Seven myths about RIBs debunked

Sales of rigid inflatable boats are booming overseas. But while these types of craft, which use inflatable pontoons connected to a rigid hull, are in big demand in parts foreign, the uptake here has been rather slow.

That’s not to say that RIBs haven’t yet made inroads in Australia. They’re in big demand in some corners of the marine industry, particularly for military, rescue and commercial applications where they show superior performance.

But why haven’t they taken off recreationally in Australia? According to RIB Force Inflatables director Mike Orsmond, it could all come down to a number of myths that don’t cast the boats in a favourable light.

“It’s not really until you’ve owned a RIB that you realise how little some people know about them,” Orsmond said.

Let’s take a look at some of those myths, and the reasons why they don’t apply to today’s generation of rigid inflatables.

Reckon a fishing hook is all it takes to puncture a RIB’s tubes? You’d be wrong, and a clear demonstration of this is in services such as the navy, special forces and police, where the potential for punctures is high.

RIBs are designed to be tough, and survive extreme conditions. If a tube ever is punctured, the tubes are segmented into a number of air chambers. International standard require RIBs to remain afloat even if half the tubes are deflated, and some manufacturers claim the RIB can still be used in an emergency even if all the tubes are flat.

Even if a fishing hook did puncture the tube, the hole in the soft

fabric would be so small that it would only cause a slow leak. According to Orsmond, the number of tube repairs caused by hooks is minute. “If our repair department relied on repairing fish hook holes we would go broke,” Ormond said. “If we get one in a year, that would about sum it up.”

Good quality RIBs are durable and should have a long operational life – the ones generally used in marine rescue services can have an operational life of around 30 years. Modern-day RIBs are built with the best fabrics and composites. If you want an indication of how robust they can be, look at how the inflatables used by surf lifesavers get hammered yet soldier on. They’re the only vessels that can comfortably handle the surf zone.

This is probably the biggest myth of them all, as RIBs have a number of advantages over traditional vessels. A RIB’s design allows a deep vee, helping it to cut through the water and provide a safe, comfortable ride. In a normal craft, the deep vee can makes the vessel prone to capsize. The RIB’s tubes provide stability and prevent capsize by stopping the RIB from rolling over.

At the same time, the tubes act as a giant shock absorber, reducing the impact of waves on the hull and allowing it to transverse swells and waves that are off limits for other craft. This is all because air can’t sink; walk across the deck of the RIB and it remains relatively level as the tube supports it. A low centre of gravity adds even more stability.

Marine rescue services also tend to favour RIBs because of how they handle extreme seas, and their ability to take on adverse conditions where other craft may be likely to swamped.

RIBs provide a fantastic fishing platform with the superior stability enabling anglers to freely move around the deck without worrying about capsizing. This also allows easy casting, fish retrieval and movement around the boat.

A RIB’s low freeboard lowers the risk of losing the catch when bringing it onboard, and superior seakeeping provides the security of getting back safely when the seas turn nasty. That reduced freeboard and soft tubes also make a good platform for scuba diving, snorkelling, spearfishing and swimming.

One of the big benefits of RIBs is that they can carry a larger payload than a similar size rigid craft, making it an excellent tender, especially when you consider that the soft pontoon will not damage the mother ship. But RIBs can be used for more than just that.

For example, a midsize RIB can pull a skier or tube, double as a fishing platform, act as a platform for diving, snorkelling and spearfishing, or even serve as a carrier for the laying and retrieval of crab pots. It also makes a good family day boat, as it’s easy to climb in and out of while swimming.

The design of a RIB’s hull means they are pretty good at saving fuel, delivering decent performance with less horsepower. This means you’re not going to have to spend as much money buying an outboard motor as an equivalent-size rigid boat. RIBs are generally much lighter than conventional boats of the same size.

“After owning RIBs, people remark how good value they are in terms of fuel economy,” Orsmond said. “In real terms, a big payload and lower running cost make them a cheaper way to have a good day out on the water.”

The reality is that RIBs can launch from more places than conventional craft, mainly because they have a shallower draft. Because RIBs can operate in wave zones, they can also launch off beaches and in rivers, and navigate treacherous bars due to their nimbleness and ability to run. If a RIB is swamped, it will not sink and will still be able to operate.

Cheap, substandard imports have tarnished the industry in the past. These days, though, just about every superyacht is using a RIB as a tender, showing that the game has improved. The marinas in places such as Monte Carlo and Fort Lauderdale are full of nice-looking inflatable rigs.

Air is the best flotation available, so a RIB is capable of taking a much bigger load than normal craft. As an example, a 4.0-metre RIB can be certified to carry up to eight people in open seas, whereas an equivalent-sized tinnie may be rated only for four people and confined to sheltered waters.

Take out the air, and a RIB becomes a surprisingly compact, easily transportable boat. They'll slip into caravans, ride on top of camper trailers, and stack neatly into a storage space when they're not being used.