It’s hard not to fall in love at first sight with the new Halma Rib HR30. With its gray livery, white cushions, and exposed teak, it makes an undeniably striking impression.
Two years of meticulous design work have culminated in this inflatable boat, the first of a range that already includes two more models under construction. It immediately stands out for its high-quality finishes, elegant lines, and a design that departs significantly from the standard. In a market where inflatables risk looking too similar, this is undoubtedly a significant innovation.
Take, for instance, the ingenious design effort that allowed the shipyard to start with a deep-V hull and create this stunning “widened” bow. This clever feature significantly expands the interior spaces of the new Halma Rib HR30.
Another noteworthy detail is the attention paid in designing the stern. Particularly in this version with sterndrive propulsion, the stern achieves exceptional levels of elegance and practicality, showcasing the shipyard’s ambitious vision. In this configuration, the stern platform seamlessly connects to the expansive sunbathing area—impressive for a nine-meter boat—via an attractive and convenient step. This step cleverly conceals two practical storage compartments, combining beauty with functionality.
The sundeck culminates in a backrest that allows it to double as a chaise longue. On either side, practical cup holders are integrated directly into the cushions, adding a clever touch of convenience.
The forward-facing sofa is also impressive, sharing its backrest with the sunpad. It comfortably accommodates 3-4 people during navigation.
Event the unit housing the two helm seats is thoughtfully designed, incorporating essential features such as a built-in refrigerator, a retractable table, and, on top, a compact galley block equipped with a sink.
Hidden beneath the helm station is a practical cabin/changing room, nearly 1.8 meters high and equipped with a toilet. It’s easily accessible through a sliding door on the port side.
Completing this remarkable deck layout is the bow sunpad. Thanks to the “XXL” design of the bow itself, this sunpad is simply enormous.
As you’ve probably already gathered from reading, the Halma Rib HR30, despite being just a 9-meter RIB, boasts a range of features typically found on much larger maxi-RIBs in the 10-11 meter category.
In short, an incredibly intriguing inflatable that we simply couldn’t resist testing on the water. Here’s how it went.
Halma Rib HR30 Sea Trial
It’s undeniable that the Halma Rib HR30 doesn’t go unnoticed. I see proof of it as we slowly leave Marina Porto Antico—people are looking, admiring the boat. It really is a beauty.
It takes about ten minutes to reach open sea, and I use the time to test out all the seating areas. I sink into the aft chaise longue, stretch out on the bow sunpad, and finally try the forward-facing sofa. This RIB is impressively comfortable, secure, and offers an abundance of space.
Once we’re out at sea, I take the helm, secure the safety lanyard, and push the throttles forward. I love sterndrive engines—they give RIBs a feel that’s closer to a yacht and improve weight distribution by shifting the center of gravity forward, enhancing the boat’s trim and stability.
Indeed, the Halma Rib HR30 gets up on plane almost immediately, at around 10 knots, leaving a clean wake behind. In no time, we’re cruising at 25 knots, consuming less than 7.92 gals per hour per engine. The RIB cuts through the waves with remarkable comfort—even though the sea is rough, it seems unfazed.
I ask the crew to sit tight and hold on. Without slowing down, I turn sharply to starboard. The Halma Rib HR30 holds its course perfectly, carving a flawless circle without any tendency to veer wide or tighten the turn. I counter-turn to port and then speed up—a maneuver that would challenge many RIBs. But in our case, the only noticeable effect is an increase in centrifugal force—and with it, the adrenaline rush rises, much to the delight of everyone on board.
With all the chaos I stirred up with my maneuvers, the sea around me is now full of large waves. I pick the tallest one, head straight for it, and push the throttle to full power. The Halma Rib HR30, however, remains unfazed—at over 35 knots, it slices through the wave as if it were butter.
This hull is truly remarkable. The classic deep-V design always proves its worth in terms of seaworthiness, and I love seeing modern projects that still respect the fundamentals of hydrodynamics.
I level out (partly because I may have shaken my crew up a bit too much) and push the throttles all the way down. The Halma Rib HR30 surges forward once more with impressive acceleration, taking us past 43 knots with ease.
Halma Rib HR30: conclusions
With a starting price of around €100,000 and the level of quality we’ve seen, the new Halma Rib HR30 is incredibly appealing. Of course, you’ll need to factor in the cost of your chosen engines, but you’re getting a lot of boat for that price.
The shipyard also offers extensive customization options, allowing you to create a RIB tailored specifically to your preferences. Once you’ve chosen your engine configuration, you’ll have the opportunity to design a boat that’s truly unique, with the features and colors you desire.
RPM | SPEED | GAL/H | GAL/NM |
650 | 2.7 | 1.18 | 0.44 |
1,000 | 4.3 | 2.21 | 0.51 |
1,500 | 5.8 | 2.9 | 0.5 |
2,000 | 7.3 | 5.01 | 0.68 |
2,500 | 9.9 | 8.45 | 0.85 |
3,000 | 14.4 | 10.83 | 0.75 |
3,500 | 24.7 | 14.26 | 0.58 |
4,000 | 29.5 | 17.43 | 0.59 |
4,500 | 33.7 | 23.24 | 0.69 |
5,000 | 38.3 | 34.6 | 0.9 |
5,400 | 43.2 | 42.79 | 0.99 |
Technical Specs
LOA | 9 m |
Max Beam | 3.4 m |
Weight | 4,500 kg |
Engines | Inboard or sterndrive |
Max Power | 600 HP |
Engines tested | 2 x Volvo Penta V6 DPS 280 HP |
Passengers Capacity | 14 |
Category | B |
