Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) continue to grow in popularity – both worldwide and here in Australia – with a growing number of manufacturers producing their own variation of RIB boats. Rigid inflatable boats as a concept have been around for several decades and while many RIBs might look similar at first glance – particularly to those new to this kind of boat – there are a number of features that distinguish a truly exceptional and reliable RIB from others. Beyond just what you can see – the finishes or external design – it’s also about the experience you have when you hit the water.
Grand Boats was founded 25 years ago with a fundamental philosophy to design differently, embedding thoughtful, purposeful features and details into our boats; we put incredible thought into our boats so that there is less for you to have to think about when you’re out on the water.
Prioritizing purpose, performance, comfort, safety, sophistication and longevity, as a company we have redefined what you should expect from a premium RIB. Here’s why our boats stand in a class of their own.
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Safety, Taken Further
Safety isn’t just a feature – it’s the foundation of everything we build, and is what every new feature comes back to. While most manufacturers meet the requirements, we’ve elevated safety features and embedded them into the style and functionality of our boat designs.
For passengers sitting at the stern, the inclusion of moulded fiberglass seats built into the fiberglass hull are have been strategically designed not only to create more comfort for passengers, but to help passengers feel more secure even in challenging conditions. Rigid inflatable boats by their very nature are low-sided, and so moulded seats ensure that your passengers sit ‘in’ the boat rather than on top of it. During high-speed maneuvers or when navigating choppy waters, these seats provide crucial support and comfort for your passengers. Plus, being moulded deep into the fiberglass hull means deep storage capacity opens up internally when you open up the under-seat storage lockers.
The bow-mounted hand railings on our RIBs are a signature safety element exclusive to Grand Boats. Unlike other RIB brands which typically only have safety loops to hold, here at Grand we mount stainless steel railings onto the tube itself. Up at the bow, this not only creates a sturdier item to hold onto when driving quickly, but also adds height and a further barrier to the bow seating area, meaning that your passengers feel much more secure when situated up at the bow.
Exceptional Hull Design For Unmatched Performance
Beyond the styling and appearance of our boats, the comments that we receive the most from people who try our boats for themselves is the performance and handling of the hull.
In partnership with a renowned Nordic hull designer, our RIBs handle with confidence in all conditions, and are incredibly agile and responsive.
The long chines on our hulls combine with the deep v design and considerable deadrise that creates predictable handling and remarkable stability, even at high speeds. Our hulls cut cleanly through chop and swell rather than pounding against it, transforming rough waters into a smooth ride.
In his recent review of the Grand G340 – one of the smallest models in the Grand range – Jeff Webster commented on the “terrific fiberglass hull” which empowers the boat to be “agile, responsive and fun to drive. You can dive into a tight turn and the fiberglass hull handles nicely, carving high-speed maneuvers easily”
Many complaints that RIBs often receive is the wet ride they create given the low-sided nature of the boat. However at Grand, we’ve paired the long chines on our deep hulls with advanced spray-deterring tube technology, ensuring a truly dry ride regardless fo where you’re sitting onboard.
Functional Layouts For Real-World Use
A boat should work with you, not against you. Our layouts are the result of hours spent observing and considering how people actually use and move around their boats – not how designers think that they might.
Our centre console designs maximise usable, mavoeuvrable space while maintaining perfect balance and weight distribution. At rest, you’ll notice that other RIBs with offset consoles sit at a slight angled tilt, whereas our boats feel balanced and centralised even as you move around it.
The intelligent deck layouts not only account for traffic flow, seating arrangements and activity zones (i.e. space to put on gear if you’re diving, wakeboarding or fishing), but also ensure that everything you need is within reach, exactly where you expect them to be.
Large swim platforms make water entry and exit effortless, while deep storage lockers keep gear secure and organized – without sacrificing precious deck space. Our extendible sun beds transform comfortable seating to luxurious lounging sears in seconds, while our u-shaped wrap around stern seating areas create open and inclusive areas for friends and family to spend time or have a meal together.
Craftsmanship & Materials
At Grand, we remain committed to the art of boatbuilding; it is what connects us closer to our boat designs and ensures personal touch and thought goes into every step of the process.
Every component you see onboard our boats is handcrafted, sewn and fitted in-house. These boats aren’t rolling off a conveyer belt or emerging from a 3D printer – each curve, angle, stitching and feature represents hours of skilled craftsmanship.
The materials we select are based on quality, durability and performance. Our UV-resistant tube materials, decking and upholstery, for instance, maintain their integrity and appearance even after years of exposure to harsh marine environments.
The time-intensive, high-touch approach we take to building each boat ensures uncompromising quality control and ensures our boats are built with precision and pride.
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It’s In the Details
The difference between good and exceptional often comes down to the smallest elements. Here at Grand, this can be seen in a number of well-thought-through features.
When you view one of our RIBs, one thing that is immediately apparent is the curved negative angles in our fiberglass construction. It takes incredible time and skill to create negative curvature in this way, which you’ll notice in the fibreglass t-tops, fibreglass consoles, and fibreglass seat mouldings of our boats. Beyond being visually striking, these negative angles create more space, enhance aerodynamic performance and contribute to the sleek, angular aesthetic of our boats.
Onboard, you’ll notice features such as retractable mooring cleats that sink flush within the deck when not in use, eliminating tripping hazards and potential impact points. Up at the bow, our large bow step plates are fitted with these retractable mooring cleats on top, and so unlike other RIB designs, you don’t lose seating space in the bow section with large cleat bollards.
Even areas typically overlooked and unused – like under deck spaces – have been optimized for storage, ensuring that every cubic inch of your RIB serves a purpose.
Difference You Can Feel
Founded with a passion to design differently, we craft rigid inflatable boats that make you feel at home on the water, whether you’re a keen angler, a water sports enthusiast, boating family, or a passenger enjoying time on the water. The combination of all these elements listed here – safety innovations, thoughtful layouts, meticulous craftsmanship, superior hull design and attention to detail – unite to create an elevated experience that can redefine what it means to enjoy being out on the water.
If you think it’s time to experience on our RIBs for yourself, get in touch with our team today to organise a sea trial and discover why not all RIBs are created equal.
