JP RIBS is one of the hottest new RIB builders in the country and they are fast making a name for themselves worldwide. At the Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show they released two of their newest models
“It wasn’t an ordinary RIB – it had a touch of class that you don’t normally see with trailer boats.”
So said the new owner of JP RIBS’ Custom 800 Cabin the first time he spotted one of the Northland-based RIB builder’s tenders.
That first meeting was at the Auckland On Water Boat Show and in the time since, JP RIBS has crafted him his own custom RIB designed to exactly match the new owner’s lifestyle.
It was the combination of high-spec luxury, and the function of a performance RIB which won him over and the two traits are rapidly becoming the company’s hallmarks. Started in 2015 by a father and son team, JP RIBS has been doing rapid business with orders flowing in from Europe for customers seeking the luxury RIBS as superyacht tenders.
While Phil Edgar is a well-recognised name in New Zealand marine circles as a competitive yachtsman and boatbuilder known for pushing the boundaries, son Jonathan has made his own name for himself in the European superyacht industry.
The combination of the two has seen them produce a style of RIB new to New Zealand – fast, sexy, and with the finishing touches that take a day on the boat to the next level.
“We’ve been pleased to see the level of interest from Australia and New Zealand in this sort of craft,” said Jonathan. “It’s been great to see people moving towards RIBS that are performance machines, and which have these individual touches. I think there’s a growing realisation that your boat can be created to be exactly fit for purpose for how you spend your time on the water.”
The RIBS are crafted to a large degree in Matapouri Bay in Northland, allowing the team to get them onto the water and tested in big seas and challenging conditions. Though the guys enjoy their superyacht tender work, two recent launches destined for New Zealand owners have let them push the boundaries of creating RIBS within budget and designed around their future owners’ lifestyles.
Custom 800 Cabin
See the matte black Custom 800 on the water in tandem with another of the JP RIBS fleet and you’d be forgiven if stealth bombers come to mind. The RIBS are sleek, futuristic and have the clean lines which comes when good design meets form.
Good looks aside though, this is a RIB which is created to be unquestionably fit for purpose. A wide body design with D section pontoons aft give plenty of room for an extended boarding platform, full width console, and a large cockpit designed specifically to suit the New Zealand boating lifestyle.
The Flexiteek floor hides a 260 litre fuel tank, and creamy upholstery covers deeply-cushioned seats, the rear of which fold down for more storage. The centre of the aft seats can be removed to provide a walk-through space to the boarding platform, or the seats removed entirely for more room to change into dive gear or pull in fish.
A Furuno TZ Touch 12-inch MFD interfaces with the Mercury Verado for easy-to-read engine performance data, while music lovers will rejoice at the Fusion sound system which pumps through the boat’s multiple speakers. LED lighting throughout, from cockpit, to navigation lights, to underwater lighting, makes for a very impressive sight as the RIB passes at night. The console is large and lockable, with plenty of dry storage and ample room for a toilet if desired.
The freshwater tank holds 70 litres for washdown and to supply the sink; set in a bench of solid teak and flanked by built-in glass holders for the sunset Sauvignon or lager. There’s also an underfloor locker big enough for dive gear and saltwater washdown. Behind the aft seats, a pair of flooding rear lockers become bait tanks and are set into the Flexiteek which extends down to the boarding platforms either side of the outboard. There’s also a stainless steel fold-down boarding ladder to port of the cockpit.
That 350hp Mercury Verado outboard sees the Custom 800 Cabin easily reach speeds of 50knots and cruise economically at 30knots. And comfortably. The strong GRP hull has been designed for a smooth ride, and the RIB is very responsive with easy handling. The bimini top is also made from GRP, with polished stainless steel supports which tie into the polished steel accents vessel-wide.
Custom 800 Facts:
LOA: 8m
LWL: 7.25m
Beam tubes inflated:2.9m
Beam tubes deflated: 2.25m
Deadrise: 21 eg
Fuel capacity: 280 litres
Fresh water capacity: 90 litres
Recommended horsepower: 225-400hp
Top speed: 50+ knots
Cruising speed: 30 knots
Fuel consumption at cruising speed: 33 lph
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The JP RIBS Custom 700 Dive was created for an owner who wanted a dive boat that was equal parts performance, comfort and function. Warm, dry and spacious areas provide protection from the elements, while extensive storage inside the console, Icey-Tek chilly bins aft, fresh and saltwater sink and ample racks for dive bottles provides everything needed for divers to get out on the water.
The console is large, lockable and full beam with walk-around decks and holds a flush-mounted Raymarine VHF, flatscreen Furuno TZT2 12 inch plotter to find your fishing and diving spots, and USB charger and 12V outlet. LED Navigation and anchor lights continue the high spec finish, and UV-resistant marine upholstery in a creamy leather look adds to the visual appeal.
A deep V custom hull delivers that JP RIBS signature smooth ride, even at the top speed of over 40 knots, and underwater lights, custom Stainless Steel boarding ladder, support rope rails on all tubes and plenty of room onboard to change into gear ensures divers’ safety. The seven metre is equipped with all the mod-cons, has a cruising speed of 25 knots and is powered by a Mercury 200 HP Verado 6 Cylinder.
With an interior that’s more pared-down than the Custom 800 Cabin to accommodate the needs of divers, the 700 is a good example of how JP RIBS builds to suits the client.
