Naiad centre console RIB with Mercury Verado 350

Mercury Marine has put together what it clearly esouses is another ideal pairing a Mercury Verado 350 outboard with a high-performance RIB. Evidently, the Naiad centre-console RIB from Kirby Marine has people sitting up and taking notice in WA's big RIB market.

"It’s powerful, well-balanced and multi-use and as we’ve shown it off the reaction has been really positive," said Managing Director Rob Kirby. "The outcome’s pretty impressive. At 6.75 metres, it’s a very nice package."

In WA, where people leave their big boats out by Rottnest Island, there’s a need for big tenders that are bluewater capable and which can double as a fun weekender.

"The customer was a Mercury man, who had had good experiences with the brand before, so that’s what he wanted this time," Kirby said.

Previously, Kirby Marine has powered similar sized Naiads with 300hp V6s or 350hp V8s. Mercury claims its six cylinder super-powered Verado provides the best of both worlds – delivering more power for less weight with exceptional handling and reliability thrown in.

A long-term player in the RIB market, the Naiad is a boat that carries its horsepower well and this was apparently evident during testing off the WA coast.

Weighing in at 2100kg, including 250 litres of fuel, the RIB reached 49 knots at WOT using 115lt/hr (if WOT consumption really matters). But cruising at a more sedate and quiet 3000rpm and 18 knots, the 6.75m Naiad reportedly consumes 22 litres an hour, giving this RIB rig a range of more than 300 nautical miles. Perfect for Rotto!

Testing was done with a 17in three-blade Mercury Enertia propeller and hole shot was said to be snappy as the boat flies out of the water and gets to 20 knots in a serious hurry, enthuses Kirby.

Based in Henderson, south of Fremantle, Kirby Marine has been designing and putting together one-off boat rigs for 25 years for customers across WA and beyond, including Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.

"Above the hull, our boats are custom-made," Kirby adds. "We worked closely with the client to identify just what he wanted and that’s exactly what we’ve delivered."

Along with personalised console set up, custom seating and many many rod holders, Rob’s latest creation has a removable ski pole so the owner can put all that power to use on tow sports, and it also has a hidden-away pot handling arm so cray-fishing trips don’t leave the paintwork scuffed.

For more information on NAIAD RIBs visit http://www.kirbymarine.com and for more information on the 350hp Verado go to www.mercurymarine.com.