What Is a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat)?
A marriage of fibreglass hull and inflatable tubes - light on weight, heavy on seaworthiness, a highly versatile craft that bridges the gap from tender to fast workboat.
A RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) combines a rigid boat hull with inflatable side tubes: the seakeeping of a fibreglass or aluminium hull, plus the carrying power and shock absorption of inflatable tubes. That dual nature makes it a classic in both the tender market and the fast service-boat world.
It is the most common choice for a mothership tender because the tubes provide both load-bearing capacity and a useful buffer when coming alongside. The weak point is the tubes: sun, abrasion and age all take their toll over time.
Tube care
UV: The tube’s number one enemy is the sun; any RIB not in use should be kept in the shade or under cover, then wiped with a UV protectant at the end of the season.
Pressure: It expands in the heat and drops in the cold; a normal reading in the morning may be overinflated by midday sun, so the tube should be allowed to breathe through the valve.
Leak hunt: A slow-deflating tube can be checked with a soap solution to reveal the leak; a small hole found early can be patched, but one found late can open up the seam.
There are two main tube fabrics: Hypalon, which is expensive but highly resistant to UV, and PVC, which is cheaper but wears out faster in the sun. For a hot Göcek summer, keeping the boat shaded is the single habit that will do most to extend tube life. Fitted with an outboard, a RIB is subject to all the same rules as any tender, both for safety and for theft prevention.