Anyone know about them? Build quality? Ride? How do they stack up to the other small (~10 foot) ribs?
When I worked in Venezuela, where AB's are made, there were hundreds around. I had 2 of them, one with a GRP hull and one with an Ally hull. The GRP one was an 18 footer which we used for dive trips and days out in the Islands. Sweet riding and dry, it got used every day as a general bus around the Marina too. The Ally one was a 10 footer kept on the swim-platform. It was a little over engined but very quick as a result. Tough is the one word that springs to mind about that little boat. It got abused in the worse way most days and held up to it well. The fabric only started to loose it's coating after endless chafeing from docklines, paint and varnish drips all over it and it survived it all. When the Hurricane feeder bands came in, my mate Steve and I took it out to go surfing in the big swells. Very stupid but great fun!!!!! As an all-round, everyday dinghy these boats are hard to beat. Ok, some of the glueing and fit and finish are not up to Superyacht standards but for the money, I highly recommend. I currently run a 310 Quicksilver Airdeck but I'm just about to buy a Tohatsu 3.3m RIB as I get a good dealer discount on them. Also good little tenders.
We bought an 11' alloy (AB 320AL) in Panama as a replacement for a Zodiac, tender to a 65' SY. Quality at least as good, probably better than Zodiac. We chose the AL model for its very light weight for handling / storage on deck. It is very fast with a 15hp OB, due to light weight and flat bottom. In a larger chop though, you miss the deeper Vee of the heavier models. Never had a problem with AB, would buy it again anytime.
Thanks for the responses! The 10' lightweight fiberglass one looks like a nice option. If anyone else has any experience please share...
we have a 17 dlx as our main and an 11 vst for our crew tender; which we have been using since 2007. both riding very good and the price/quality is to our satisfaction.
