2018 Ribco Venom 44 review

Straight from the superyacht world of the Med to Sydney Harbour, Ribco is a range of large, fast, luxury RIBs aiming to make a splash in our market.

This Greek-built range of rigid inflatable boats was one of the stand-out launches at the recent Sydney International Boat Show. It certainly turned heads with three stylish models – a 28-foot 28ST, the Seafarer 36 with dual 350hp Mercury Verados and the awesome-looking Venom 44 with triple 350hp Mercury Verado outboards.

The Venom 44, with its monster triple outboards, had red-bloodied boaties returning for a second look. With a jet-black hull and curved aerodynamic targa-canopied console, it is real boating eye-candy.

These boats are fast. I can personally attest the biggest model, the Venom 44, comfortably does 60 knots; that's 111km/hour over land.

More importantly, these speeds are possible on the sloppy waters of a typical summer afternoon on Sydney Harbour. Thanks to a blend of a narrow super-deep vee hull and big air-filled collars, the Ribcos ride superbly in choppy water.

It is easy to see why these Ribco models are popular as ship-to-shore tenders in the Med. They deliver a smooth, fast ride and keep their passengers dry, all while arriving at the dock dripping in style.

Craft of this calibre don't come cheap, so the Seafarer 36 with twins will cost you $369,000. Step up to the Venom 44, with its triple-bank 350hp Verados, and the price jumps to $689,000.

Ribco says it will be able to offer the same prices in other Australian capital cities as quoted in this Sydney test.

Only a week after the Sydney boat show I was dockside for a test run of the Venom 44 and Seafarer 36. The Sydney Superyacht Marina at Rozelle Bay was an appropriate setting for this test with several multimillion-dollar craft moored around us.

Stepping from the dock, you can appreciate why mega-rich boaties love these RIBs. They are big, super stable and easy to board, and allow a quick, instant get-away that bigger sports cruisers won’t be able to imitate.

Built-in fenders also make them perfect for docking at a crowded marina to grab a coffee (if your Venom 44 doesn’t already have an onboard espresso machine) or pick up guests.
The super-stability of these glamour RIBs and the self-draining cockpit and deck are perfect for leaving them overnight at the dock. We’ve also seen a lot more of these craft used in Australia as family day boats.

The Venom 44 provides a huge amount of room for sunbathing, swimming and diving. It even has an electric stern anchor allowing it to moor close to the beach.

While the Seafarer 36 is big, the Venom 44 takes social boating to another level. It has standard seating for 10 people, including a double row of seats around the helm station. There are sun lounges in the bow and on the rear deck, and a quite roomy toilet/bathroom within the console structure.

Due to its size, the Venom 44 also gains an electric bow-thruster that helps with docking. However, the 13.15m craft is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre on the water and is well suited to short-handed docking.

The Venom 44's jet fighter-style helm station has an impressive row of switches and large digital displays set on a black console. The stainless steel helm is offset to port and has electric trim tabs.

A digital fly-by-wire system mounted on a side console controls the throttles. You can set them individually, or synchronise them so one handle provides control.

At the helm, you and the co-pilot’s position have race car-style cross-stitched seats with high backs and shock absorber bases. You can flip the seat base up for stand-up steering, but the Venom 44 runs so smoothly it is comfortable enough to stay seated.

Driving down the harbour in quick time, we pulled into Clifton Gardens beach in search of sheltered waters for a transfer. From here, we switched boats for some fast, light traffic runs to the Heads.

The Seafarer provided a nice, smooth run and clocked up a speed of around 56 knots. However, the real thrill came when taking the helm of the Venom 44 for my first ever triple-outboard treat.

I was somewhat apprehensive that this black beast would be more of a handful to control than the twin-350hp Seafarer. However, I needn't have worried; she turned out to be an even easier craft to handle and very forgiving on a novice to the 100km/h club.

The Venom 44's sheer size, weight and generous 3.52m beam ensure it is solid and steady even when rocketing over the water at 60 knots. It can do 62-63 knots, but I was happy dialling up 60 knots on several runs.

What's more impressive about the Venom 44 is the way it makes 50-60 knots seem so normal. There is no white-knuckle gripping of the wheel because the RIB sits so steady and sure-footed at speed. Oncoming ferry wakes didn't worry us as she slashed through like they didn't matter.

The curved windscreen and targa roof over the console make high-speed driving more pleasurable. The pilot is comfortable and protected from the wind, even on a cold but sunny winter's day.

