02/06/2008

ALL WOMEN CREW TO RACE AROUND BRITAIN TEAM SCORPION-DUBOIS ENTERS 2008 ROUND BRITAIN OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACE IN SUPPORT OF CHARITY

Lymington, UK: Team Scorpion-Dubois is delighted to announce the entry of an all-girl crew in this much anticipated revival of the world's toughest offshore powerboat race.

Starting from Portsmouth, home of Britain's Royal Navy, on Midsummer's Day, June 21st, a fleet of 50 high powered vessels will spear westward to commence a eight leg, ten day charge around the coast of Britain.

The all girl crew will be competing in a 10 metre Scorpion Sting - built in Lymington. 

Team Scorpion-Dubois will be supporting CLIC Sargent, the UK based charity that cares for children and young people suffering from cancer and their families.


Introducing Team Scorpion-Dubois

Sarah Fraser - Driver: Trained as a Naval Architect. Currently working in the Superyacht industry. Holds a Yachtmaster Offshore Power and Sail qualification.

Miranda Knowles - Navigator:  Experienced yachtswoman. Has completed six transatlantic crossings.


Scorpion and the Sting

Team Scorpion-Dubois is competing in the new Scorpion Sting, a stunning £200,000, 10 metre RIB that has just been launched to much acclaim.  Built in Lymington, Hampshire (also the team’s home town) by the current holders of the Round Britain, Round Great Britain and London to Monte Carlo records, the Sting should be the perfect choice to undertake such a gruelling endurance race.

This British designed and built RIB has twin inboard Yanmar 6LP-STZE 315 HP diesel engines on Bravo 1 stern drive legs that will propel her at 50 knots over a highly creditable, 500 mile range.  Patrick Byrne of Scorpion RIBs said, “Scorpion RIBs have a proven track record for quality and long distance running and we hope the Sting will deliver for the team. We wish Sarah and Miranda a safe and enjoyable race and would like to thank Dubois Naval Architects, without whose support this would not have been possible.”

Dubois

Dubois Naval Architects is one of the world's foremost Yacht Design companies. Formed in Lymington over 30 years ago, Dubois is delighted to be supporting Sarah and Miranda in the challenge that they have so creatively and so bravely taken on.  In so doing they are not only drawing attention to the universal nature of marine competition, for both men and women, but also supporting an extremely worthwhile charity.

More information can be found on the following websites:

http://www.roundbritainrace.co.uk
http://www.scorpionribs.com
http://www.duboisyachts.com
http://clicsargent.org.uk

08/04/2008

THE STING IS OUT AND SHE’S A BEAUTY! - Scorpion’s new Sting 10 metre sports cruiser is launched

The British designed and built Scorpion Sting 10 metre Sports Cruiser has been launched amidst great excitement and pride from the team who produced her in Lymington, Hampshire, UK. With the launch of the Sting, the team at Scorpion is providing a host of innovations to some key systems thereby adding extra durability, security and comfort to a long list of state-of-the-art components during the building of its 10 metre cruising RIBs.
 
The Sting will satisfy and encourage the thrill seeker whilst providing comfortable and safe cruising. This is a superb looking boat with graceful lines complimenting the weighted and proportioned deep-V shaped hull to guarantee that she absolutely flies.

- The Sting is a British made Sports Cruiser with an unsurpassed design and build pedigree from the Scorpion stable.
 

- The Sting is created by a highly dedicated workforce adopting world-class RIB building standards.
 

- The Sting is the perfect partner for both family cruising and offshore racing requirements, offering superb handling, performance and reliability.
 

- The Sting is serious yet fun, stylish yet practical and is powerful yet comfortable.
 

- The Sting satisfies the needs of the luxury RIB owner and includes all the practical touches required.
 

- The Sting is pure thoroughbred, so get ready for the ride of your life.

From Monday 7th April, Scorpion RIBs is making the Sting available to potential buyers for demonstration.
To book your place and for more information, please contact Joy Rickman on Tel: +44 (0) 1590 677080 or email: sales@scorpionribs.com

We’re linking to their Rib-Racers website too ‘cos we think it’s great!

They took delivery of their new 8.5 metre Scorpion on Saturday 29th March. As Gavin Howe wrote: “Weather couldn't have been worse, but boat seems fine and we are now spending some time getting to know the boat and running the engine in - a Mercury 300XS. We are doing the Round Britain Race in June so the expensive Ullman seats might be necessary!”

He continues...
After what seemed like a long wait, Black Gold was launched yesterday in Lymington. Launching a Rib is a bit of an overstatement, particularly as Scorpion had spent previous days doing propeller tests. After four different props, then ended up with a 19 inch Revolution 4 bladed propeller which is very popular for Scorpions. By the time we "launched" the engine had done 6.5 hours running - 2.5 hours in the race engine factory. This means that we are virtually through the official running in process where the engine automatically gives itself a double oil dose. It still probably needs 20 hours in order to get to its full potential.

