A RIB tender — rigid inflatable boat — is the standard auxiliary vessel on yachts of any significant size, used to ferry passengers and crew between the yacht and shore when anchored away from dock infrastructure. The defining construction is a rigid hull in aluminium or fibreglass combined with inflatable tubes running along the sides: the tubes add buoyancy and stability, and act as fendering when coming alongside the mothership. Tender size is matched to the mother vessel — compact 3.5–5 metre RIBs serve yachts up to 20 metres, while superyachts typically carry tenders of 6–10 metres or larger.
RIBs were originally developed in the UK as high-performance rescue craft for rough water operations, and the design has carried over directly into the tender market. Their combination of seakeeping, load capacity, and easy storage — in a garage, on the flybridge, or on the swim platform — has made them the dominant tender type on yachts up to 30 metres. Propulsion is typically outboard petrol or diesel, with waterjet drives increasingly common for their safety in swimming areas and shallow water.
Beyond passenger transfers, RIB tenders serve as dive platforms, watersports support boats, and scout vessels for shallow anchorages the mother yacht cannot enter. On larger superyachts, a RIB may be carried alongside a dedicated beachlander or passenger tender, each assigned to specific roles.
