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Our last encounter with a Brig RIB was during our 5m group test and unfortunately it did not go well for the product or us testers …

Not surprisingly, the negative comments about the craft were not well received by the newly appointed UK distributors, The Wolf Rock Boat Company, based in Salcombe. Brig are a major RIB manufacturer, based in the Ukraine, and very popular throughout the world, so we were surprised by the showing of the craft during our test; however, as we were to discover after the test was published, there were extenuating circumstances surrounding the actual test boat, and given the opportunity to retest the craft and other Brig models we were pleased to accept the offer. We also think it only fair to Wolf Rock that we should print their explanation of the chain of events that led to the negative report, and the following information appears to provide the answer.

Evidently the test craft was hastily commandeered from the previous importers by the new importers, The Wolf Rock Boat Company, and when it arrived for the test it had a lot of water in the hull which had not been pumped out. Also, there had been no opportunity for Wolf Rock to check the rig for correct set-up of the motor etc, so when the craft arrived for the test with the delivery driver it was hastily craned into the water to take part in the test with a considerable amount of water (weight) between the hull and deck. Unsurprisingly, this moving weight had a detrimental effect on the boat’s trim, preventing the craft from planing and handling correctly, which led to the negative test report. Having received this information after the test publication, we thought it only fair to Wolf Rock to give the Brig product a ‘fair hearing’ and another test date was arranged in Salcombe to test the same model, the Brig Falcon 500L, only this time a properly set up example without water sloshing around under the deck! In addition, we also had two other models to test, the Falcon 570L and Eagle 645, so here was a chance to test a cross section of the most popular Brig range.

The test day was cold, wet and windy, providing us with the best opportunity to sample the craft in sheltered and challenging sea conditions, but equally important for us was to take a closer look at the overall design and finish of the craft.

First up for retest was the Falcon 500L, and taking a close look at this and the other models it is clear that while these are mass-produced competitively priced RIBs, the build and finish are properly executed and the layouts well suited to family boating. The hull shape on the 500 looked conventional, sporting a deep-V 24-degree deadrise, and the interior layout on this particular craft was more leisure orientated, having an aft-positioned two-person bench-type helm seat set behind a small offset-to-starboard stand-alone steering console with a windscreen and forward ‘suicide’ seat. All three models featured a GRP Not surprisingly, the negative comments about the craft were not well received by the newly appointed UK distributors, The Wolf Rock Boat Company, based in Salcombe. Brig are a major RIB manufacturer, based in the Ukraine, and very popular throughout the world, so we were surprised by the showing of the craft during our test; however, as we were to discover after the test was published, there were extenuating circumstances surrounding the actual test boat, and given the opportunity to retest the craft and other Brig models we were pleased to accept the offer. We also think it only fair to Wolf Rock that we should print their explanation of the chain of events that led to the negative report, and the following information appears to provide the answer.

Evidently the test craft was hastily commandeered from the previous importers by the new importers, The Wolf Rock Boat Company, and when it arrived for the test it had a lot of water in the hull which had not been pumped out. Also, there had been no opportunity for Wolf Rock to check the rig for correct set-up of the motor etc, so when the craft arrived for the test with the delivery driver it was hastily craned into the water to take part in the test with a considerable amount of water (weight) between the hull and deck. Unsurprisingly, this moving weight had a detrimental effect on the boat’s trim, preventing the craft from planing and handling correctly, which led to the negative test report. Having received this information after the test publication, we thought it only fair to Wolf Rock to give the Brig product a ‘fair hearing’ and another test date was arranged in Salcombe to test the same model, the Brig Falcon 500L, only this time a properly set up example without water sloshing around under the deck! In addition, we also had two other models to test, the Falcon 570L and Eagle 645, so here was a chance to test a cross section of the most popular Brig range.

The test day was cold, wet and windy, providing us with the best opportunity to sample the craft in sheltered and challenging sea conditions, but equally important for us was to take a closer look at the overall design and finish of the craft.

