VESSEL REVIEW | New electric RIB for Dutch boat charter company

Hamble, UK-based builder RS Electric Boats recently handed over a new rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to Dutch boat charter operator Energyboats.

The 6.3- by 2.3-metre, 610-kilogram vessel is the first production example of a new series of RIBs that were designed from the outset to be powered entirely by electricity as opposed to boats that have been retrofitted to accommodate electric drives in place of conventional engines. The design of the RIB itself also makes it suitable for a range of functions in both commercial and government use.

The fully integrated electric drive supplied by Rad Propulsion has a rated output of 47 kW to deliver a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 45 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 15 knots. The hull employs a tunnel shape and a long waterline to reduce drag at lower speeds.

Because the boat was designed around the electric drive and its connected Hyperdrive Innovation 46kWh lithium-ion battery pack, it became possible to ensure that there was ample space for six people around the centre console and that the hull form helped extend the operating range without any loss in performance. This was achieved by placing the battery pack as low as possible within the hull, which then lowered the centre of gravity and thus helped enhance comfort under a range of speed settings.

The vessel also boasts durable construction thanks to a combination of bio-based epoxy resin, recycled PET material, and basalt and flax fibres that guarantee high impact resistance.

The new electric RIB is being made available for charter by Ribrental, a sister company of Energyboats. The boat has already proven itself as a support craft for a number of racing events recently held in the Netherlands, namely, The Ocean Race and the Sailing World Championships both in the Hague and Dutch Water Week in Almere.

See all the other news, reviews and features of this month's Marine Engines and Propulsion Systems Week right here.