Scorpion had the boat ready to go and after a talk through the basic systems, we went on a trip out into the Solent with Ben from Scorpion - Ben manages the fit out and has also benefited from a week at Mercury's US facility. No problems at all, but given the Solent was "boiling" and the rain was heavy it wasn't a great time to do a serious evaluation of the boat. What we did learn is that our glass screen dashboard will take a little learning and the Mercury "System View" with its 200 page manual looks very clear but we were struggling to find the page with the relevant information - like engine revs for example! We now know how to do this and have discovered that it can provide us with many things that we didn't know we needed including an engine running history showing time at different rev levels!

One thing that struck Paul and me was how much this boat is an improvement on our previous Scorpion. Of course the boat in the water is very similar albeit a metre longer, but every locker, every fitting seemed better - a great example of continuous improvement of what was already a first class Rib.

After the official hand over, we took the boat down the Solent to Cowes using the lee of the Island to provide shelter from the gusts which we couldn't measure but which were forecast as up to F9. A few things came to light: the trim tab controls are the other way round which makes them counter intuitive for me. The sexy "Zero Effort" engine controls feel good but the throttle control couldn't be left as it cut back when you hit wave - maybe you need to keep your hand on the throttle! You also need to be careful that you don't change gear with the throttle open which of course you can't do with a single lever control.

Net, net the boat didn't give us one anxious moment in quite extreme Solent conditions and the Ullman seats which I'd selected without trying them, appeared to be very good as you didn't need to brace yourself for the hard landings. We have now drawn the position of our feet and will fit footstraps to ensure that we don't fall off sideways as well and always have a firm footing.

A lot to think about and a lot of manuals to read. We went home happy after day one and look forward to tomorrow's run when we will put some more hours on the engine.
Their site for the race is www.rib-racers.com

13/03/2008

IT’S ALL IN A DAY’S WORK...EVEN IN THE ROUGHEST WEATHER!

The worst winter storms of the year didn’t stop the launch of a fabulous new Scorpion 9.75m RIB going ahead for its enthusiastic Dutch owner who lives in Belgium.
This is the highest spec open RIB delivered to date by Graham Jelley’s master craftsmen at Scorpion’s Lymington factory.
 
Powered by a Volvo D6 370 inboard engine, let’s just take a peek at some of the fixtures and fittings that ensured this boat was shrouded in secrecy whilst in-build::

- Flexi teek flooring
- 2 double custom made sports bolster seats with electrically powered seat bases
- Pacific console with foot well to suit customer
- Leather covered stainless steel handles on rear of bolsters
- Engine box integrated with full width aft seat complete with bathing platform
- Stainless steel A frame with watersports fittings, mooring cleats, VHF and GPS as well as fishing sockets
- Latest Raymarine radar on T Top Bimini complete with camera facing aft
- Sony audio system with 6 speakers
- Hydraulic power steering via leather covered stylish Italian steering wheel
- White upholstery with Alpine blue tubes complete with de rigeur orange stripe on rubbing strake (a little touch of Dutch)

22/02/2008

Scorpion launches its Flagship model at RIBEX (9-11 May, Cowes, Isle of Wight)

Scorpion RIBs is world-renowned for producing the highest quality top-end range of custom built rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) at its South Coast, UK manufacturing site. The 2008 model line-up is about to be further boosted by its biggest and best ever Sports Cruiser, namely the 10 metre Sting.

RIBEX 08 has been selected to showcase this much anticipated flagship model with its twin inboard Yanmar 6LP-STZE 315 HP engines on Bravo 1 stern drive legs that will propel the Sting at over 54 knots with a 500 mile range.

Last Autumn, the M.D. at Scorpion, Graham Jelley, set up a separate manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Lymington (Hampshire) specifically to cater to the Sting build programme of three boats a year. According to Jelley, it takes a minimum of 3,500 man hours to complete one boat and he estimates that his workforce can “probably build three Cruisers in total this year”. Two of those three allocated to the 2008 schedule have already been sold. The price starts at £170,000 plus VAT.

Scorpion’s on-water line-up at RIBEX will comprise three top of the range models:

Sting 10m Sports Cruiser
8.75 Diesel
8.5m Outboard

Scorpion is actively encouraging serious RIB enthusiasts who are visiting the show this year and who are looking to buy, to book a demo with them on their 8.5m outboard. A booking service will be operating in Scorpion’s ‘Twin Peaks’ Hospitality Enclosure which will also be the venue for the organiser’s party for exhibitors and media on the opening afternoon.

Media attention will be focused on the new Sting and Graham Jelley will be taking any attending media who have pre-booked* out on demonstration runs at specific times that have been allocated for that purpose.  

30/01/2008

BOOK YOUR STING DEMO NOW!

The impending launch of our first 10m Sting Sports Cruiser is creating quite a stir amongst RIB oficianados.
We are therefore delighted to report that the first Sting is on target to launch immediately after Easter when we will be conducting photo shoots and boat tests with the media.

From Monday 7th April, we are making the Sting available to potential buyers for demonstration and are taking advance bookings now.

To book your place, please contact Joy Rickman at the earliest opportunity on Tel: +44 (0) 1590 677080 or email: joy@scorpionribs.com

17/01/2008

A very positive start to 2008 - (and we’re starting as we mean to go on!)

