Enter The Enforcer
Why does one of the country’s leading fibreglass boat builders enter the RIB market? Quote simply because he can. In fact, the prototype built for Buccaneer Boats owner, Gerry Gerrand was appropriately named…Gerry Can II.
It took some months of testing and development before he was happy to put the first Buccaneer RIB into the market and interestingly by then he already had clients wanting to buy the new product. Launched earlier this year the Buccaneer 630 Enforcer is based on the proven Buccaneer 605 hull, but from the chines up it is all different.
For Gerry, the boat was always intended to multi-task, from a tender for his sport fisher to a family boat to take his grandkids out on the water. Towing tubes in the morning or fishing in the afternoon, the 630 Enforcer was designed to do it all.
Buccaneer Boats are well known for their range of runabouts, cabin boats, centre cabin, walkaround boats and hardtops, and every year they seem to be able to surprise the market with something new. They are one of the most innovative fibreglass boat builders in the country and are continually developing boats for new sectors of the market.
For 2018 that is the very competitive RIB market, an area they have not previously had a foothold in. While the tube work was always going to be outsourced, the grp hull was taken from one of the stock models in the extensive Buccaneer Boats range. For the first in the Enforcer Series (yes more models coming), Gerry decided the 605 hull would be perfect for what he needed. The standard hull was chopped off about 35mm up from the stepped chine, a dedicated fibreglass flange added and then the hull sent to Southern Pacific to design and fit the heavy duty PVC tubes. The 500 mm diameter tubes are glued to the hull flange and when inflated the beam runs out to 2.70m and the length overall from the tip of the tube to the aft overhang is 6.39m. A standard Buccaneer 605 Exess is 6.46 LOA and 6.05 LOH, with a maximum beam of 2.29m and trailerable weight of 1670kg.
A full fibreglass inner liner is used, the same as all of the 22 models in the Buccaneer range, with all areas between the inner liner and outside hull filled with polyeruthene closed cell foam. There is plenty of underfloor storage and a built-in 165-litre fuel tank. An optional 200 litre fuel tank is available.
Room to Move
When it came to drawing up the layout for the Enforcer, the prerequisite was to offer as much floor space as practical, with plenty of storage and still with a sizeable centre console. Gerry wanted a boat that he could walk around without stepping onto the tubes. Buccaneer are not newcomers when it comes to designing centre consoles as they are standard issue on their 685 El Dorado Centre Cabin. The Enforcer carries on that same functional layout but on a smaller scale.
Like any open centre console boat, it’s essential to have a soft bimini if you want some weather protection and the one on the Enforcer is solid and purposeful. The stainless frame folds down to allow easier stowage when parked and becomes a natural handhold when underway. The perspex screen affords some wind and spray protection when seated.
When it comes to the seating there are options, but personally, I liked what we had, a double bin seat with split adjustable backrests. This leaves plenty of open area aft for fishing and there is still space to add a large poly bin.
There is more wet storage in the sole as well as under the forward console seat and the entire boat is finished with U-Deck flooring.
The 630 Enforcer is rated for single outboards 115-200hp , with the Mercury 150 good for speeds in excess of 40 knots.
Summary
Building a RIB is a natural transition for a company like Buccaneer and opens up a whole new market segment that they have not played in before. They are not looking at the super yacht tender market, but more offering a traditional Kiwi style RIB for fishing, diving and having fun. The ability to modify their existing hulls allows them the flexibility of size and don’t be surprised if you see a smaller version sometime soon.
Specifications
- Model & Model: Buccaneer 630 Enforcer                   Â
- Priced from: $65,000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
- Type: Centre Console RIBÂ Â Â Â Â Â
- Construction: GRP/PVCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
- LOA: 6.39m
- Beam: 2.70m
- Deadrise: 22.5 deg
- Power options: Outboard Only
- HP Range: 115-200hp
- Fuel Capacity:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 165 litres
- Trailer: Enduro