Nevertheless, despite the tight schedule and immensely constrictive technical specification our collaboration with Kanter Marine, Ontario has resulted in another superlative vessel. Initial reports are that this design as exceeded all expectations by a healthy margin.

Particularly pleasing is the performance of the Volvo Penta Aquamatic D4 260Hp Duoprop engine and drive combination which delivers superb acceleration and exceeds the top speed requirements of the fully loaded vessel.

This design features a fold down Radar Arch to enable the trailered vessel to be transport by a Lockheed C120. The sliding & folding deck seating is custom designed by de Villiers design according to DND rerquirements and can be switched to fully shock-mitigating if required. Fuel capacity is a miserly 205 litres due to overall weight restrictions but this can be increased as required.

Well done again to Kanter Marine for translating our design into a quality product.

Principal Characteristics

Length – 7.23 metres
DWL - 6.12 metres
Beam – 2.75 metres
Deadrise 24°
Displacement – Half Load ~ 2320 kg
Power - single Volvo Penta Aquamatic D4-260 Hp Duoprop
Fuel Capacity - 205 litres ( 54 USG)
Hull Material - 5083 H116/H321 Marine-grade Aluminium Alloy

Looking back at the Technical Specification and Requirements for this “military-style” RIB I am struck again by the apparent conflict between the various dimensional, operational, structural, performance and stability/buoyancy parameters. Let’s just say that this is another boat which is on the limit of what is possible within the given set of constraints which are often technically & practically challenging.

Nevertheless we have manage to achieve a vessel which is capable of well over 50 knots whilst carrying a full complement of 12 PAX plus requisite operational equipment and full fuel load of 1200 litres. In addition this vessel complies with the stability, buoyancy, watertightness and load capacity requirements equivalent to an ISO category “B” rating as well complying with the structural requirements for a ISO Category VIII “Offshore Inflatable Vessel”. So all in all this is one tough vessel which is very fast and very seaworthy (offshore capable).

As you can see from the accompanying GA the crew and passengers are all seated on high quality shock-mitigating seating from Shockwave Seats, Sidney, B.C. In this case the aft console is also a Shockwave proprietary design which was custom built for this vessel.

The other major feature of this RIB is the inflatable D-collar, chosen specifically to increase the deck space given the overall beam restriction. Together with Kanter Marine Inc, Ontario (who did another fantastic job on the construction of this vessel) we at DVDesign have now explored, and pretty much perfected, both D-tubes and also fully circular inflatable tube sections in the 10 plus designs we have collaborated on since 2007. Note that we use the term “collar” and “tube” interchangeably.

As with all of our RIB designs over 7 metres in length the inflatable collars are above the static waterline (by 100 to 250mm) for several specific reasons. Firstly the vessel remains stable should the inflatable collar inadvertently become damaged and deflate. In other words the vessel is not dependant on the collars for buoyancy or stability. Secondly the collars do not drag in the water, reducing the chances of damage, improving handling/cornering and also eliminating tube vibration arising from water flowing over the tubes. If you have spent time in RIB’s which drag their tubes at speed you will know what I mean. Lastly, the placement of the tubes vertically allows for a proper (ie compliant) height of the wet deck above the waterline at all loading states which vary by almost 2000 kg from the minimum operating condition to the full load condition. In order to comply with ISO buoyancy and cockpit drainage rules the wet deck has to be a minimum height above the DWL…..this is an important safety factor which lacking in many RIB design found today.

Two more features of this vessel which deserve a mention are the pivoting Radar mount on the Arch and also the rounded of bow shape in the plan view. The latter was conceived to facilitate coming alongside larger vessel during interdiction operations. There’s less chance of damaging the inflatable collar on the backing structure when sandwiched or squeezed between the two vessels. The Radar Mount is well raised to eliminate the chances of any crew getting irradiated from the transmitter, whilst at the same time folding away to comply with road height restrictions.

So all in all a complicated yet very capable package which is imminently suitable for Special Operations, Interdiction, Patrol, Rescue and Personnel Transfer. The first vessel built to this design was launched in late 2011 and is deployed in N.S. in Canada.

Principal Characteristics

Length

10.41 metres – (34′ 2″)
DWL - 8.71 metres (28′ 7″)
Beam

3.30 metres – (11′ 11″)
Deadrise - 24°
Displacement – Half Load ~ 5400 kg (11905 lbs)
Power - Triple 300Hp Four-Stroke Outboard Motors
Fuel Capacity - 1200 litres (317 USG)
Hull Material - 5083 H116/H321 Marine-grade Aluminium Alloy

This is the one that got away, so to speak! By this I mean this is our only fully completed design which to date has not yet been built. Originally designed during a relative lull in early 2011, she was intended to be built as a demo boat for Kanter Marine in Ontario.

