The bigger issue is how will you launch and retrive it? RIB's are typically a lot heavier than a standard inflatable. Nothing crazy but 200-300lbs for a simple one (vs 60-100lbs for a standard inflatable) and it's bulky and akward. If the wife isn't strong and the kids are young, getting launched and stored will likely be the main issue. There are wheel kits that help but it may be more hassle than it's worth.

I had one. They would fit it your TH on a small trailer from Harbor Freight. Weight and deflation was a little bit of a hassle but I would fold it and haul it in my 5th wheel. If you partially deflate it and keep it on the trailer you can travel with it in your TH and use your TV to launch.

Whatever you end up getting be sure and insist on Hypalon fabric NOT PVC. PVC is for pool toys and the UV of the sun will eat them up. Avon and Zodiac are two of the best. I had two Avon RIB's, the first was a 10' with a 9.9 2 cycle Suzuki and went like a bat our of hell, would cruise 24 mph in flat water with two adults. The second was a 9 footer with a 6 HP 4 stroke Nissan and while it would plane at about 16 mph you had to work at it. Both of these served as tenders, first to my 34' sailboat and then my 36' trawler.RIB's have a number of advantages, they are stable and have good payload for their weight. You can swim/dive from them and they beach easily. They do better when left inflated and I would avoid the inflatable/wood/aluminum floor models. For the best performance get one with a deep V fiberglass hull(there are a some aluminum V hulls that also work well).As far as outboard selection keep in mind that many lakes restrict the use of 2 cycles. The new breed of 4 strokes have gotten lighter and offer cleaner, more efficient power. A 9 food RIB with a 6 to 8 hp 4 stroke would be my first choice.As always.... Opinions and YMMV.:C

inflatable RIB boat in toy hauler garage? | Good Sam Community

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 21, 2014
RedJeep wrote:
sunnybrooktoyhauler wrote:
What about a porta bote. Folds and are 10-14 foot.

Thanks, but I would want a boat about 14 to 15 feet with an outboard motor. It would be used for crashing and some fishing.

well you certainly can put a motor on a porta bote.
bumpy
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 21, 2014
We have a paddle boat we sometimes take with us and use a game cart to transport it to the water from the camp site.
RedJeep
Explorer
Oct 21, 2014
Strabo wrote:
A boat like that sounds like fun, probably would fit in our 5vr, depends on how wide it is. No idea how id get it into the hauler, i guess winch it in somehow.

Yes, I was thinking of a winch to bring the boat in and control it going out
Strabo
Explorer
Oct 21, 2014
A boat like that sounds like fun, probably would fit in our 5vr, depends on how wide it is. No idea how id get it into the hauler, i guess winch it in somehow.
RedJeep
Explorer
Oct 21, 2014
Sinnettc wrote:
RedJeep wrote:
Thanks, but I would want a boat about 14 to 15 feet with an outboard motor. It would be used for crashing and some fishing.

I hope you meant CRABBING. Crashing is generally a bad idea.

IMO a 14-15 foot RIB is going to be pretty heavy; there's going to be a lot of fiberglass or aluminum in the main hull, and pvc/hypalon tubes aren't all that light either. I suppose you could make some kind of dolly to move it around with but I'd want it to be plenty beefy.

+1 on the hypalon, especially if the boat will spend a lot of time in the sun. I've got an old west marine pvc roll up and I keep expecting the seams to let go. Fortunately it's spent most of its life packed away except for occasional trips to the San Juans so not a lot of sun damage.

LOL crashing, funny, that is how I drive in RV parks. Meant crabbing.
Sinnettc
Explorer
Oct 21, 2014
RedJeep wrote:
Thanks, but I would want a boat about 14 to 15 feet with an outboard motor. It would be used for crashing and some fishing.

I hope you meant CRABBING. Crashing is generally a bad idea.

IMO a 14-15 foot RIB is going to be pretty heavy; there's going to be a lot of fiberglass or aluminum in the main hull, and pvc/hypalon tubes aren't all that light either. I suppose you could make some kind of dolly to move it around with but I'd want it to be plenty beefy.

+1 on the hypalon, especially if the boat will spend a lot of time in the sun. I've got an old west marine pvc roll up and I keep expecting the seams to let go. Fortunately it's spent most of its life packed away except for occasional trips to the San Juans so not a lot of sun damage.
RedJeep
Explorer
Oct 20, 2014
sunnybrooktoyhauler wrote:
What about a porta bote. Folds and are 10-14 foot.

Thanks, but I would want a boat about 14 to 15 feet with an outboard motor. It would be used for crashing and some fishing.
sunnybrooktoyha
Explorer
Oct 20, 2014
What about a porta bote. Folds and are 10-14 foot.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 20, 2014
valhalla360 wrote:
There are wheel kits that help but it may be more hassle than it's worth.

I had a wheel kit mounted on the transom of my quicksilver. flip wheels down and wheel boat around like a wheel barrow. worked great. no hassle at all.
I would strongly consider a fold a boat, portaboat, etc. myself.
bumpy
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Oct 20, 2014
Whatever you end up getting be sure and insist on Hypalon fabric NOT PVC. PVC is for pool toys and the UV of the sun will eat them up. Avon and Zodiac are two of the best.

I had two Avon RIB's, the first was a 10' with a 9.9 2 cycle Suzuki and went like a bat our of hell, would cruise 24 mph in flat water with two adults. The second was a 9 footer with a 6 HP 4 stroke Nissan and while it would plane at about 16 mph you had to work at it. Both of these served as tenders, first to my 34' sailboat and then my 36' trawler.

RIB's have a number of advantages, they are stable and have good payload for their weight. You can swim/dive from them and they beach easily. They do better when left inflated and I would avoid the inflatable/wood/aluminum floor models. For the best performance get one with a deep V fiberglass hull(there are a some aluminum V hulls that also work well).

As far as outboard selection keep in mind that many lakes restrict the use of 2 cycles. The new breed of 4 strokes have gotten lighter and offer cleaner, more efficient power. A 9 food RIB with a 6 to 8 hp 4 stroke would be my first choice.

As always.... Opinions and YMMV.

:C