Do I need insurance for a tender/small RIB?
I’m looking into getting a small 2/4 man RIB (often used as tenders for larger boats) for use inshore near the Isle of Wight (England). Does anybody know if I will need to have insurance on it?
It will have a small (no more than 10HP) outboard on it as well, don’t know if that changes anything?
I can’t really find much information on it, not even in some of the RYA books. Thanks for any help.
As a small boat sailor on the same patch of water as you I can answer this one…
You aren’t REQUIRED to have insurance on your boat, but I’d REALLY recommend that you do have it, even if you just buy third-party only insurance. If your boat goes out of control, the damage even a small boat with a little outboard can do can run into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.
If you are a member of a local sailing or boating club I’d guess that they have a membership requirement that requires you to have insurance. Many marinas insist that boats berthed in them or using any of their facilities (Including slipway) have insurance.
Oh, and having insurance has saved me thousands over the last 25 years.
PS – a 10hp engine on a 2-4 man RIB? Why do you want to underpower your RIB – I’d recommend at least a 50 on a 13′ RIB.
Here’s a short movie taken from my Zodiac dinghy with a 5hp 4 stroke Nissan outboard motor in Port Angeles.
The 11-Meter Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boat (11M NSW RIB) is a high speed, high buoyancy, extreme weather craft with the primary mission of insertion and extraction of SEAL and other Special Operations personnel from enemy occupied beaches. The RIB hull is made of glass reinforced plastic. The 11-Meter RIB has demonstrated the ability to operate in light-loaded conditions in Sea State 6 and winds of 45 knots.
Dolphin RIBs are being used for RIB adventures in Rotterdam. Eef is skippering the 8,5 military with 300 hp Suzuki. Ryan is on the 7,5 250 HP Suzuki and passing by