Are you new to the boating game and trying to work out the best boats for beginners? With so many different boat options around, it can be difficult to navigate all of your choices and find the right boat for you.
However, a really good place to start boating is no doubt with a rigid inflatable boat. An increasingly popular type of boat here in Australia (and around the world), RIBs really are an emerging and ultimate solution for beginners boaters of all levels, offering an incomparable entry point into marine adventures.
Many powerboat training centres use RIBs as their boat of choice for teaching people how to drive boats. For many reasons that you’ll see below, they’re a first boat that you can really grow your boating confidence with.
Skip to: Our top 4 best budget boats for beginners
What to consider when buying a first boat
There are a lot of things to consider when first buying a boat. Aspirign boat owners should carefully think about:
- Budget: Beyond just the purchase price, consider the fuel and operational expenses, insurance costs and maintenance costs.
- Lifestyle: How do you plan to use the boat? Who will you have onboard with you?
- Experience: Be honest about your boating skills and confidence levels.
- Storage & Transportation: Have you got a spot to store the boat? Will you be transporting it with your current vehicle?
- Maintenance: Some boats require more maintenance input than others. Inboard engines are more costly and take much more to service than outboard engines.
What is the best size boat for a beginner?
Size certainly matters when considering your first boat as it impacts logistics, transportation and handling of the boat, but you should also consider factors such as the number of people you’d like to have on board and the activities you want to do.
Five Reasons RIBs are the Best Boats for Beginners
Beyond being the easiest boat for drive for beginners, rigid inflatable boats are the best type of boats for beginners…
1 – They Are Very Stable
Stability should be a key consideration for boating beginners. Having a stable boating platform while you’re cruising (and while you’re at rest) can really help any helmsman feel much more at ease, secure and confident behind the wheel.
With a rigid hull and inflatable tubes that absorb shock and impact, the unique design of a RIB creates an incredibly stable platform that minimizes rocking and provides greater balance in all kinds of conditions.
If you plan to boat in waterways with lots of wake, swell or choppy waters, you’ll find that RIBs cut through these conditions really comfortably (again thanks to the shock-absorbing rubber tubes), and so navigating trickier water conditions will feel much easier.
Unlike traditional hard boats that can feel more unpredictable, RIB boats offer a steady, reassuring boating platform that can help new boaters feel secure from day one.
2 – RIBs are Responsive & Easy to Handle
With their lightweight yet robust design, rigid inflatable boats are remarkably easy to maneuver and control, making them ideal for beginners who are still developing their skills.
RIBs are very responsive, and so moving around tight spaces is much easier and you’ll find that they feel very intuitive to drive.
Their sturdy inflatable tubes are also essentially large fenders, and so approaching a dock or vessel feels much easier for learning beginners. Unlike hard boats, you don’t need to be as worried about damaging the side of your boat if you accidentally hit the dock you are approaching.
3 – RIBs are Safe Boats
Safety should be a primary consideration for all boaters, but especially for beginners. By the very nature of their design, rigid inflatable boats are incredibly safe types of boats. Thanks to the inflatable tubes, RIBs are very forgiving in all sorts of conditions and have less lean when turning corners; it’s these reason that you see these boats used so often by maritime and safety organisations.
Much safer than tinnies, RIBs are very popularly used (especially in Europe) for teaching kids how to boat safely.
4 – RIBs Offer Great Versatility
What makes RIBs great boats not only for beginners, but for boating enthusiasts of all levels, is their incredibly versatility. These boats adapt seamlessly to different boating activities, whether that be family day trips, fishing, water sports, wakeboarding, diving, or coastal exploration.
Rigid inflatable boats are the most versatile type of boat out there, and so will serve you effectively across all sorts of interests and activities on the water.
5 – RIBs Are A Cost-Effective Choice
Budget will be important for all prospective boat owners, but perhaps especially for beginners. With their incredibly versatile and durable offering, RIBs offer a great balance of quality, affordability and value for money. It’s a boat that will serve you for years across a number of different activities, and won’t be something that you quickly outgrow.
Like any boat, RIBs do vary in price by manufacturer and specification, however most RIBs nowadays are well-priced and cost-effective in their offerings.
Top 4 Best Budget RIB Boats for Beginners
Now that we’ve established what you need to consider when buying a first boat and why a RIB might be the best option for you, here are our top five budget rigid inflatable boats for beginners, with package prices from $20,000 to $60,000.
Grand S300
The smallest model in our range, the Grand S300 is a lightweight runabout RIB or tender boat. At 3 metres, this compact RIB uses space wisely, creating a comfortable floorplan for you and 3 other passengers onboard. It provides a stable and nimble ride on the water, making a great choice as a runabout boat, small fishing RIB or tender.
Package price starts at $22,000, including a Yamaha 9.9HP Outboard and Standard Features.
Grand S420
Our spacious, lightweight, multipurpose 4.2 metre RIB is a great option for small families. Rated to hold 8 passengers on board, this agile and stable RIB is a popular choice for fishing and inflatable towing sports.
Reliable, practical and stable, this space-efficient RIB has an impressive cockpit space with a wide bow for ample seating and storage.
The Grand S420 is a great choice as a yacht transfer vessel or as a small family boat.
Package price starts at $34,650, including a Yamaha 30HP engine and standard features.
Grand S470
The bigger sister to the Grand S420, our 4.7 metre tender boat model is spacious, practical and lightweight. Most often used for fishing or as a small family runabout boat, our Grand S470 RIB brings stability and performance to a functional boating design.
Deep-set seats, large locker space, wide bow area and numerous seats throughout the boat are just some of the factors that make this boat incredibly effective as a family boat.
Rated up to 70HP, this 4.7 metre boat travels up to 35 knots, and works well for towable inflatable fun.
Package price starts at $38,850, including Yamaha 40HP outboard, and standard features.
Grand G500
A midsize leisure boat, perfect for family outings, fishing and water sports, this 5 metre RIB has a spacious floorplan and can comfortably fit 8 passengers onboard.
With features such as a ski arch for waterskiing and wakeboarding, swim ladder, freshwater shower system, extendible sun bed areas and option speaker system, our Grand G500 boat is a great option if you’re looking for a comfortable, practical boat for those family outings on the water.
On the water, this boat delivers excellent stability and a comfortable ride in choppy water. Rated up to 115HP, this boat can travel up to just under 50 knots when paired with high thrust horsepower outboards.
Package price starts at $61,200, and includes Yamaha 60HP, 9” Garmin Chart Plotter & Standard Features.
Final Thoughts
Choosing your first boat is a significant decision, but narrowing it down to the boat type is a good place to start. Rigid inflatable boats represent an incredibly versatile, fun and accessible choice – not just for beginners, but for boaters of all experience levels.
They’re a vessel that empower boaters to develop skills and confidence, and to gain the most enjoyment out of their boating experience through the sheer amount of water activities they enable you to partake in.
If you’re ready to start your boating journey with a RIB, our team here at Grand Boats are here to help you make the best choice for your first boat, and to guide you to become a confident and safe mariner. Get in touch with us today for more advice and guidance.
