Grand D600 RIB 2024 review

The Drive or D600 centre console is one of several Grand models available now, courtesy of Gold Coast dealer, Grand Boats Australia.

The Grand D600 in this review was rigged with a maximum power Yamaha 150hp four-stroke motor, and riding on a locally made Swiftco single-axle trailer.

Hailing from war-torn Ukraine, Grand Inflatable Boats is a leading manufacturer of premium quality inflatable boats and rigid hull inflatable boats.

Grand Boats was launched in 2001 by a group led by the founder of Brig boats – now a rival RIB manufacturer that is also Ukraine based.

Grand Inflatable Boats are sold in 40 countries, and since June, 2024, Grand inflatables and RIBs have also been available in Australia through national dealer, Grand Boats Australia.

We sampled two Grand models recently on the Gold Coast: the diminutive G340 Tender, and a sports centre console day boat called the D600.

Grand boats are well equipped from the factory.

Standard features include high quality Silvertex-branded vinyl upholstery and SeaDek EVA foam rubber flooring throughout.

You also get a reconfigurable aft seating area, a double-width fibreglass centre console helm station, boarding platforms, ski-tower, a Garmin GPSMap 9 multi-function display, electrical package, quality 50mm diameter Hypalon-coated Orca flotation tubes, bow and stern storage bins, a bow disembarking step, tube-mounted hand-rails, and more.

Rigged with an entry-size Yamaha 90hp four-stroke outboard, Grand D600 prices start at $87,100. Add $5310 for a Swiftco single-axle galvanised steel trailer with mechanical brakes.

Our test boat was equipped with several options: a canvas T-top with powder-coated stainless-steel frame, Fusion RA210 stereo with four 6.5-inch XS speakers, a Scanstrut Rokk wireless phone charger/holder, and twin jockey helm seats.

Paired with a more powerful Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboard, our test boat is priced at $105,550 – or $110,860 with the Swiftco trailer added to the package.

The D600 has a centre console layout with the helm station positioned just forward of amidships, leaving ample walkabout and deck space at both the bow and the stern.

RIBs can sometimes be a little short on storage space, but this has been addressed in the D600 with fibreglass storage box seats in the stern, along with a large storage locker beneath the SeaDek surfaced floor up at the bow.

Two more spacious storage compartments are situated aft, behind the rear seating, and alongside the outboard engine splash well.

There’s also storage space inside the bench seat at the front of the helm console, and two lockers right up at the bow with each suitable for use as an anchorwell.

Up at the bow there is also a comfortable, aft facing bench/lounge seat above the anchor storage boxes, along with a boarding step right up at the stem to make it easy to disembark to a jetty or another boat.

The helm console has a simple but practical design with a two-tier front fascia and a wide dash beneath a short acrylic windshield.

The windshield is tinted and quite effective in protection from wind and spray – although the D600 hull is inherently very dry anyway.

There is some glare/reflection off the windshield in direct sunlight, but this is to be expected given the bright white colour of the console.

The two-person wide centre console has the steering wheel and throttle controls offset correctly to the port side to allow for two people to stand – or sit comfortably in the jockey-style helm seats.

The D600 is easy and comfortable to drive as the sport steering wheel and throttle are very well placed, and the twin jockey seats rotate fore and aft so they can be cleared away for stand-up driving.

On the front fascia there is ample flat-panel space for the switch panel, engine instruments, radio head units and the included Garmin GPSMap 9 multi-function display.

Overhead, the optional canvas soft-top provides some shelter from direct sunlight, but is not big enough to shield the crew from rain.

The canvas T-top is held aloft by a powder-coated stainless-steel frame which doubles as a console grab rail for both the skipper and co-pilot.

Related: Grand Inflatable Boats arrives on the Gold Coast

Behind the space-saving jockey helm seats is a wrap-around cockpit rear lounge which has the centre seat section removable for better transom access – which means you can stand up against the outboard splash well.

The three upholstered lounge backrests also lift out so you can step over the rear seats to move aft to the large boarding platforms – and to readily access the large storage compartments situated on each side of the outboard splash well.

Other features include the ski-tower pole, twin stainless-steel stern cleats, and the fuel tank filler pipe at the front of the outboard well.

The cockpit and transom layout are suitable for mixed sports boating activities, including family day cruising, towsports and diving.

Out on the bay or offshore, the Grand D600 is smooth, fast, stable and dry. All good RIBs are stable at rest, and the D600 is no exception; it is positively wharf-like stable.

At speed, the 22-degree deadrise fibreglass vee hull cuts cleanly through bay chop to smooth out the ride for maximum crew comfort. That said, I was most impressed with how the D600 can shed water away from the helm and cockpit in blustery weather conditions.

I took the boat out through the Gold Coast Seaway and offshore in very choppy water, and returned without getting a drop of water on the windshield. That’s impressive for such a low-sided boat – and markedly better/drier than some rival RIB brands I have tested.

Paired with the 150hp outboard engine, the Grand D600 accelerates swiftly. We recorded a top speed of 40.1 knots (74.2 km/h) at 5700rpm.

I believe we could have gone a little quicker, too, but the boat felt a little unsettled at wide open throttle as the engine was not fitted with the optimum propeller.

Range on 95 per cent of the 141L fuel supply at 3000rpm: 156.5nm

The Grand D600 is a high-quality sports RIB and an excellent boat for all-rounder duties: day cruising, diving, mixed tow sports and tender applications.

The hull is ultra safe and stable, and the interior is nicely appointed, very well finished and outfitted.

The Grand D600 compares favourably against its rivals in this market segment, and should be considered as an excellent alternative to a traditional fibreglass/alloy monohull for sports boating, adventure and exploration activities.

Model: Grand D600
Length overall: 6.12m
Beam: 2.5m
Deadrise: 22 degrees
Hull weight: 597kg
Towing weight: 1315kg
Tube material: Hypalon (Orca CSM by Pennel and Flipo)
Tube thickness: 50cm
Maximum power: 150hp (extra-longshaft 25-inch)
Maximum engine weight: 250kg
Engine as tested: Yamaha 150hp four-stroke
Fuel: 141L
Water: 50L
Passengers: 12
Priced from: $87,100 including a Yamaha 90hp extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard with hydraulic steering, a Garmin GPSMap 9 multi-function display, electrical package (battery, navigation lights, bilge pump), centre console helm station, SeaDek flooring throughout, Silvertex premium upholstery, ski tower, boarding platforms. Add $5310 for the Swiftco single-axle galvanised steel trailer with mechanical brakes.
Price as tested: $105,550. As above but with a more powerful Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboard, along with a canvas T-top with powder-coated stainless-steel frame, Fusion RA210 stereo with four 6.5-inch XS speakers, Scanstrut Rokk wireless phone charger/holder, and twin jockey helm seats. Plus $5310 for the Swiftco trailer.
Supplied by: Grand Boats Australia