Outright speed is not the only attraction; the Venom 44 is also about achieving high average speeds. It’s a glorious feeling to have the harbour to yourself, flying along at 60 knots and set to the music of three big 350hp Verado V6s in full cry.

I rounded out my little session with a few high-speed turns, each around the high 40-knot range.

The Venom 44 is not much different to any other outboard boat in that you use the up/down motor trim to tweak the best speeds.

These big RIBs are also remarkably dry. No spray surged over either set of tubes, even when running through the 'Hell’s Gate' under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Venom 44 is also about serious offshore passage making. It has a Category B certification, which means it is capable of voyages of up to 200 nautical miles offshore; with a triple 300-litre fuel tank capacity, she can do up to 300 nautical miles at 30 knots.

Coastal hops up the coast to visits remote islands and beaches are on the menu, then.
The Venom 44’s design is by noted British designer Lorne Campbell, who has penned a state-of-the-art slim, deep vee hull with a 24-degree transom dead-rise.

It also runs the very latest triple-stepped bottom that helps earlier plane and reduces fuel use. The clever bit is the middle engine is stepped lower than the two outside ones, so it runs in cleaner water behind the hull. The outside engines are counter-rotated propellers, but the mid-mounted motor runs in the same direction as the starboard one. This, combined with adjustable steering bars, ensures straight and true running at all speeds.

The inflatable tubes provide stability at rest, and a softer ride in rough water. Even if the tubes are deflated, the big RIB can still operate and drive fast.

There are a few other power options, including twin inboard (Cummins or Volvo Penta) diesel engines in sterndrive or surface-drive configuration. Going for inboards would mean a bigger, less cluttered stern swim deck but also the loss of the stern double-berth sleeping cabin.

Cabins? Yes, despite the outward appearance of a day boat the Venom 44 has overnight sleeping capacity. Apart from a bathroom/toilet hidden away in the console, the RIB has camper van-style pop-up cabins under the bow and stern sun decks. Large hatches lift up to reveal double berths that are quite cosy, cocooned in waterproof canvas sides and providing stowage pockets and even LCD reading lights. It's not quite ensuite cruiser accommodation, but it is something you’d appreciate if you don’t want to go home from a summer anchorage.

Other home comforts include hot and cold water, stove, wet bar and fridge, icebox and slide-out espresso coffee machine. Options include a full outdoor galley unit with BBQ behind the console, or swap that for more passenger seating with three rows instead of two behind the helm. The latter would be the pick for superyachts.

The Venom 44 is well suited to Australia's warm summer climate and comes with a bimini that folds out from behind the rear lounge to form a continuous awning on hot days. Another great feature for Aussie conditions is a motorised windscreen that can raise or lower at the flick of a switch. Let's not forget the massive LJ sound system with numerous speakers.

Ribco comes to our market with a high reputation in Europe for a quality product. It has built RIBs since 1994 and has considerable experience in how these specialist craft should go together. It uses only the best French Orca Hypalon fabric and the best materials in a composite fibreglass hull that has seven bulkheads.

Annual production of 30-40 boats ensures company principals personally test every Ribco craft before shipping.

Which one do you buy? If I was just touring the harbour I'd be more than happy with the Seafarer 36. However, if money was no object and I had a yen for coastal exploring, the Venom 44 would be my dream pick.

What does the Ribco Venom 44 cost?
Price as tested: $689,000 including helm station with carbon-fibre dash panel, twin 12V outlets, electric anchor windlass/locker in forward bulkhead, dedicated port and starboard engine starting batteries (three for outboards), twin house batteries with emergency battery crossover capability, automatic bilge pumps, charger for batteries and 2000W inverter.

Priced from: $689,000

PERFORMANCE – SPEED
30kt (56km/h) @ 3500rpm
42kt (78km/h) @ 4500rpm
53kt (98km/h) @ 5500rpm
60kt (111km/h) @ 5700rpm

SPECIFICATIONS
Length overall: 13.15m
Hull length: 12.10m
Beam: 3.52m
Weight: 4800kg
Deadrise: 62 degrees bow/24 degrees stern
Maximum power: 1200hp
Engines as tested: 3 x 350hp Mercury V6 Verado
Fuel capacity: 1140L
Water capacity: 200L
Flotation: 8/250mbar tube chambers

Supplied by: Ribco Marine