Hugo Montgomery-Swan during the occasion of this year’s Southampton Boat Show trials the Nouvo Jolly King 750. Imported into the UK from Italy by Polymarine, this RIB also boasted a pair of the latest 115hp EFI engines from Suzuki.

Importing Italian RIBs into the UK has never proved an easy business and no one single importer has ever established a major operation selling these boats even though public interest in them has generally been quite high. The Italian leisure RIB’s standard of design and finish seems to have intrigued the boat buying public, no doubt for the reason that for many years, our ‘native breeds’ had developed out of the rescue market and therefore reflected this essential influence by means of their more ‘functional’ makeup. Thanks to the styling and high degree of onboard luxury, (the latter once being a rare commodity in the UK RIB market) many therefore referred to Italian RIB design as setting the benchmark for sports RIBs to aspire to. In terms of the leisure market, the Italian makes on the whole seemed to be much more highly evolved. Nevertheless, when it came to their seakeeping attributes, it became increasingly clear that their pure sportsboat heritage had not served them so well. Money invested on R&D it seemed, had largely been spent on those aspects found above the waterline and as pretty as they were, many Italian makes were therefore simply not suited to our UK waters or the offshore environment. With their combination of oversized tubes and shallow-vee hulls, many of these RIBs proved very hard riding, often giving the impression of handling more like a pure inflatable than a true RIB.

First Impressions
But times, it seems, are a changing. Bat, Lomac, Asso and Marlin for instance, have all recently launched RIBs with offshore influenced, more seakindly hulls, with the former even utilising the highly respected Cigarette hull in order to produce the latest edition to their top end range. Furthermore, the established Italian manufacturer, Nouvo Jolly, a company now enjoying its 25th year, has likewise produced a craft with distinctly improved hull characteristics. The company’s King 750 model was on display at this year’s Southampton International Boat Show and as you’ve probably guessed forms the subject matter of this particular review.

This exhibit lay afloat within the first section of pontoons that greeted the hordes of visitors as they descended the walkway down to the show’s ‘floating village’. Both striking and impressive in looks, the King 750 immediately stood out as being different to her contemporaries on display. Typically ‘med’ styled, her all white livery gave the vessel an air of class that might well find favour with those seeking a high-class sports RIB or substantial yacht tender. White hypalon sponsoned RIBs do of course require a substantial amount of work to keep them clean. Plus, not unexpectedly perhaps, they tend to wear more quickly than RIBs of other colour liveries. Bear this fact in mind from a re-sale point of view.

A good amount of stowage in the form of under seat lockers and a large sunbed to the foredeck did little to restrict our movement when coming aboard. With plenty of free deck space, kitting up our four-man crew was easy enough and before long we were heading out to the trial area keen to put the RIB through its paces.

Fit Out
As we trolled along observing the heavily policed speed restriction I took the opportunity to take a good look around the boat. ‘Roomy’ was one of my first impressions and for this reason the RIB would clearly be well suited to family use especially with its deep moulded GRP deck providing that additional measure of security. The double helm seat is in reality more of a bum pad and as shown in the accompanying photography. Comfortable, despite its thin cushioning, its design is really suited to short journeying in light to moderate seastates. The position of this seat unit also causes the cox to helm the boat with his arms outstretched which could be fatiguing for some. I like the way the back of the unit features a s/s grabrail though, positioned in such a way as to serve both the navigator and those stood on the rear deck.

The helm console itself is quite substantial and besides its other essential factors possesses a very fine forward seat with under locker. Good hand grabs are provided once again for the security of the crew and the seat is generously cushioned. Behind the protection of the console’s high screen with its s/s rail surround there exists a good amount of space for electronics and thus this console would be well suited to those wishing to a integrate a full spec of instrumentation. The main instrumentation dash is nicely finished with a maple effect panel which ties in well with the helm console’s wooden locker door. The angle of the wheel is good and further compliments the high quality hydraulic steering system, which ensures this RIB is a pleasure to helm. In short, this console is both functional and attractively styled.

In the aft end, the full width bench seat provides a secure and comfortable position for adults and children alike. Yet more handholds, lockerage, deep cushioning and also plenty of room for one’s legs in the space directly behind the helm seat. The aft seat’s backrest gives a reasonable amount of support but of course it has not really been designed with long distance travel in mind. That said, it’s more comfortable than a good many. I’ve already mentioned of course, the sun deck, but I should point out that this is an infill and therefore can be removed if so required.  

The s/s stern arch to this model is strongly made reflects north European influences. It appears to be substantial enough to take an Echomax radar reflector as well as the usual array of aerials etc. The inclusion of this item provides the King 750 with subtle 4x4, offshore overtones, despite the boat’s otherwise strong blue water looks.

Scuppering aboard this boat is achieved by means of two non-return seacocks. Not perhaps as substantial as elephant trunks but adequate nonetheless. The tubes to this model are fashioned in 1100 Dtex hypalon and comprise 5 compartments. Cleats, lifelines anchor warp-guide, etc, all come as standard and if you particularly want your RIB in a colour other than white; I’m told that colour customisations are available upon request. Finally on the matter of the boat’s tubes, I’d like to add just two further points. Firstly, the extra wide fender strip is clearly a sound addition and secondly you’ll note this RIB’s Sponson cones are rounded off ą continental style. Though this generally doesn’t provide the same level of buoyancy as a traditional cone shaped sponson end, in this instance, the tube design appears to provide sufficient buoyancy to support the extra weight of a twin-engine rig without any problem.

I should point out that this boat has the potential of being rather vulnerable at her ends. The bow section and the extended bathing platform being made in GRP clearly therefore need to be treated with some respect when coming alongside etc.

Performance
My two invitees had never been on a RIB before. Gingerly at first, they set about making themselves comfortable on the full width stern seat before prudently grasping the nearest s/s handhold in anticipation of the worst! To their surprise I think, ‘the worst’ never came and before long we were gently riding up on the plane out towards the first turn buoy with relaxed smiles on the faces of our friends in the rear. The twin Suzuki 115hp 4-stroke rig responded in suitable style, as next, the throttle was steadily eased into performance mode.

The boat quickly gave the impression of being well balanced underway. The positioning of the 400ltr under deck fuel tank appears to contribute to this fact - as do such items as the ship’s batteries, helm console and other weighty components. The hull itself clearly generates a good amount of lift, particular in the stern section where most of the weight lies. Due to this fact the boat is responsive to the use of the trim and though trailed on flat water, nonetheless, gave the impression of being a boat that would handle well in a head sea with her nose trimmed in. The hull’s spray rails are quite distinct and contribute to the dry ride and the lateral and directional stability of the vessel when powering along underway. She runs very true at full tilt and even when trimmed out excessively shows a reticence to chine walk or misbehave. Of course these Susuki 4-strokes are very, very quiet, so quiet in fact that it’s very hard to pick out if they’re running at all at slow speed. This particular engine rig appeared well suited to the 750, being responsive in the lower power band and generating something in the order of 45mph at just over 5000 rpm at the top end.

I’ve had distinct difficulty finding out from the UK dealer selling this craft the deadrise the hull. Surely, a customer should be able to approach a dealer with the confidence he knows the fundamental details pertaining to the craft he’s selling. Likewise, payload is unknown. Try as I might I can’t get this information - it wasn’t forthcoming; all I can say is that this model appears to have a soft riding hull which shows signs of being suited to our home waters.

Besides making a quality sports RIB and family fun boat I would say the King 750 would also be suited to light cruising. Oh yes, that reminds me, there is also an open cockpit cabin version available for those who fancy the joys of ‘over-nighting’.

HMS