Founded in 2017 by Davide Gessa, G-Tender grew out of three decades of marine industry experience in Sardinia.
What began as a small beach rental business evolved into boatbuilding, bringing together the facilities and skilled craftspeople needed to build its own RIBs.
Today, G-Tender builds its boats in Olbia, Sardinia, Italy, with local craftspeople and qualified technicians.
This is his story
The idea of building tenders had always been there.
We started out as a small beach business, renting sun loungers, parasols and, of course, inflatable boats. But over time, we expanded into boatbuilding.
That gave us access to skilled craftspeople working in-house who, together, had everything needed to build a boat.
So, with the facilities on one hand and the expertise on the other, one morning I got out of bed and said to myself, ‘Right, I’m going to try building my own inflatable boat.”
G-Tender 10: A Powerful RIB That Stood Out at Genoa
At the 2020 Genoa Boat Show, the Sea Team took a closer look at the G-Tender 10, a sporty RIB powered by twin 350 hp Mercury Verado outboards.
This is their review.
Starting at the stern, two swim platforms feature separate boarding ladders and easy access between them. The EVA decking is comfortable underfoot and requires little maintenance.
The enormous aft sunpad is particularly clever. Adjustable backrests allow you to lie flat, recline or create additional seating. There’s enough space for around six people to relax.
Behind the helm, you’ll find a practical wet bar with a sink, preparation area and spacious refrigerator. Storage space is generous, too.
The helm sits beneath a T-top and features Garmin electronics, Mercury engine controls and adjustable seating. The windscreen provides excellent forward protection, while visibility remains unrestricted on both sides.
Moving forward, deep walkways, sturdy handholds and additional seating create a reassuring sense of security. There’s also a spacious bow sunpad.
Below deck, a surprisingly roomy bathroom offers standing headroom and plenty of privacy.
One final detail caught the reviewer’s attention. Despite three-metre waves during the Genoa Boat Show, the G-Tender 10 was reportedly the only boat that ventured out!
I had the opportunity to test three Interactor models: the 420, 640 and 680, all configured for professional use.
It was a beautiful day in Nieuwpoort-Bad, Belgium, with waves reaching around one metre. An ideal combination for testing these RIBs.
During the two-kilometre passage through the harbour channel, Tim and Silke introduced me to the specifications and history of the brand (see below). Both are partners in the company behind Interactor.
Once Offshore, We Could Really Open the Throttles
Although all three RIBs performed extremely well, the 680 was my clear favourite.
Its proven hull sliced confidently through the waves. Even in sharp turns, there was no cavitation.
The boat responded immediately and precisely to every change of direction. It felt like riding a train on rails.
The smaller 640 was equally convincing. Its well-established Tornado hull earned plenty of praise in the past, and it certainly didn’t disappoint this time either.
The little 420 was tremendous fun to drive.
By then, we had already covered quite some distance at sea. Time flies when you’re having fun!
With the sea conditions in mind, we took a controlled approach on the return journey.
A RIB of this size demands careful handling in waves like these. Yet I could easily imagine the 420 being deployed during floods and evacuations. It’s remarkably manoeuvrable, practical and quick to deploy.
Only a handful of manufacturers worldwide produce PU tubes, and Interactor is one of them.
The trials also attracted international interest, and this wasn’t the first time.
Following the Sea Trials
Afterwards, we spent time discussing the boats.
I find these conversations just as valuable and interesting as the sea trials themselves. Questions were raised, observations exchanged and technical details discussed.
Tim and Silke answered every question, providing clear explanations that left the interested visitors thoroughly satisfied.
Worth Mentioning
Multraship has relied on Interactor RIBs for many years now, and since 2024, Interactor has been the official contracted supplier to the Belgian coastal rescue services.
All specifications of the three tested RIBs can be found below.
And one final thought: I can’t wait to test Interactor’s larger models. As we speak, the range extends all the way to 12.3 metres.
About the Brand
Interactor Boats is the new European name for boats previously sold as Tornado.
They’re still built in the same Chinese factory, by the same experienced team, with the same materials.
After Tornado Denmark tried to bring production to Denmark, the brand faced quality issues and delays. The company entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2025. Interactor brings the well-known quality again on the European market sourced from the original factory with finishing facilities based in Belgium under the new name Interactor.
Proud to share that Interactor is a Friend of RIBs ONLY.
