BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Renting a RIB: the guide to the coast's smartest boat
Why the RIB dominates day rentals: stability, speed, budget — and the criteria that separate two seemingly identical listings.
One in three boats rented by the day in the Mediterranean is a RIB — no accident: stable tubes, a fast hull, simple upkeep. You still have to pick the right one.
Why it is the right call
The RIB takes chop without brutalising its passengers, noses onto a beach, gets home fast when the wind turns, and forgives hesitant manoeuvres (the tubes are full-length fenders). For a group of friends chaining coves and swims, nothing does better.
The criteria that matter
Size: 6-7 m for 6-8 people on sheltered water, 8-9 m as soon as you cross (islands, windy capes). Power: underpowered, a loaded RIB struggles onto the plane — beware the 6-metre with 100 hp advertised for 10 passengers. Equipment: sun awning, bathing ladder and depth sounder change the day; a GPS plotter reassures on the way home.
Budget and traps
€200-600 per day by size and season, fuel almost always extra: ask the hourly burn (a 250 hp drinks 40-60 L/h at cruise) and the pontoon price per litre. The deposit (€1,000-3,000) notably covers the propeller — claim item number one: watch the bottom.
On Boat-Comparator
Filter 'RIB' and compare at equal size: the same Medline or Tempest routinely shows a 15-25% spread between platforms. And consider the neighbouring ports — the RIB will take you there anyway.
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Rent a boat with no nasty surprises
Deposit, insurance, check-in inspection, fuel, navigation areas, weather: our checklist covers everything to verify before booking and on departure day. Sign up to access it and receive our tips by email.
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