2022 Protector 310 Chase review

Overview

Rigid hull inflatable boats (RIBs) have traditionally been purchased as utility boats for commercial applications such as deep sea diving, offshore search and rescue, tender/transportation, military, water police and more.

RIBs excel in these hard-working roles as they are incredibly safe, stable and seaworthy compared with other boat types.

In 2022, RIBs continue to be the craft of choice for commercial/professional marine activities, but there are a lot more being bought for recreational boating applications.

Part of this is due to the boat-buying public finally acknowledging the safety benefits and advantages of the rigid hull inflatable platform, but also because RIB makers are now producing much better equipped, feature-laden models.

Competition between a growing number of RIB makers on the world stage is fierce, forcing each to lift their game and produce better quality, better finished boats with a whole lot more to offer than a seaworthy hull and lots of deck space.

Modern RIBs made for the recreational market now compete on features and fit-out with regular fibreglass sports day boats and cruising craft while retaining the inherent safety features demanded by commercial operators.

One of the new breed of recreational RIB makers is New Zealand's Protector Boats. Made by Rayglass, owned by the US-based Brunswick Corporation, Protector RIBs are popular as commercial superyacht tenders, dive boats and chase craft for sailing competitions (including the Sail GP series), but they can also be set up with features to suit social day boating.

In the Protector RIB range, customers can choose from nine models ranging from 7.5m to 12.5m in length, and with centre console and cabin configurations.

For this review we have the Protector 310 Chase, one of the smallest but most popular centre console Protector models, paired with twin 300hp Mercury Verado V8 outboard engines.

Price and equipment

Gold Coast-based Protector Boats dealer Queensland Marine Centre has Protector 310 Chase RIBs available with as few or as many features as you like.

These craft are custom outfitted to the specific requirements of individual buyers.

No two boats are the same – instead of offering up a standard boat package for a particular price, Queensland Marine Centre prefers to sit down with buyers to discuss their needs and wants with regard to engine options, electronics fit-out, upholstery and decking choices, and so on.

You can't change the basics, including the hull and centre console configuration, but everything else is up for discussion, inclusion, or omission.

As mentioned, you can order a new, no-frills Protector 310 Chase for commercial and work boat applications, or up-spec your new RIB with a heap of gear for recreational boating and entertaining.

Our test boat fits into the latter category; it left the New Zealand Protector factory outfitted with all the bells and whistles including a trick Simrad electronics suite (GPS, sounder, radar, engine integration), split rear lounge, soft-feel Ultralon U-Deck foam rubber flooring, and a cockpit wet bar for socialising.

Rigged with two of Mercury's superb 300hp V8 four-stroke outboard engines (with power steering, digital throttle and shift), QMC has our Protector 310 Chase test boat priced at $371,249.

Other goodies on the boat include a Fusion stereo with speakers; electric toilet to console change room; deluxe upholstery throughout; a pair of Soft Rider suspension helm chairs; tilt-adjust steering wheel; Lenco retractable trim tabs; engine protection bars; Samson post with hand rails; through-bow anchor system with Maxwell electric winch and Manson plough anchor; bimini top with canvas cover; Marinco windscreen wiper with cleaning washer reservoir; Ritchie compass; folding boarding ladder; Blue Sea auto battery switching; and more.

Hull and engineering

The Protector 310 Chase has an overall length of 9.25 metres and a maximum beam with the tubes inflated of 2.86 metres. This reduces to 2.21 metres when the tubes are deflated.

Similar to most high-end RIBS, the Protector's inflatable pontoon tubes are made from the highest grade of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM). This material is generically called Hypalon, although that specific product is no longer made.

For maximum safety, the inflatable tubes surrounding the 23-degree deep-vee fibreglass hull have seven  baffled inflation chambers to ensure the hull will remain afloat in an emergency.

The boats are built tough below the waterline. The hull is made from solid fibreglass using hand-laid 24-ounce woven roving cloth built up until the hull is 20mm thick along the sides of the boat, and twice that at the keel.

Design and layout

The Protector 310 Chase has a centre console configuration with large open decks at each end of the boat.

These wide, uncluttered spaces make these craft ideal as tenders, and as dive and chase/support craft as there is room for many people to assemble in the bow and the stern of the boat.

The Protector 310 Chase also has wharf-like stability, meaning it can easily handle its maximum persons capacity of 12 regardless of where they are sitting/standing within the boat.

At the bow of the Protector 310 Chase is a 1.45-metre-long front deck abaft an elevated anchor locker that doubles as a step/platform for disembarking to the beach or foreshore.

The anchor well has a Sopac access hatch for servicing, although the whole anchoring system is automated so you'll rarely need to open it up.

Our test boat was also fitted with a stainless steel Samson post, along with internal and external pontoon tube safety lanyards.

Console and helm station

The dual-width fibreglass centre console is positioned well forward in the boat to increase the deck space aft. It is quite an elaborate, sophisticated set-up as it incorporates an elevated helm/driving position, along with a spacious forward head compartment/change room with electric toilet, and front bench lounge seat.

The console in the Protector 310 Chase is topped with a tinted, wraparound windscreen, along with a stainless steel framed overhead canvas bimini/T-top.

