If you are thinking of buying a RIB consider these points.

AGE - RIBs (also referred to as "hardbottom inflatable boats) are made of extremely durable material and can last for many years. Properly cared for these boats can last a VERY long time. I am currently using a 1994 Nautica 16 Deluxe RIB. It is on a trailer and is covered with a UV resistant cover when not in use. It lives in my backyard.

Some boats are made of Hypalon, others a PVC material. Both have their pluses and minuses regarding strength and longevity. I have 2 Hypalon boats so that's what I'm most familiar with. I have found them sturdy and durable. In addition to the Nautica, I also have a Avon Rover 3.40. It is a 1993 and is still like new. In winter it is rolled and stored in my garage. From May to October it sits on a trailer, softly inflated,  with a sunbrella U.V. cover on it when not in use.
On average I use it 6 - 8 times a year. The floors have been re-varnished twice. Never a puncture, crack or leak. The valves are original. Holds air no problem. I'd trust it anywhere.

Recently I was asked about air pressure. Most air gauges don't read low enough to accurately measure tube pressure. You may be surprised to know that when the boat feels "pretty solid" it only has 5 to 8 lbs of pressure. I have learned to gauge it by feel. Try this. Pump a tube to where its a fairly rigid shape. Press on it hard with your thumb. You should have about a half inch of deflection. Try the boat. If it's too soft then add air. After a few times you'll get the feel of it. The boat does not need to be " rock hard". Don't forget, ambient air temp and direct sunshine will have an effect on pressure. If you start out on a cool morning very hard .. by hot afternoon you might need to leave out a bit of air or risk over stressing the seams if done to too often.

RIB boats / inflatables that are "unloved" are like any other piece of gear. They turn to junk. Take care of them and they will last a long, long time. Buying a six or more year old quality RIB would not scare me at all if upon close inspection it showed proper care and maintenance. There are many fine older RIBs for sale.

SIZE AND WEIGHT -  Small RIBS that are easy to tow go anywhere from 300 to 900 pounds depending on the hull length and engine size. Ask about the weight you'll need to tow before buying. Make sure your tow vehicle is capable. Really big RIBs easily go 1800 pounds and up. My GMC Envoy (straight 6 cyl) tows the Nautica easily. I hardly know it's back there. Even with it on, I average about 18 mpg with this rig on a long trip.

Weight is also important when launching and retrieving. I find my 800 pound Nautica easy to tow as well as easy launch and retrieve. Since I boat alone many times, this is very important to me. Bigger than that could be a real challenge, especially for 1 person. The gross weight seems to increase rapidly once you get into 17 foot and larger sizes. Especially with the big 18+ RIBS with inboard engines.

COLOR - These boats are somewhat temperature sensitive. Light boats reflect the sun better. Dark colors absorb the suns heat and increase pressure rapidly. To preserve the life of your RIB, reduce the pressure when parked for an extended length of time. Especially in hot sun.

If I go out on a hot day and the tubes are firm and then it turns cloudy / rainy the tubes will soften some so I carry a portable air compressor. I have a DC powered one that plugs into a cigarette lighter socket. If the weather turns to bad, make sure your tubes are full and very firm and run for home! Soft tubes make the material and seams flex more and could loosen seams and attachment prematurely. Tubes should be firm..but not rock hard!

I usually tow my inflatables with the pressure "relaxed" somewhat. In the event something should fly up and hit it, I would prefer it absorb the blow than puncture the hull. The tubes should not be "floppy". My Nautica, which is dark navy blue, absorbs a lot of heat on a sunny day and without the water to help cool it, it could become overstressed. At 15 years old, that I don't want to do. So I keep an eye on the pressure. It's not difficult once you know what to look for.

Here is a photo of my Nautica 16 in the fall of 2008. Since I wrote this guide I have sold my Nautica but still have and use the Avon. The Nautica is still going strong but with a new owner.



MAINTENANCE - RIBs don't require a whole lot. Rinse off the salt and flush with clean water. Clean with mild detergents or degreaser if towed a lot. Coat the tubes with a high quality, UV resistant coating (Formula 303 Protectant) at least twice a year.
Pay particular attention to the possibility of mildew formation on light colored boats. Especially under leaky covers. Mildew shows itself as ugly black dots or spots and is difficult to get rid of once started. Especially if it gets deep into the rubber. It makes black stains and will really spoil the looks of the nicest light colored RIB. A garage for storage is best! A ventilated cover is next best.

Clorox is a good way to battle mildew. I have also used some anti-mildew products designed for use on house siding with good success. I use a heavy rubber glove and apply the solution full strength.Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and scrub and rinse. For really stubborn areas expect to apply numerous times. I've recently tried some 3M products that seem to work well. Some stains will take time to fully disappear and will require multiple treatments. Prevention is still the best idea.

 The fiberglass parts are maintained as any other fiberglass boat. A good quality ventilated, UV blocking cover is your best all-round protection (short of a garage).

Small Tenders and sport boats that have hung on a sailboat transom for several summers with no cover or protection is a different animal altogether. Many of these suffer badly from oxidation and over stressed seams due to extended over inflation. As as a result these boats tend to have short lives and aren't worth a whole lot on the used market. Boats used as "dive" boats usually suffer a lot of abuse too. They are fine to play with but don't pay a lot for them. Professional repair facilities are few, tend to be expensive and may require taking your boat a long distance or shipping it to get properly repaired.

Hardware store glues don't usually work well on inflatable boats. I did have some success with Gorilla Glue when a rubber clip came loose. It's messy and foams as it cures. Use sparingly. Clean up overage. Use the white stuff.

