When it came time for Curtis B. Wolf to replace his aging Wellcraft Scarab 38, he did what a growing number of boaters are doing these days. No, he didn't decide to stay on shore and wait for the economy to turn around. He bought a rigid inflatable boat (RIB).
More specifically, Wolf bought a Zodiac CZ7, a 24–foot consumer model based on the company's H–733, a military vessel that's long been used for covert operations and heavy-weather rescue by the U.S. government. The CZ7 is constructed just like the combat–tested H–733, with a few bells and whistles added for the recreational set, such as a satellite–assistance and security system and a float–on trailer with automatic latch mechanism.
ZODIAC OF NORTH AMERICAZodiac's CZ7 is based on a military vessel that the U.S. government uses for heavy–weather rescue.
"I'm way into adrenaline," says Wolf, a resident of La Porte, Texas, and a lifelong boater. "The CZ7 will be my go–fast boat. And since I'll have it docked right at my house, it'll be like my car."
The comparison is apt because, just like car buyers, boat buyers today are faced with tough decisions when it comes to things like size and fuel economy. Here, RIBs offer a distinct advantage: They are more buoyant and significantly lighter than comparable fiberglass boats. That means RIBs require less horsepower and smaller engines to get the same performance. So, from a propulsion perspective, everything is cheaper.
The result is that, unlike most of the U.S. boating market, which has seen double–digit declines, RIB sales are actually increasing as companies like Zodiac, Protector and UFO introduce large models that can be used as a primary vessel. Extremely popular in Europe, these models may be catching on in the United States as well.
Today's RIBs are also widely known for their greater weight–carrying capacities, improved stability and remarkable sea–keeping characteristics, all thanks in part to their inflatable collar. In the past several years, a number of daredevil voyagers have crossed oceans and even traveled around the world in moderate–sized RIBs.
ZODIAC OF NORTH AMERICAThe CZ7 appeals to boaters who want something more rugged–looking and adventurous.
"I'm beyond impressed with my CZ7," said Wolf. "Zodiac has far exceeded my expectations."
ROBUST SALES
There is no question that boat sales are feeling the pinch of the current U.S. economic downturn. According to figures released by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), new–boat unit sales declined nearly 8 percent during 2007. Even more recently, Thom Dammrich, president of the NMMA, said that new boat sales to date are down 16 to 17 percent compared to last year.
Yet even in this downcast marine marketplace, there are a few bright spots, and one of them is inflatables. Unit sales for this segment – consisting of full floor, air, slats and RIBs – increased 17 percent during 2007. And the segment continues to perform strongly this year.
"Part of this may be due to the fact that, with inflatables, we're talking a much smaller base," Dammrich explains. More than 29,000 inflatable boats sold in 2007, which was up from about 25,000 in 2006, and the sales in dollars more than doubled. "But my sense is that most of the increase in sales is coming in the form of RIBs," he adds.
ZODIAC OF NORTH AMERICAThe CZ7's dash makes it clear this is a rugged boat.
The numbers support Dammrich's thinking. The RIB segment led all inflatable sales last year with a nearly 46 percent market share, and RIB sales jumped up 75 percent from 2006 to 2007.
"Inflatables are extremely popular in Europe, and you see many more types and brands and larger RIB models overseas than here," Dammrich says. "Maybe the U.S. market is a little behind the curve with inflatables, and perhaps that is changing."
HISTORY OF INFLATABLES
The first modern inflatable boats were created in the1920s in Great Britain and Europe, where they were used by the military to transport everything from troops to torpedoes from ship to ship and ship to shore. Once the public discovered the "rubber boat," it wasn't long before manufacturers launched recreational models, beginning in the 1930s, and the inflatable quickly became indispensable as a safe, convenient way to get passengers on and off larger pleasure yachts.
