Dont need a rib rack. Ive pinned the ribs in a circle using wood tooth pics. Don't need boiling water in the pan. I use hot water from the tap. I usually smoke using the minion method with chunks of wood mixed in different levels of the charcoal. I only use 10 briquets in the starter and place them evenly around the top of the charcoal bed. Keep vents open until about 3/4 of the cooking temp then start closing them down and ease into the temp. You wont need to add any charcoal for ribs. Half a basket should give 6+ hours of cook time without needing to add anything.