Draft:RIB Unlimited

RIB Unlimited is a Swedish producer of rigid inflatable boats, RIB’s.

The company was founded in the mid 1990’s and constructed it’s first boat models based on Hydrolift’s (Hydroline) famous racing hulls. The model range has included sizes of 6 to 12 meter RIBs over the years.

As part of its promotional activities to launch the brand in the 1990’s, RIB Unlimited undertook a number of initiatives to achieve world speed records for RIB’s. The first attempt was made in 1995 when the company set at Guiness World Record (published 1996) for rigid inflatable boats reaching a top speed of 76.4 knots with the so called “Liquorice Boat”, a 6m RIB. In 1999, RIB Unlimited reached a new official world speed record for RIB’s reaching 101.8 knots with a 38 foot RIB catamaran designed by Egil Ranvig. The boat was called RIBCAT and was powered by a single 750hp Lamborghini V12 and became the first RIB to break the 100 knot speed barrier. In the fall of 2022 the company presented it’s first prototype of a fully electrified RIB based upon a new 6 meter hydroplane model called 6S. Following it’s suitability and success with electrification, the company became committed to offer all it’s models with either electric or conventional drivetrain. The company is highly focussed on energy efficiency, typically through light weight constructions and advanced hydrodynamic hull designs.