First up for retest was the Falcon 500L, and taking a close look at this and the other models it is clear that while these are mass-produced competitively priced RIBs, the build and finish are properly executed and the layouts well suited to family boating. The hull shape on the 500 looked conventional, sporting a deep-V 24-degree deadrise, and the interior layout on this particular craft was more leisure orientated, having an aft-positioned two-person bench-type helm seat set behind a small offset-to-starboard stand-alone steering console with a windscreen and forward ‘suicide’ seat. All three models featured a GRP bow roller/cleat affair on the bow tube, behind which is a double raised-locker arrangement, the front section being a small anchor locker and adjoining section a more spacious storage locker. Our test boat was also fitted with an optional double A-frame with navigation lights and the standard fit davit/crane lifting and bow towing points. The deck is self-draining while under way, and overall the craft appeared to provide a good all-round package for a small family. Because the console and seating are separate units and not moulded to the deck, the interior layout can be arranged to suit an individual’s requirements, and for commercial/rescue/patrol duties a sit-astride ‘jockey’ steering console can be specified in place of the test boat layout.

On the water, the 500L felt very stiff and solidly built, with no rattles or creaks from the hull, but it was the totally different feel of the craft compared with the original test boat that really impressed. Sensibly powered by a moderate-sized Suzuki 50 hp, under acceleration there was no tendency for the bows to point skyward, the craft instantly popping onto the plane and showing no vices whatsoever, even when thrown around in tight turns. Driving at speed into a small chop kicked up by the strong winds, the hull just skipped over the waves without banging or upsetting the balance of the craft, and overall she performed in a reassuring manner. Up until this point we were in the confines of the harbour, but as we approached the harbour mouth there were some very nasty-looking steep-faced waves with breaking crests marching towards us. To be fair to the little 5 m Brig, these were not the ideal conditions to be out in, particularly with the aft seating arrangement and no forward ballast in the craft, but nevertheless she bravely powered out over the waves and handled the seas surprisingly well, even while being driven overexuberantly by an experienced (who will remain nameless) ex-powerboat racer!

The next model on test was the 570L, fitted with an Evinrude 90 hp E-Tec, and again this proved to be a very capable little craft, not only in the sheltered inner-harbour conditions, where she handled competently, but also offshore. Although sporting a similar interior layout to the 500L, the bigger steering console, with a two-man ‘suicide’ seat/locker and two-person helmsman’s leaning post, was mounted further forward in this larger craft and this helped to balance the boat better, particularly when we ventured into the big seas at the harbour mouth. Heading into or away from the breaking crests, not once did the 570L appear to have any difficulty in dealing with the testing sea conditions and she gave a good all-round account of herself.

Finally, we tested the latest in the Brig range in the form of the stylish Eagle E645, fitted with a Suzuki 150, but unlike the two simple layouts of the two Falcon RIBs, the Eagle was more luxuriously appointed, with a comfortable rear bench seat, a forward seating/sunbathing area, a large raked steering console and a two-person helmsman’s leaning post arrangement, on the back of which was a clever folding-table arrangement for rear-seat passengers. This was a good-looking craft, and like all Brig RIBs it featured a distinctive GRP stepped aft tube cone end arrangement. Whether these could practically be used as boarding steps was something we did not put to the test on this cold, stormy day, but having a small bathing platform on either side of the transom, one with a bathing ladder, it would seem that the cone ends are more decorative than practical! The E645 is an attractive-looking craft, and although I am not personally a fan of GRP ‘radar’ arches on RIBs, the one fitted to our test boat was stylish, strongly constructed and securely mounted.

Unlike the two other Brigs, the hull shape on the E645 starts with a shallower 22-degree V at the transom but then increases considerably towards the bow, ending up with a very deep concave shape right forward. This unusual variable deadrise shape provided very good handling, particularly when performing tight turns in the more sheltered waters, but what was really impressive was the way it coped with the rough seas over the Salcombe bar, where it delivered a reassuringly smooth and dry ride.

To sum up: the Brig distributors, The Wolf Rock Boat Company and we at RIB Magazine are all pleased we retested the wayward Falcon 500L, which was the subject of controversy following the previous multi-5 m RIB test. Not only did this provide an explanation as to why the previous craft performed so badly but it highlighted the importance of providing a properly prepared and sorted craft for a test. As previously mentioned, Brig have been very successful at selling their RIBs throughout the world and this has no doubt been helped by their ability to strike the right balance between the quality/price and safe handling and performing of hulls.

We liked all three test craft for their no-nonsense designs allied to their ability to deal reassuringly with our typically choppy seas, and with the right set-up in terms of balance/engine choice, we can see Brig RIBs proving as popular in the UK as they are in overseas markets.

Paul Lemmer