I Bought a Boat on AliBaba - Again

[@fermapandele]

Well done! Sib looks amazing! We also chasing the cargo on marine traffic, our boat should arrive by 22nd of November. Can’t wait tbh. Hope we can meet and go out at some point, looking forward to! Thank you so much as you inspired 100% going with this supplier, Claire been amazing and designed the boat that i always wanted! Best of luck!

[@boatman9564]

Definitely! Let me know when it arrives.

[@davidsalisbury50]

I bought a China (Shenzhen) built RIB 12 years ago. 23ft (6.35m) with a number of options. All made to my spec with French Hyperlon and glues. Visited the factory half way through the build. 'Imported' into Hong Kong. Rated for 10 people, 5 chambers, extended range fuel tank 120L, 60L Water tank and shower. Big cushion deck in front of the helm with a giant toy box below it. Ski tow, nav lights, speakers, sunshade bimini and cover. Approx 7,250 sterling, delivered to the boatyard. Done a few minor repairs over the years but it has been in the water pretty much every 2 weeks for 12 years now. Suzuki 140 on the back (another 7,500 sterling at the time). So just shy of 15K in the water. It is getting a bit old, but still goes out regularly. Should get 5,000 back for it if/when I sell it as the engine is still very good condition. Everyone told me I was crazy and it wouldn't last 5 years. Best money I ever spent. Exact same boat (same mould, materials, glues etc) sold under a recognised name in Europe for 3-4x the price. Will be interesting how yours stand up to the rigors of use and time but I have no complaints.

[@boatman9564]

That’s great to hear! Yes my 4.8M RIB from China is now 3 years/450 running hours old and it’s as good as the day it was delivered. Very happy with it and the same as yours, about a quarter of the price of a recognised brand. So glad I’m not alone in my great experience!

[@tunnellingsalisbury7605]

@@boatman9564 I have a number of friends with recognised brand RIB's. Several have had major issues with them over the years, some, like mine, have only required general wear and tear maintenance. One other same as mine but 2 years older (14 years) still in use and has been used a lot more than mine. I have a very slow leak on one tube which has recently migrated to the next chamber, it seems the chamber baffle has started to leak. One thing to watch for if a leak is persistent, the differential pressure between the chambers probably overstressed the baffle over time. I recently priced a full re-tube and general tidy up/facelift. The boat would be taken by truck back to Shenzhen, all new tubes fitted, all new seat covers/cushions, gelcoat touch up and polish, general tidy up all round and any electric rewiring needed, back to HK and the engine re-fitted, all for 4,500 Stirling (probably some add-on's as they find things to fix). I'm not using it much these days so planning to sell. But got the quote for anyone interested in buying.

[@jke4ting1]

Can you put the Alibaba link in the description please?

[@boatman9564]

www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Foldable-330-Aluminum-Floor-Inflatable-Zodiac_60862203227.html?spm=a2747.product_manager.0.0.7efb71d20nTefm

[@TR4zest]

Nice dingy. I'd guess you paid about half what an equivalent branded boat would have cost. Let's see if it lasts.

[@arnepetry3049]

Could you write who the seller was? Qingdao yachting does not really work for me...

[@boatman9564]

www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Foldable-330-Aluminum-Floor-Inflatable-Zodiac_60862203227.html?spm=a2747.product_manager.0.0.7efb71d20nTefm

[@grumblewoof4721]

Cool, little boat. Looks like fun. But... crazy that the boat costs only $520 but you have to pay $951 to get it into the UK. How much was the outboard motor ? Can you buy a complete rib in the UK cheaper ?

[@boatman9564]

It’s about the same as buying one in the UK, except you get to choose the colours, watch it be built and it doesn’t have a big cheap branded badge on the side.

[@fermapandele]

Hi, just a quick question, our boat due to arrive at Felixstowe on 26 and just received an email from CMS shipping forwarder with costs-terminal handling 1420£, documentation 380£, clearence -85£. Looks a bit high . What do u think? Can i change the shipping forwarder or is too late now? Tia

[@boatman9564]

Hi Tia, it depends on the size of the boat you’ve ordered. Did you order a 3.3 inflatable, or is this a RIB? The arrival fees are surprisingly expensive, but then the shipping is cheap so I reckon the arrival fees cover part of the cost of the shipping.

[@kengerodias9718]

May i know the seller? Or link of that boat please

[@boatman9564]

Sure; www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Foldable-330-Aluminum-Floor-Inflatable-Zodiac_60862203227.html?spm=a2747.product_manager.0.0.7efb71d20nTefm

[@minminzheng-hj6zl]

This seller is Qingdao yacht industry & trade co., ltd at libaba. The creater attached the link.

[@miguelsims]

Nice

[@mauritz1774]

When you ask me, i baught an cheap 3,2m boat for 370€(discount) in supermarket (Netto) online store wide spread Supermarket chain (like Lidl) Lokal in Germany. You fixed me to Ali Baba now, but i serched on Ali Baba for this kind of inflatable Boats with "inflatable Bratwurst keel" and Aluminium floor but, it is not cheaper if you buy this kind of Boat in local Online Shops. I found on Ali an extreme close similar boat of mine for same for same price, but you need to by 2 of them and pay another taxes and shipping an in the end you are 2x of my price. Your boat looks alot more Professionell then mine, and you can not get a boat with this features like tank strap and extra carabina ropes or hypalon thicker PVC..., but is it worth to pay 2-3x of the Price? For this? Not worth it to pay hidden taxes, Shipment, fake CR certificate and other rsiks than buy it just here. But it is worth when you might buy an Small 3,3m RIB or an bigger RIB like yours, becurse you not get this kind Of Boats any cheaper i guess, i will drive to an conwention in 2 weeks in Berlin to inform me about other named Brands to compare it with china. Netto is Not so wide spreadet then Lidl but kinda similar count of shops than Lidl spread arround Germany. But Lidl is widly spreaded in other Tegions like Austria, Swizerland, Italy France. Netto is not my favorite shop. You get the Netto out of the Ghetto, but not the Ghetto out of the Netto.