The sturdy steel frame extends above the bimini so it can be used as the mount for navigation and LED lighting, as well as for radio antennas and radomes.  

The helm console is cleverly designed with an angled front section to provide knee and leg space for the skipper and a passenger alongside. There's also a full-width footrest beneath the two ultra-comfortable soft-rider suspension pedestal helm chairs.

The helm chairs swivel 360 degrees, slide fore and aft, and have comfortable folding armrests. The two deluxe chairs also have flip-up front bolsters so the skipper can stand comfortably at the helm, elevated on the moulded fibreglass console platform.

The helm console is set up with the steering wheel and controls on the starboard side. I prefer a more modern, port side offset layout as it provides for more space alongside the skipper for a standing passenger. That said, the traditional right side driving position works here because the console is wider than most.

Everything else about the console is excellent. There's flat panel fascia space for engine instruments, switch panels and two huge multifunction displays.

Our test rig also had a useful port side grab rail, a pair of cup holders, 12-volt outlets, overhead Ritchie compass, and four speakers for the Fusion audio system.

Cockpit and transom

The cockpit in the Protector 310 Chase stretches roughly 2.2 metres from the pedestal helm chairs aft to the 700mm high transom wall. There's ample working space here for commercial applications, for diving, and for loading and unloading passengers.

There is also space for a few options and accessories for recreational activities. To that end, our test boat was fitted with a fibreglass wet bar/entertainment centre complete with a fridge, freshwater sink and storage space.

Our test boat was also optioned with a sumptuously well padded, comfortable split rear lounge seat across the full width of the transom.

The inclusion of the wet bar and lounge seat reduces the uncluttered aft cockpit deck space to 750mm long, but that's still enough space to move about.

Removing one or both of the aft lounge seat increases the cockpit length to 1.5 metres.

Other cockpit/stern features include storage lockers beneath the transom (the batteries are located inside the console), along with boarding platforms and a ladder, a stern tow point, pontoon tube grab handles, and engine protection bars surrounding the twin Mercury outboard engines.

On the water

Few boats have the safety, ride comfort and seaworthiness of a good RIB, and the Protector 310 Chase is a very good one. In the bay, on the harbour or offshore, the Protector 310 Chase is wonderfully smooth-riding, epically stable and well-mannered.

The hull handles beautifully as well, carving tight turns with exceptional grip on the water, banking sharply, but maintaining excellent poise and balance and most importantly, control.

At the helm the power steering is light and easy, and the Mercury digital throttles smooth and direct, with the two combining to make high-speed manoeuvres safe and fun.

With 600hp on the transom the test boat was also very fast, topping out at a blisteringly quick 53.8 knots. Incredibly, the Protector 310 Chase is rated for a combined 900hp maximum performance should you want to go even faster.

That 50-plus knots will likely be quick enough for most applications, but I can understand why the hull is rated for more. Even at those speeds the Protector 310 Chase sits glued to the water, even with the engines trimmed out and the boat scorching along with just the last 2.0 metres of hull bottom touching the water's surface.

The Protector 310 Chase is rated to carry 12 adults. More power might be useful for some commercial and work boat applications, or with heavy loads.

Performance

Range on 95% of the 495L fuel supply: 223nm at 3500rpm
*Both engines

Verdict

The Protector 310 Chase is an exceptional boat for offshore working boat applications, and well capable of doubling up as a recreational sports day boat.

It is great fun to drive, safe, soft, stable, and very fast. With options such as the rear bench seating, bimini top shelter and wet bar/entertainment centre, this high-performance rigid hull inflatable boat has a whole lot going for it.   

There are certainly cheaper sports boat options on the market, but few with the same combination of speed, stability, safety, and exclusivity.

Specifications

Model: Protector 310 Chase
Length overall: 9.25m
Beam: 2.86m (inflated)/2.21m (deflated)
Draft: 520mm (engines up)
Deadrise: 23 degrees
Weight: 3000kg (hull only)
Bridge clearance: 2.61m
Maximum power: 900hp
Engines as tested: 2x300hp Mercury V8 four-stroke
Fuel: 495L
Flotation: Level
Passengers: 12

Priced from: POA. Consult with dealer, Queensland Marine Centre.

Price as tested: $371,279 including twin 300hp Mercury Verado V8 extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard engines with power steering, digital throttle and shift; Simrad 16 NSS EVO3 multifunction display (with sounder, GPS, radar and engine integration); Simrad RS40 AIS VHF radio with antenna; Fusion MS-RA770 Apollo audio system with speakers; electric toilet to console change room; deluxe upholstery throughout; a pair of soft-rider suspension helm chairs; tilt-adjust steering wheel; Lenco retractable trim tabs; split rear lounge; wet bar/entertainment centre; Ultralon U-Deck flooring; engine protection bars; Samson post with hand rails; through-bow anchor system with Maxwell electric winch and Manson plough anchor; bimini top with canvas cover; Marinco windscreen wiper with cleaning washer reservoir; Ritchie compass; folding boarding ladder; Blue Sea auto battery switching; and more.

Supplied by: Queensland Marine Centre