At Promarine Innovations, we do not follow passing trends but focus on the company’s steady relationship with people combined with proven development and adoption of new modern technical means. Therefore, the choice to design and construct a new rigid inflatable boat is fully based on obvious technical advantages. It is a fact that a RIB outperforms in many cases, as has been confirmed by services and public organizations (Coast Guard, Army, Fire Service, etc.).

More specifically, the primary and essential reason for its superiority over other vessels is the buoyancy created by the air chambers, a reference point which, to achieve in other similar vessels, requires that the hulls and the spaces beneath the deck be completely sealed, a characteristic that creates various limitations. This results in the lightweight part of the whole structure being at the lowest point of the vessel, while all the weight is placed above the deck, making balance precarious.

However, regardless of weight distribution, there is another fundamental factor negatively affecting balance, which is the air trapped in sealed compartments trying to move upwards. In contrast, in a RIB, the air is located at the highest points, that is, the air chambers, which keep it stable on the sea surface in a state of perfect balance. Stability combined with buoyancy allows a RIB to reach high speeds even in extreme conditions while continuously maintaining the required safety, almost entirely eliminating the risk of capsizing.

Furthermore, below we will mention some additional technical characteristics and advantages of rigid inflatable boats, aiming to leverage our know-how while dispelling misconceptions by sharing facts that might not be widely known. Briefly, the hinges on a plastic boat, to prevent water ingress, must be taller than those on a RIB, resulting in greater sensitivity to strong lateral winds and making the “collection” of persons more difficult when the boat is used as a lifeboat. Also, all closed polyester constructions that could replace the air chambers lack the required elasticity against impacts and, when filled with polyurethane foam internally, are very difficult to repair in case of rupture.

Finally, we consider that, after this presentation of data and facts, there is no reason to dispute the reasons why the rigid inflatable boat has obvious and widely accepted advantages. Conclusively, even the CE certification for RIBs, due to their buoyancy and stability, involves different measures and weights, such as the stability test with the full load on one side of the vessel.