The Best Inflatable and RIB Boat Brands
The best inflatable and RIB brands build great dinghies, tenders, and day boats.
When it comes to inflatables and RIB boat brands there are fewer brands as compared to those building boats out of fiberglass, but there are still plenty of high quality offerings for both all-inflatable and rigid hull inflatable (RIB) boats to choose from. What all of these boats share in common is a ring, or “collar” around the gunwales which is pumped full of air. This provides buoyancy and helps absorb wave impacts, as well as acting as an integrated fender, and historically was also valued for its forgiving properties. Originally used for lifeboats and commercial tenders, the collar could be driven against the hullside of a mothership or a hard bulkhead without worry of damaging the boat or injuring someone if a limb got between the hull and whatever it was pressing up against. Today, many inflatable and RIB boat models have morphed into recreational boats used as dinghies, tenders, and even as runabouts. Some of the best brands around include:
AB inflatables
Offering one of the largest portfolios of mixed pleasureboat tenders and dinghies, jet tenders, and professional-level SAR and commercial boats, AB Inflatables have been in production for over five decades. These range from a tiny 7.5-footer to 28’ and include boats powered by inboard, outboards, and diesel. They also offer RIBs with both fiberglass and aluminum hulls. All in all this amounts to over 80 models, and AB Inflatables makes claim to offering the widest range of overall choices on the market today.
See all AB Inflatables inflatable boats and RIBs for sale on boats.com.
RIB Boat: Argos Nautic
Argos Nautic is known for building “luxury tenders” intended for use with high-end yachts. This includes outboard, jet, and also diesel models, important for yacht owners who want a tender that can run on the same fuel as the mothership. Each RIB boat is styled with flair and is offered with custom touches like different Hypalon, rubrail, gelcoat, and upholstery colors, and flooring options including natural or synthetic teak. They’re high-performance craft, too, and even their 11-footer is designed to reach speeds of 40 mph.
See Argos Nautic RIB boats for sale on boats.com.
Brig
With its production based in Ukraine, Brig boats was forced to cease operations for a short period of time but is now back in production. Today they offer 18 RIB boat models from 9’6” to 33’10” plus a line of commercial patrol and SAR RIBS. Many of these are designed for versatility and Brigs are popular among boaters looking for a RIB that serves as a primary vessel as opposed to a tender or dinghy. As such, many have features one wouldn’t necessarily expect to see on a RIB, such as a head compartment in the console or a ski-tow eye.
See Brig RIB boats for sale on boats.com.
Pirelli
RIB fans looking for a primary boat that has a full cabin as well as an inflatable collar will quickly come across Pirelli. They offer a range of walkaround models from 30’ up to 50’ plus a line of jet-powered tenders available in both gasoline and diesel. Their larger cabin boats tread into yacht territory, with features like huge sunpads and loungers, full-size berths and enclosed head compartments, and outdoor summer kitchens. These are some of the only RIB boats around that are not only appropriate but also comfortable for cruising to distant ports and weekending aboard. All of this rides on high-performance RIB hulls, and the massive 50’ stepped-hull walkaround can cruise in the mid- to upper-30 mph range and attain around 50 mph at top end.
See Pirelli RIB boats for sale on boats.com.
Protector
The Protector brand isn’t as huge as some others, but they have a well-earned reputation for being some of the most rugged and seaworthy RIBs around. These are substantial boats, ranging from 25’ to 41’ between the Chase center console models and the Targa cabin models. They’ve been selected as the tenders of choice for many world-class regattas such as the Americas Cup and built the largest inflatable RIB around, a 60-footer, for Emirates Team New Zealand. Protector RIBs are built by parent company Rayglass, which has produced traditional fiberglass boats in New Zealand since 1985 and launched the Protector brand in 1999 after purpose-building the Protector 850 for the Coast Guard.
See Protector RIB boats for sale on boats.com.
Ribco
Ribco Boats, launched in Athens, Greece in 1999, produces high-end RIBs from to 32’ to 44’. These are center console boats, mostly with large carbon fiber hard tops, substantial seating, and finely detailed finishes. Unique to the range, elevated forward bowdecks are designed to pop up like a camper to form a cabin with berth and on larger models an aft deck does the same. Another unusual characteristic of Ribcos is that they’re available with either outboard or stern drive power. And they also tend to carry more than enough of that power, with some models exceeding a blistering 80 mph.
See Ribco RIB boats for sale on boats.com.
Ribcraft
Built in models from 15’7” all the way up to 42’, Ribcraft is a RIB boat built with a commercial attitude but in recreational as well as commercial form. They also produce a pair of inflatables that don’t have rigid hulls (13’9” and 15’10”) but instead feature removable aluminum floors for easy stowage. Everything about their RIB line is about taming difficult conditions with ease, so seating is designed to maximize support and safety, handholds are oversized, and hulls are aggressive deep-Vs with upswept bows. When it comes to power choices gasoline outboards, sterndrives, diesels, and jets are all in the mix.
See all Ribcraft inflatable and RIB boats for sale on boats.com.
Sacs Marine
Sacs Marine is an Italian company that builds a RIB boat worthy of being called yachts as well as smaller, sportier boats. The range stretches from 22’6” all the way up to a 60-footer that can hit speeds of over 55 mph and carry 22 people. While still technically RIBs the larger offerings go far beyond expectations for these types of boats, with two-stateroom cabins, teak decking, cockpit refrigerators, full gallies, and more. They also enjoy the pomp and pizazz of Italian styling, with sweeping lines and curvaceous cabin tops and windows. When it comes to finding luxury and style in a RIB, this one will be tough to top.
See all Sacs Marine inflatable and RIB boats for sale on boats.com.
Safeboats
Known more for building commercial, rescue, firefighting, law enforcement, and research botas than recreational boats, Safeboats does also produce a range of recreational craft. And their lineup is incredibly diverse, including center consoles and a wide range of cabin models. They build boats of all sizes and can span from 23’ up to 65’. Many are designed for military-level performance — even the 23’ center console can exceed 50 mph — and durability. As such, these RIBs have aluminum hulls and cabins. Another unusual characteristic is their collars, which are foam rather than being air-filled.
See Safeboats RIB boats for sale on boats.com.
Zodiac
Few if any inflatables carry as much brand recognition as Zodiac, and with good reason. Zodiac lays claim to being the original inventor of the inflatables and RIBs, having produced them for over 125 years. They currently offer 25 models of inflatables and RIBs from 6’7” to 27’11” which are sold in over 90 countries worldwide. These will be a top choice for many people because Zodiac is so large they enjoy the benefits of economy of scale, which means that their boats often come at a lower price tag than the competition. Plus, as one of the few manufacturers of very small inflatables appropriate for use on both power and sail cruising boats, many recreational boaters employ the brand.
See Zodiac inflatable and RIB boats for sale on boats.com.
There are other topnotch builders of inflatable and RIB boats out there, and one of the brands appearing here may or may not prove to be best for your own personal needs. But if you’re looking for this style of boat these 10 brands are all standouts, and surely belong on your list of boats to check out.
