A RIB charter is a day on a rigid inflatable boat, usually with a skipper at the wheel, built for speed and short hops between beaches and islands. Choose one when you want to cover a lot of coastline in a few hours and be back by evening. Choose a yacht when you want shade, space and a cabin.
The two are easy to confuse, because a RIB is also the small boat many yachts use to take guests ashore. On a charter, though, the RIB is the whole outing: a fast open boat, a swim platform at the stern and a plan for the day.
Here is what a RIB is, how it compares with a yacht for a day on the water and who it really suits.
What a RIB is
RIB stands for rigid inflatable boat. The hull underneath is solid, built from composite or aluminium, and it is topped with inflatable tubes that run around the sides. The hull cuts through the water, while the tubes add buoyancy and stability.
The design was first developed at Atlantic College in Wales, and the RNLI still uses it for its inshore lifeboats. In leisure boating the same qualities make it a popular tender, the small boat a yacht uses for runs to the beach, and a popular day boat in its own right.
The RIBs on our list sit at the larger, day-boat end of that range, and they come with a skipper. The Fost Power Matrix Orion, for example, is 12 metres long, with twin 300 hp engines, a teak rear deck and platform, a shower and a WC.
Day trips vs overnight
A RIB is a day boat. There is no cabin to sleep in, so it is booked for a few hours or a day and returns to its base the same day.
The Orion is offered for three hours, a half day of five hours or a full day of eight hours on board. That shape suits a morning of swimming stops, lunch ashore on a neighbouring island or an afternoon along a stretch of coast you cannot reach by road.
If you want to wake up at anchor, a RIB is the wrong tool. For nights aboard you need a yacht with cabins, and for most groups that means a catamaran charter in Greece or a motor yacht. For a single day, the two compare like this.
| RIB | Motor yacht | |
|---|---|---|
| Hire period | A few hours, a half day or a full day | A day, or longer with cabins for nights aboard |
| Pace | Fast hops between beaches and nearby islands | Slower passages, with more room on the way |
| Shade | Limited, and it depends on the boat | Covered decks and a saloon |
| Facilities | A shower, and a WC on some models | Cabins, heads and a galley |
| Best for | Swimming stops and seeing a lot in one day | A long lunch at anchor and a slower day |
If the comfort column matters more to your group than the speed column, our power yacht charters in Greece page shows what a motor yacht adds.
Speed and range
Speed is the reason to choose a RIB. A planing hull with powerful outboards turns a crossing between two nearby islands into a short run, which leaves more of the day for swimming and less for travelling.
Each listing gives its own figures. The Marvel 960 Proteas lists a cruising speed of 35 knots and a top speed of 50, and the Orion a cruising speed of 30 knots. Cruising speed is the number to plan with, because it is much closer to how the boat runs between stops than the top speed.
How far you go is decided by the sea as much as by the engines. A RIB is at its best on flat water, and a short, steep sea makes the ride wet and bumpy. In the Aegean in summer the wind usually builds through the day, so the meltemi often decides how far out you go and when you head back.
Running fast also burns more fuel, and fuel may be charged on top of the rate. It is worth asking the skipper whether a closer bay gives you the same swim with less time at full speed.
Comfort and shade
A RIB is an open boat, so comfort depends on the model and on the weather. Seating is open to the sun and the spray, there is a platform at the stern for swimming, and the RIBs on our list have a shower, some with a WC as well.
Shade is the thing to ask about. Some RIBs have a canopy over the console and others have very little, and there is no saloon to retreat to as there is on a yacht. Water also reflects ultraviolet light, which raises your exposure even when the breeze on the move feels cool.
The ride is part of the experience. At speed you feel every wave, the seats nearer the stern move less than those in the bow, and anyone who dislikes a bumpy ride should pick a calm morning or a larger boat. The extras are listed on each boat: snorkelling equipment comes on board, and a Seabob or a stand-up paddleboard can be rented.
Who they suit
A RIB suits groups who want to see a lot in one day and spend most of it in the water. It fits well if you are staying on the coast or on an island and want one day at sea without committing to a week, and it is a good option for anyone who has looked at speed boat hire but would rather have a skipper on board.
Group size is set by the listing. The Proteas, for example, takes up to ten passengers, and each RIB on our list states its own maximum. Because the RIBs are chartered with a skipper, the same rule applies as for any skippered yacht charter in Greece: nobody in your group needs a licence.
A quick way to decide
- Choose a RIB for beach hopping, swimming stops and a day that covers several bays.
- Choose a RIB if your group is happy in the open air and does not mind some spray.
- Choose a yacht for shade, space to move around and a long lunch at anchor.
- Choose a yacht if anyone wants to sleep aboard, or if the forecast is windy.
Families should weigh the speed and the spray against the ages of the children. Our guide to chartering with children covers how to choose a boat for a family.
What to bring
Pack for an open boat, strong sun and some spray. Space on board is limited, so a soft bag works better than anything rigid.
What to pack for a day on a RIB
- A hat with a strap, or one you can stow, because a loose hat rarely survives the first run.
- Sunglasses on a cord and sunscreen of at least SPF 30 with 4-star UVA protection, reapplied straight after every swim.
- A light windproof layer for the ride back, when the breeze and the spray can feel cool.
- Swimwear, a towel and drinking water for everyone on board.
- A small dry bag for phones, cards and keys.
- Flat, soft-soled shoes that you can slip off on board.
Snorkelling gear is already on board, so masks are optional unless you prefer your own. If children are coming, mention their ages when you book, so that the skipper can check there are lifejackets in the right sizes.
When you are ready to compare boats, start with the full list of yachts, and use our destinations page to choose the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a licence to hire a RIB in Greece?
Not when the RIB comes with a skipper, which is how the RIBs on our list are chartered. Taking the helm yourself is a different question, covered in our guide to whether you need a licence to charter in Greece.
How fast does a RIB go?
It depends on the hull and the engines. The RIBs we list quote their cruising and top speeds, and the Marvel 960 Proteas, for example, lists 35 knots cruising and 50 knots at the top end. Cruising speed is the better guide to a day on board.
Is a RIB charter expensive?
It depends on the boat, the length of the hire and the dates. Rates are confirmed in writing before any payment, and fuel, marina fees and optional extras may be charged separately. Our guide to what a yacht charter in Greece costs explains what moves the price.
What should you wear on a RIB?
Swimwear under light clothes, a hat with a strap, sunglasses on a cord and a windproof layer for the ride back. Choose flat, soft-soled shoes, and keep phones and keys in a small dry bag.
Sources
- RNLI, B class Atlantic lifeboat. https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/our-lifeboat-fleet/b-class-lifeboat
- NHS, Sunscreen and sun safety. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/
Tell us the date, the size of your group and the area you want to explore, and we will come back with the RIBs and yachts that are actually available.
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