For long term storage of RIBS...DO NOT DEFLATE. Just lower the pressure to where the boat retains its proper shape on an average cool day. The idea is not to strain the glued seams. Don't let the tubes "hang" on the fiberglass hull.

For storage of your outboard be sure to enlist the services of a competent shop to winterize your engine. If you have the necessary expertise ... great! If not, you will save time and money in the long term to have someone properly protect you valuable engine investment. Especially if you have an engine with multiple carbs as I do. Please change your oil too!

As for the fuel tanks ..my RIB has two 6.5 gallon plastic tanks. At the end of the season I remove them, siphon/dump them out. It's also a good idea blow out any fuel remaining in the lines. My boat has a large cartridge fuel filter in addition to the baby on-engine filter. That gets replaced in the spring. Proper winterization insures an easy spring start-up.

Do NOT let E10 (10% ethanol) gas in your tanks for long periods. Try to use "fresh" gas whenever possible.

My engine only gets run about 10 - 15 actual hours per year, if that. I change the oil and screw-on filter yearly and fill with premium motor oil. My 12 year old Honda 45 runs like new. It's smooth, powerful and reliable.

COST - New RIBS can be VERY expensive. Especially when they get into the 16 foot and greater sizes. New RIBs can run from $7,000 to $45,000 and much more for large commercial boats. Used boats are more reasonable but much harder to find in the 16 plus length. Small boats are more plentiful because of their cheaper initial price and their use as a "tender" to sailboats and larger power yachts. To my mind, 14 to 17 footers are just about right for "fun" power boating.

Look for brands like AVON, Zodiac, Novurania, Caribe, AB Inflatables and Nautica. These are all top line boats and will serve you well if in good condition and maintained properly.

POWER - Depending on how you intend to use your RIB will determine just how much power you really need. My Nautica 16 has a 45 HP Honda (4 Stroke) on it. It tops out at about 34 MPH with a variable pitch composite ComProp on it. A nice flat water cruise speed is about 28MPH. Plenty fast for me. I do not tow a skier or a tube. Mainly I ride around and go sightseeing and picnic / pleasure cruising. If I were towing a skier on that boat, I'd say a 75 to 90 would be great. However the 45 HP is just fine for my type of use. ( Not to mention that the Honda 45 gets me about 14 MPG at 28 MPH cruise, loaded lightly.)

A word about ComProp. This variable pitch, plastic composite propeller is a great option for RIBs. My original Honda prop was just not quite the right pitch to get the most from my boat and engine. I tried others but still wasn't happy so I thought I'd give ComProp a try and its been great. It has a relatively fine adjustment system and you should be able to find a good setting for your application. It has the added feature of being able to replace individual blades if one or more become damaged. Available at West Marine and others.

My Avon Rover 3.40 (Wood floors) with 9.9 Honda (4 Stroke) tops out about 15 MPH (one person) and gets about 12 - 14 MPG.

If you boat on salt and fresh water as I do...don't forget to rinse your engines' cooling system after salt water use. Dried salt turns to crystals inside your cooling system and can damage your engine / thermostat or block your pump indicator discharge tube. Rinse with thoroughly with fresh water and for maximum protection use a commercial "Salt Eliminator" solution. Especially if storing for a long period.

RIDE, HANDLING & SAFETY -  Larger RIBs are usually smooth riders. My Nautica delivers a far more comfortable ride than did my Boston Whaler 17 Dauntless. Its' weight was about 1700 pounds. It was a struggle to tow and was nearly impossible to launch and retrieve for me alone alone. The Nautica is on an off the trailer in minutes. Super easy! More time boating, less time screwing around. Now that's for me!

With the Nautica, I often went on "big water" off Great Kills Park on Staten Island NY as well as Chesapeake Bay with complete confidence. I have have never felt unsafe on my RIB. There are 4 large air chambers in the Nautica and it is nearly 84" wide. It is extremely stable sitting on the water. I've gone all the way around Manhattan Island on several occasions...up the Hudson and down the East River. (60 odd miles round trip)  Other long trips too. Never a worry. RIBs are easy for those not really into boating to handle too (read wife & kids).

Because these boats are light and shallow, be sure to carry an anchor to stop for any length of time. Their side profile has a lot of windage and with such little draft, the wind will easily blow you around. Use common sense as with any other boat.

If you are serious about buying a RIB, try to get a ride with the owner or dealer. At least an hour or so. Make sure "rubber boating" is for you! The idea of a rubber boat takes some getting used to for some people. My wife was pretty apprehensive at first!  They need to understand these are not pool toys!

As a fishing boat I'm much less enthusiastic. Fishing generally involves way too many "pointy" things for me to be real comfortable about it. (Pointy things are the enemy of inflatables ...fish hooks, lures, gaffs, knives, pliers, nails and screws protruding from poorly constructed or maintained docks, dive gear ...you get the idea.)

And don't forget.. the boat is just the start. You'll need life vests for all passengers, a good VHF radio, a whistle or horn, charts of your intended boating area ...I recommend having a depth sounder, and whatever else the Coast Guard and common sense dictates for your particular situation.

In short ...yeah, I love my RIB. It's the simplest and handiest boat I've ever owned. Would I buy another? You bet! I'd love a 19 footer with more seating and storage! And a bimini top!    More time to use it would be great too!

Please don't forget to rate my guide! By rating you will increase its' visibility and its power to help others.

Hope it helped your decision!