Swedish-Estonian Firm Aims to Revolutionize Military Boats
A Swedish-Estonian company that wants to end the era of single-purpose boats is turning its navy-proven hull into software-enabled hardware: one platform where mission modules, drones, sensors and remote control all plug into the same boat.
“Boats today are where phones were in 2006: one device, one job,” said Jürgen Visnapuu, CEO and co-founder of Cross Water (XW Production).
“Thousands of companies build boats. Hundreds build drones. Nobody builds the boat in between: designed from day one to carry a whole ecosystem of capabilities, like drones, and then to become one itself.”
Cross Water’s answer is the XW Modular, a family of aluminum rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) in different sizes, each with structural rails designed into its deck from day one.
Consoles, seats, sensors and other mission equipment lock onto the rails in minutes, with no tools, so the same hull changes missions instead of being replaced.
The XW Modular 750 (7.5m RIB) is in its second year of service with navy divers and special operations forces in a NATO country the company does not name.
In September 2026, the navy took it to Portugal for REPMUS 2026 (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems).
This NATO-backed exercise focuses on uncrewed maritime systems.
Among other use cases, Dutch company Lobster Robotics launched and operated its new-generation seabed drone from the boat’s deck.
On the strength of these real operations and missions, Cross Water rates the 750 at Technology Readiness Level 9, the highest level.
“You have no idea how often we think back to this boat,” said Daan de Groot, chief technology officer and co-founder of Lobster Robotics, which first worked from the boat in 2025.
“It has been the best we have used, by a long shot.”
The next layer is software.
Vessel Manager, developed in-house, will serve as the boat’s operating system, recognizing which modules are mounted and where they are positioned.
It will run the entire ecosystem on deck as one integrated system, including remote control and autonomy.
Remote operation comes first, in 2027, followed by autonomous, optionally crewed operation.
“Autonomy is an upgrade, not a new boat,” Visnapuu said. “A navy runs the hull crewed today and adds remote operation and autonomy to the same hull later.”
Cross Water has taken its first steps toward that ecosystem, with the first mission modules being co-developed with partner companies it does not yet name.
“Any company that puts a sensor or a drone on the water or in the air can be a module on our platform,” Visnapuu said.
The platform’s next hull is a 10.5-meter model, now under construction in Estonia and launching in spring 2027.
Designed by co-founder Niclas Kling, a naval architect formerly with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), it is built for a top speed of 60 knots and will carry Vessel Manager’s first deployment.
Beyond the navy, a 750 built for a customer in the Gulf is awaiting shipment, and Cross Water offers its boats both for sale and as a full-service rental.
Cross Water says it is ready to brief navies and defence agencies interested in the platform. Its browser-based 3D configurator, at cross-water.com/platform/configurator, lets anyone build a mission layout on the boat without signing up.
The company will be at IDEX 2027, the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, in Abu Dhabi in January.
About Cross Water
The company was founded by Jürgen Visnapuu, naval architect Niclas Kling and boatbuilder Reimo Võting: cross-water.com.
Cross Water (XW Production OÜ) is a Swedish-Estonian maritime technology company that builds modular aluminum boats in Estonia for defence, security and industrial operators.
The boats serve as platforms with one hull reconfigured for each mission in minutes, while the company’s own Vessel Manager software provides the operating layer.
Media contact: Jürgen Visnapuu, CEO and co-founder, email, +372 5373 9913
Highfield PRT Targets Patrol, Rescue and Tactical Operations
Highfield Boats launches the professional RIB division.
Julien Carussi (LinkedIn profile), founder, owner and CEO of Highfield Boats, explains why the company is launching Highfield PRT, a dedicated division for Patrol, Rescue and Tactical RIBs.
Over the past 15 years, Highfield has built boats used in more than 50 countries.
Professional operators have increasingly turned to the brand for work in demanding conditions.
According to Carussi, Highfield PRT is a natural response to that growing demand.
The goal is simple: build tough, effective boats that crews can rely on, maintain easily and keep working for years.
Those qualities matter when a mission leaves little room for delays or equipment problems.
But PRT is not just about developing specialist boats.
Carussi wants the division to provide practical solutions that match the real needs of professional crews at sea.
For Highfield, this marks a more focused commitment to the people who depend on their RIBs for patrol, rescue and tactical operations.
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