The hull is a development of our earlier successful Shallow Deadrise River Jet RIB (design # 090) but has a deeper deadrise more suited to offshore work. We have kept the same general concept however, which is an open RIB with centre cockpit and loads of deck space at both ends of the vessel. Deck space is further enhanced as a result of the D-tube configuration whereby approx. 6 inches is gained along the length of the bulwarks.

The General Arrangement shows a single 300 Hp outbard but this can easily be changed to twins if required. Actually the term “Centre Console” does not fully describe the partially enclosed steering station with overhead T-Top which is also a design enhancement form a similar arrangement on design #090. The bow is rounded off in plan view as we have done on many of our later RIB designs which come alongside docks, other vessels etc in their day to day utilisation.

This design is crying out to be built, and will be suited to many roles requiring a tough, load-carrying workboat platform. What comes to mind are applications such as chaseboat, yacht club tender, short passage personnel transfer, supply boat etc. We are also considering a cabin version of this design for pleasure boat applications or even as a superyacht tender.

Please contact us if this design is of interest as we are very keen to see some of these on the water. So keen in fact that we are offering reduced pricing for the working plans/cutfiles as shown on our Stock Plans Prices webpage.

Principal Characteristics

Length

7.59 metres – (24′ 11″)
DWL - 6.12 metres (20′ 1″)
Beam – 2.88 metres (9′ 6″)
Deadrise - 21°
Displacement – Half Load ~ 2800 kg (6173 lbs)
Power - Single 300Hp Four-Stroke Outboard Motors
Fuel Capacity - 490 litres (129 USG)
Hull Material - 5083 H116/H321 Marine-grade Aluminium Alloy

Looking at the General Arrangement it is obvious that we have a lot of time invested in this design, in order to satisfy the multitude of often conflicting requirements of the technical specification. Features of this boat include the D-tube configuration with solid alloy bulwarks backing up the inflatable tube in both the fwd and aft cockpits. There is good access to the forward cockpit via bulwark cap alongside the house and cuddy cabin. Plan view again shows the rounded bow which is a feature of our recent RIB’s designed for patrol and rescue services in Canada.

The Cuddy cabin is relatively small on this design and is used for storage only, unlike several other bow-cockpit designs we have done in which there’s one or two berths forward of the main cabin (pilothouse) area. There’s no access to the cuddy from the bow cockpit but this can be easily included next time around.

That being said the pilothouse is rather spacious on this wide body vessel with a floor area of 6.3 square metres. all occupants are seated on shock-mitigating seating by Shockwave, B.C. Minimum headroom in the pilothouse is 6′ 4″.

The vessel is powered by twin Yamaha F350A outboards which are capable of pushing the vessel at operational load (~5500 kg) to over 48 knots.

Principal Characteristics

Length

9.74 metres – (31′ 11.25″)
DWL - 8.03 metres (26′ 4″)
Beam – 3.68 metres (12′ 1″)
Deadrise - 22°
Displacement – Half Load ~ 5540 kg (12213 lbs)
Power - Twin 350Hp Four-Stroke Outboard Motors
Fuel Capacity - 840 litres (222 USG)
Hull Material - 5083 H116/H321 Marine-grade Aluminium Alloy

This will be our 5th design in conjunction with Kanter Marine in Ontario and as such was the successful bid for a brace of boats to be deployed by the Canadian Coastguard. She is a development of our highly successful 9.5m RIB of which multiple boat are currently in operation with the New Zealand Coastguard. Nevertheless, the technical requirements were many and varied so the end result bears little resemblance to the older NZ cousin.

Right now the design is well underway with a looming deadline for delivery of the completed boats in November 2010. The concept GA used in the bid submission is featured below.

This vessel represents another collaboration between DVDesign and Kanter Marine Inc. (Ontario, Canada) which was the successful bid for an offshore capable RIB to be used by the RCMP off Canada’s rugged Northeast coast.

She is similar in overall size and powering to our earlier 9.5m RIB design (#066) of which 5 have been built for the New Zealand Coastguard. However, this vessel features an enclosed pilothouse more suited to the adverse weather found off Nova Scotia. She has many inherent safety features and attains an ISO Category B Stability and Bouyancy rating.

Construction quality by Kanter Marine is once again, second to none. The photos show the boat trialling on launch day, ready for action.

Description to follow……