Lendus.

RIB Boat Finance

Spread the cost of rigid inflatable boats from £15,000 to £120,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a rib boat?

Yes, rib boats are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £15,000 to £120,000, and most deals are written over 12–72 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Typical Cost

£15k – £120k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for < £50k

Rates From

5.2% APR

What would a rib boat cost per month?

£45,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical rib boat price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 5.5% APR
Term
12–72 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Businesses wanting to own the RIB outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 5.2% APR
Term
12–72 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim the full lease payment against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 5.9% APR
Term
24–48 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Regularly upgrading to a newer hull and engine

Representative example

On a purchase price of £45,000: a 10% deposit of £4,500, then 48 monthly payments of £949 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £50,052, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Ribcraft-class Commercial RIB, 5–6m £25,000 – £55,000 Commercial Workboat RIB
Ribcraft-class Commercial RIB, 7–8m £55,000 – £95,000 Commercial Workboat RIB
Cheetah Marine-class Catamaran RIB (spec class) £60,000 – £120,000 Catamaran-Hulled RIB
6m Diving/Survey Support RIB (spec class) £30,000 – £65,000 Dive and Survey Support RIB

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Tax benefits

RIBs used for business qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to £1,000,000. HP agreements let you claim capital allowances on the vessel; lease payments are generally deductible in full against profits.

Market context

Commercial RIBs are bought by dive centres, survey and marine science operators, harbour and marina staff, sailing schools and small passenger operators, valued for their speed, shallow draught and low running cost compared with a displacement hull of similar capacity. A RIB used to carry passengers or in exposed water still needs Maritime and Coastguard Agency coding appropriate to its use, which affects the safety equipment fitted and what a lender will fund. RIBs are among the more mobile marine assets, easily trailed between sites or sold on, so lenders look closely at the tubes, hull and outboard hours during underwriting. A well-maintained hull with recently replaced tubes holds its value far better than one on original fabric.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Does the tube fabric affect what I can finance?
Yes. Inflatable tubes have a working life measured in years rather than decades, and a RIB on original, ageing tubes is worth noticeably less than the same hull with recently replaced Hypalon or PVC. Lenders financing a used RIB will usually ask when the tubes were last replaced or serviced, since that has more bearing on residual value than the hull's age alone.
Can I finance the RIB and outboard engine together?
Yes, most lenders are happy to finance the complete package, including trailer, outboard and safety equipment, as a single agreement rather than splitting it across separate facilities. Financing everything together simplifies the paperwork and usually gets you a single blended rate, though very high-value outboards are sometimes itemised separately for clarity. It's worth asking your broker to quote the deal both ways, since bundling doesn't always work out cheaper depending on how each lender prices marine versus outboard engine risk.
Do I need MCA coding for a commercial RIB?
If the RIB is used to carry fare-paying passengers, for dive support beyond sheltered water, or for other commercial work, it will need coding to a category matching its use and area of operation. A lender will want to know the intended coding category, since it affects the specification and value of the vessel being financed. Coding requirements also influence the safety equipment, radio and liferaft provision fitted, all of which form part of the total cost the lender is being asked to fund, so it's worth confirming the category with an MCA-recognised certifying authority before ordering the boat.
What deposit do I need for a RIB?
For hire purchase, most lenders ask for 10–20% deposit, in line with other marine craft. Finance leases and operating leases often require no deposit at all. A larger deposit, or trading history in a marine or watersports business, tends to improve the rate offered. Trading in an existing RIB or outboard as part-exchange against the new purchase is another common way to reduce the cash deposit needed upfront, particularly for an established dive or charter operator upgrading their fleet.

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