Folding boats test – F-RIB

OUR VERDICT: 9/10

These folding RIBs make excellent tenders as well as good all-round dinghies. They’re tough, quick, stable and fold down into a small enough package to stow in a cockpit locker. While they’re not cheap, they are well-made and built to survive the typical abuse meted out to a cruising tender.

PROS

■    Ruggedly built
■    Good load capacity
■    Fast under power
■    Compact when packed

CONS

■    Pricier than an inflatable
■    Oars not brilliant
■    Needs pumping up like a normal inflatable