Recently completed at the Habbeke yard in Holland is one of the largest leisure RIBs ever built. Based on the hull design of the Dutch Lifeboat Association lifeboat RIB, this large RIB has been fitted out with luxury accommodation and is probably the only RIB ever to have a king sized double bed installed.

This new design has a length of 13.50m (44ft 4m) and a beam of 4.40m (14ft 9in) outside the tubes. These tubes, which were made by FLOAT in Holland, have a normal neoprene/hypalon fabric exterior combined with foam inside the air chambers.

The tubes integrate cleanly with the super­structure design which features a raised coachroof running aft and merging into the deep windscreen around the cockpit. The area inside the windscreen can be enclosed with either a canvas or a hard top cover. At the aft end is an arch mast which supports the antennae and lights and immediately below are the scalloped air intakes for the engines.

The control centre is offset to port with a hooded dash giving priority to the electronic navigation instruments, Raytheon radar and electronic chart systems, a Raytheon GPS and a Robertson autopilot. The VHF is a Shipmate unit. The engine and jet controls are Hamilton units and the engine instrument panels are each side of the wheel. Twin captain's chairs face the dash.

On the same level, but aft, is a social seating area with settees and tables, allowing a through passage on the centre line. There is an open galley here with fridge, freezer, electric cooker and a microwave oven. The lower cockpit is left open and is designed for fishing and water sports with a teak deck on the bathing platform aft. Twin square pillars aft allow engine compartment air to exhaust above deck level and are connected by a top bar to create an anchorage for a Bimini top covering the aft area.

Down below in the forward area of the hull is the large cabin with the kingsize bed occupying most of the space. Mahogany furniture gives the cabin a traditional appeal and there is a full headroom en suite WC and shower compartment to create a luxury rarely found in RIBS.

The power units are twin Volvo Penta TAMD 72 diesels of the type Volvo have developed specially for use with water jets. These 450hp diesels are connected to the jets via a clutch and the jet units are Hamilton 291 s. A 6kw Northern Lights generator supplies the electrical power. The fuel capacity is 1400 litres and water capacity is 400 litres. With a cruising speed of 32 knots, this RIB has a range of 250 miles.

This new concept, which takes RIB design into new areas, was developed by the De Vries Lentsch team which worked on the original lifeboat design. The boat has been designed for serious cruising and has an excellent rough water capability coupled to a very stylish design.

Dag Pike

Builder

Habbeke Shipyard
Chr. Huygensstraat 7,
1131 VB Vollendam,
Netherlands.

Tel: +31299 362182
Fax: +31299 367464.