RIB tenders for superyachts

A RIB (rigid inflatable boat) tender pairs a rigid hull with inflatable collar tubes. The combination is the workhorse format of the superyacht-tender world: forgiving alongside the swim platform, easier on guests during boarding, more stable at rest than a conventional hard-bottom hull, and tolerant of the routine bumps of yacht-side life.

Three reasons:

• Boarding tolerance. The collar deforms gently against the swim platform or topside; a hard chine would mark the paint of either boat in the same conditions.
• Stability at rest. Beam carried high in the topsides keeps the boat steady when guests step aboard, particularly with elderly or less mobile passengers.
• Capacity for length. A RIB carries more passengers per metre of LOA than an equivalent hard-bottom hull, because the collar adds beam and freeboard without adding hull volume.

RIBs span the full superyacht-tender map:

• Crew RIBs (4m to 6m). Compact, often outboard, used for moving crew, supplies, and tow-toys. Common from Williams, Brig, AB Inflatables, Zodiac.
• Guest RIBs (6m to 9m). The volume sweet spot. Coachbuilt collars, comfortable seating, often jet-driven for swim-platform safety. SACS, Pirelli, Novamarine, Zodiac MEDLINE, Williams.
• Sport / chase RIBs (9m to 14m). High-performance platforms, sometimes with enclosed cabins. Technohull, Anvera, SACS Strider, Sacs Rebel, Brabus Shadow line.
• SOLAS RIBs. Coded for rescue duty, self-righting, sealed compartments. See the SOLAS tenders overview for builders and compliance.

A practical question that comes up early in spec discussions:

• Hypalon (or its modern equivalents like CSM). UV and chemical resistant; lasts 10 to 15 years in Med use. More expensive to buy, more expensive to repair, but the right answer for tenders that live exposed.
• PVC. Cheaper, more vulnerable to UV degradation. Acceptable for boats that live inside a garage and only see use on guest days. Lifespan typically 5 to 8 years in Med use.

For a yacht-tender brief, Hypalon is the default specification. PVC is a budget tender for limited-use scenarios. Our collar construction spoke goes deeper into chamber count, repair economics, and the failure modes that show up first.

Three common configurations:

1. Outboard. Most common. Mercury V8 or V10 Verados on the larger guest and chase RIBs; Yamaha 4-stroke on the smaller crew RIBs.
2. Sterndrive. Older spec, less common now; mostly seen on inboard-engined SACS and Pirelli platforms.
3. Jet. Increasingly popular on guest RIBs because of the swim-platform safety advantage. Williams DieselJet RIB variants are the volume player.

A limousine tender has the presence and weather-protection that a RIB lacks, but a RIB carries more guests, costs less, and handles routine yacht-side knocks better. Most superyacht programmes carry both: a limousine for the formal arrival, a RIB for the working week.

RIB briefs are common; we work them across all four sub-categories. The starting point is the mothership's garage envelope, the davit class, and the role mix the boat needs to cover. The contact page is the start.

• Limousine tenders
• SOLAS rescue tenders
• Jet tenders
• Tender garage sizing
• Williams, SACS, Brig