Aurora RIB 340

Aurora offer an extensive list of boats ranging from 1.95m roll-ups to 5m fully-optioned RIBs as well as sporty ZapCats. The range, with builds specified by supplier Global Force Marine in Queensland, is sold to recreational, military and rescue service users. Company representative Michael Orsmond told Boatpoint that the latest Auroras are currently being supplied to several surf life saving clubs throughout the country, a good indication of the brands quality.

The only downside with using a small RIB as a tender is storing it on board: ideally hoisted onto davits at the stern or requiring a large enough foredeck to be chocked up. Another weighty issue is engine size -- the bigger, the heavier it is to hoist aboard the mothership.

The Aurora fibreglass hulls are made with resin infusion to ensure consistent lay-ups and this also has the great advantage of being relatively light, always a handy thing for boat tenders. This infusion (RTM system) also produces a gelcoat on both sides of the deep V-hull, giving a friction free outside and quality finished inside with inbuilt non-slip mouldings. The other key component of air boats is their valves, and again Global Force didn’t penny pinch and specified quality Italian-made units throughout the three chambers of the 340.

Good general features throughout the Aurora range include a front sun bed, anchor locker, identifying colours, pin striping and bucket seats. Reflecting the customisation available, the review boat came with a sturdy off-centre console and two person seat. Other options include a selection of jockey and stand-up consoles.

A very small RIB at only 3.4m for a centre console, some might say, but for a cruising couple this setup is very comfortable with plenty of room forward for your sub-aqua gear or whatever. The well-padded seat afforded a comfortable driving position at the uncluttered console. Controls were limited to the side throttle, navigation light buttons and speedometer. At foot level, a useful storage locker also gives access to electrics and steering mechanism. Other storage is below the bench seat and up front a floor locker holds the anchor tackle. Strong stainless handholds on the console, at  the bench seat and soft grab handles all around the air hulls reflect the brand’s surf-rescue history; with additional safety lines for quick recovery of swimmers. For easy stowage, hoisting fixings are built into the moulded transom and into bulkheads up forward on the fibreglass hull.

However the smooth hull deflected the waves well and the boat planed quickly giving me a comforting feeling of stability. This invited me to go for steep banking into turns while hardly a drop of spray landed on the deck. The comfortable yet sporty steering position made driving the Aurora fun and encouraged me into catapulting off some larger waves as my confidence grew in the RIB.

Some close-quarter manoeuvring followed as I practiced coming alongside the jetty. This also proved a doddle on the 340 with the precise steering and throttle controls giving enough feeling to let the driver know what’s going on, and that deep V-hull ensured leeway was reduced. Increasing the load (with an adult passenger and gear) if anything increased the stability while the big Yam’s horsepower relished the challenge as we powered across the Broadwater against the fast-receding tide to end an enjoyable sojourn on the Aurora RIB 340.

The verdict: a well made RIB with excellent customisation and at a price that should make this boat a strong contender in what is a competitive market sector.

Supplier:
Global Force Marine, Gold Coast City Marina
Shop 7, 58 Waterway Drive, Coomera QLD 4209. 
Tel: 07 5573 7265. Web: www.globalforcemarine.com