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Welcome to the special section “BAM 35 Years.” We are presenting “cult” articles from the Motor Boats archive, starting in 1990. A journey through time among stories unobtainable today, even in the great sea of the internet! A dive into the world of epic moments in motor boating. We begin with one of the stories we were most passionate about.
From Boats to Motors 2020, no. 14, July-August, pp. 52-62.
Among the thousands of possibilities offered by the boating world, there is one type of boat that has been experiencing a great wave of success in recent years: the inflatable boat.
How often is the sea associated with an idea of freedom and leisure. And for us avid boaters it can only be true, especially when aboard the boat of our dreams. Among the thousands of possibilities offered by the boating world, there is one type of boat that has been experiencing a great wave of success in recent years: the inflatable boat. Whether it is 5 or 15 meters long changes little, so to speak. What is the point? That depending on our approach to the sea and our tastes (and not least our wallet) there is a right dinghy for practically everyone. Born as means of work, or at any rate for very practical use, they have been able to change shape and evolve, coming to embrace even a more sophisticated public, which in its boat is looking for something practical, yes, but also powerful and comfortable. What the vast majority of ribs (rigid inflatable boats) have in common, to put it in English, is a performance hull, even when the footprint is that of the pure cruiser. Of course, they are not all the same. In fact, there are so many types of inflatable boats coexisting today.
Let’s start with a basic premise. Tubulars are the main element of the dinghy and have two main functions, depending on the type of rib. The first is, in the more cruiser ones, to stabilize the dinghy, particularly at anchor. In this sense the dinghy tubular is an integral part of the living work with all the positive aspects that come with it. The disadvantage is greater friction in navigation. Conversely, a higher tubular allows for a more agile and faster rib, but less stable at anchor. There would be so much more to say, but let us limit ourselves to this that allows us to understand how there are inflatable boats that fit between these two different visions of the rib. It is not uncommon to see dinghies with submerged tubulars, for example, only in the aftmost part of the boat or cases where even a dinghy stern is matched by a real boat bow.
The cruising dinghy, from 11-12 meters to over 15 meters, today is truly equipped with all kinds of amenities. Suffice it to say that owners of 40- or 50-meter yachts to move easily below the coast also use these dinghies for entire weeks during their cruises. This means that the ribs, and their designers, have had to work overtime to ensure first-class standards of livability on board. The cruiser dinghy is catching on so much (also aided by the maxi-rib fad, which is pushing its image) that today the real challenge is between 60- to 80-foot yachts-about 18 to 24 meters-and these large dinghies. The difference is abysmal, as is the mode of enjoyment, but the rib has some tricks up its sleeve. Psychologically, there is the freedom it gives the owner to feel comfortable steering a boat surrounded structurally by rubber, even if it is 50 feet long, without the need for a crew. Staying on board, the contact with the sea that we have on such a boat is extremely difficult to experience on a large yacht. Also, for the more egocentric, you never go unnoticed when you arrive in port or roadstead with a large dinghy, however widespread they start to be now. Going out on the boat without being tied to the crew not only makes you freer, it is also a significant money saver. Besides, the beauty of having a boat is also steering it directly with our own hands. It’s just that to put yourself at the helm of a 60-footer with fluency requires experience and familiarity. It must be said that today the dashboard is becoming an increasingly comfortable place with all kinds of instrumentation to simplify the management of every maneuver on board. If we then put a lot of roaring outboards in the stern, that’s it. On an adrenaline-fueled, hyper-powered hull we will find optimum cruising and sailing comforts.
Now, although large inflatable boats have drawn a lot of attention to them, we must not forget that the real best-sellers often remain those between 6 and 8 meters. It is they who have most enamored generations and generations of boaters, a passion that is often passed down (as well as the boat) from father to son. This segment is also in turmoil, with frequent releases of new and updated models. But how do you update a best-seller? The modular deck is becoming a strong point for a great many boatyards: spaces and lockers are being invented where before it was unthinkable, new stratagems are being devised to create a cockpit to suit all the needs of the day. And sure, because this kind of dinghy is lived one day at a time, however, very intensely. The volumes are therefore, by necessity, more limited than those of a fiberglass boat of the same length. So the aft cockpit needs to be easily converted from a dining room to a terrace overlooking the sea. You work on the space below deck, trying not to force either layout, to have a small bathroom/dressing room that doesn’t displease anyone. Then you work on safety and ease of use, which often go hand in hand. Everything you need, especially when volumes are tighter, must be within easy reach. Inflatable boats of this type are particularly suitable for families or friends who want to go out to sea even with the youngest children on board. In this sense, shipyards focus part of their efforts on turning the cockpit into a particularly safe area of the boat because of the high backrests, which, in addition to making the seats more comfortable, help to create a protected and “wraparound” area.
They can be for work, and in this case they are extremely spartan in their deck set-up, or they can be extra-luxury versions of behemoths. What do they have in common? Hulls pulled to the max, developed through decades of experience and extensive testing, combined with unscrupulous engines, such as triple outboard motors of 1,350 total horsepower. These reb, after all, are often able to cope with extreme conditions and are often recognized by their raised tubulars (to decrease friction with the water and be more agile in maneuvering).
by Gregorio Ferrari
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Welcome to the special section “BAM 35 Years.” We are presenting “cult” articles from the Motor Boats archive, starting in 1990. A journey through time among stories unobtainable today, even in the great sea of the internet! A dive into
Welcome to the special section “BAM 35 Years.” We are presenting “cult” articles from the Motor Boats archive, starting in 1990. A journey through time among stories unobtainable today, even in the great sea of the internet! A dive into
Welcome to the special section “BAM 35 Years.” We are presenting “cult” articles from the Motor Boats archive, starting in 1990. A journey through time among stories unobtainable today, even in the great sea of the internet! A dive into
Mark it in your diary: the fourth edition of the National Summit on the Sea Economy “Blue Forum,” entitled “Creating Value – the Sea in the Year of Jubilee, “ is scheduled to take place in Rome July 9-11, 2025.
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