We are delighted to have kicked off the New Year in style with the handover of a fabulous new boat to a Sussex based architect, seen here shaking hands with Scorpion’s M.D. Graham Jelley (right). The boat is an 8.1m RIB powered by a 300hp Verado engine that reaches speeds of 50 knots. The unique blue flume design on the white tubes was a bespoke design...by the customer. That’s what Scorpion is all about; a premier company that designs and builds top end RIBs to quality specifications and if you want a flume, so be it. We think it looks terrific. Happy New Year to all!

19/12/2007

It's a Happy New Year ahead for Scorpion RIBs

Graham Jelley is a man with a big smile on his face. He is Managing Director of the highly successful top end UK RIB manufacturer Scorpion, whose business is going from strength to strength. Furthermore, the expansion of the Scorpion offices on the river in Lymington, Hampshire, has provided him with a fabulous new working environment and the entire job came in on time and on budget!

Interest in the Company’s new 10m Sports Cruiser, the Sting, launching in 2008, has been solid and the build schedule is right on target. Two boats are currently in build and are already sold. The first will be commissioned in March 2008 and is entered for the June 2008 Round Britain Powerboat Race.

The Sting will feature the latest navigation technology including the touch screen Garmin GPS/Radar/Sounder and also the EmpirBus-integrated programmable electrical system that incorporates many security and functionality improvements.  Aesthetically, the Sting will look even more aerodynamic than Scorpion’s earlier cruiser models with a very modern curved oval mast centrally mounted in front of the screen for the electronics.

The engines are being installed early in the New Year. The twin inboard Yanmar 6LP-STZE 315 HP on Bravo 1 stern drive legs, will propel the Sting at over 54 knots with a 500 mile range. Imco, a US-based marine steering company, is supplying the stainless steel hydraulic external steering.
 
There has been a lot of attention paid to the detailing on this new model and some stunning one-offs are being added such as an extremely stylish custom made leather steering wheel from Italy that matches the leather covering on the hand holds. The interior reveals a combination of soft cream and matching Alcantara soft furnishings. The work surfaces are Corian throughout and a custom made refrigeration unit is included to keep the champagne chilled for drinking whilst sitting at the adjustable height cherry wood table or sharing the ultra comfortable soft double bed. The shower/heads are beautifully fitted out with electric toilet, full shower and wash basin finished off with a superb quality high gloss cherry wood door.

The Sting starts at £170,000 plus VAT.

Check out all the latest news and a stunning selection of videos on the Scorpion RIBs website at www.scorpionribs.com from where you can contact Scorpion for more details, a bespoke specification and quote.

13/12/2007

Boat Show fever draws to a close...for 2007

As well as building boats, the company has been caught up in a flurry of Autumn boat shows with members of the management team doing the rounds, flying the corporate flag, representing the brand as well as exhibiting a fabulous new 8.5 RIB at the latest British show to grace the Boat Show calendar, in London!

Cannes – Southampton - Athens
We kicked off the Boat Show season with a working visit to the Cannes Boat Show in September and it was a case of sunshine and superyacht captains for marketing manager Joy Rickman and accounts manager Sara Koklanakis who attended on behalf of Scorpion. They claim to have done quite a lot of research into design and technology “and it was actually quite hard work” says Sara!

Southampton Boat Show was next on the agenda in September and whilst our Marketing & PR consultant, Peta Stuart-Hunt, did the rounds and talked the talk with the press, Managing Director Graham Jelley had a thorough look around before jetting off to Athens Boat Show in October to support Ribco, the Scorpion licensee (and market leader in large inflatables) in Greece. A successful visit by all accounts and Graham is delighted to see Scorpion doing so well in the Mediterranean market.

Amsterdam METS – Earls Court Boat Show
Graham was off again in November to attend the European trade show METS in Amsterdam and he reported that it was a busy and interesting show as usual. Graham particularly likes going to METS because as he puts it, “you get the opportunity to network and get up close and personal with the equipment all under one roof and it may just be a few little things, but it is always the detail that counts with us and our boats. It’s important to get it right and METS is a good place to start the sourcing process.”

Finally, we’ve just returned from the newly launched Whyte & Mackay Boat Show at Earls Court where RIB-IT.com exhibited their fabulous new 8.5m Scorpion (see accompanying image).
The stand was in a great position between Halls 1 and 2, was light and bright and attracted a decent level of attention and interest from the visiting public. This new boat show had a great atmosphere and although the aisles weren’t packed all day every day, there was a steady stream of people over the nine-day Show. The Scorpion team has given it the thumbs-up!

28/11/2007

Just rewards for a decade of loyal service

Two of our employees - Ray Tully, foreman of laminators (pictured left of Graham) and Jamie Wheeler, head tube maker - have worked at Scorpion RIBs Ltd for 10 years and, in recognition of this important milestone, Managing Director Graham Jelley organised a celebration.  To mark the Company’s gratitude for their years of service and loyalty to the company, Graham presented a laptop to Ray and an SLR digital camera to Jamie.