RIBs for sale

RIB

When the inflatable boat was invented, it was already a giant leap – pardon: a giant stroke – for the world of water sports. But it was RIBs that turned inflatable boats into all-rounders that are used in practically every field today.

What is a RIB?

Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) belong to the inflatable boats category. They differ from pure inflatable boats in having a rigid hull with inflatable tubes mounted along the sides. Thanks to this rigid hull, a RIB offers significantly better buoyancy characteristics than inflatable boats without a rigid hull. RIBs are among the most sought-after boat types in modern water sports. Authorities such as the water police, customs, the coast guard and lifeboat organizations in coastal countries everywhere also rely on these all-rounders, which range from four to 25 meters in length.

What does RIB mean?

RIBs are usually powered by outboard engines, and specialized manufacturers and shipyards also offer versions with jet, sterndrive or even inboard propulsion. Because RIB hulls are mostly built from relatively light materials (Kevlar, fiberglass composites, carbon, aluminum), these boats are comparatively light and have a correspondingly high performance potential. Handled sensibly, they can be run relatively safely and quickly even in heavy seas. Regardless of the length of the RIB, the tubes are divided into separate chambers. That way the boat can still be operated safely if one or more chambers are damaged.

When does a RIB need topping up with air?

Buying a used boat: like all inflatable boats, RIBs gradually lose air from their tubes. New boats need a small top-up roughly every 30 to 40 days. The older the RIB, the shorter the intervals between inflations. As a rule of thumb, after around 10 to 15 years you should top up the air daily.