What Does “Friends of RIBsONLY.com” Actually Mean?
Rigid Inflatable Boats have something special about them. They combine a rigid hull with inflatable tubes, creating a boat that is stable, practical and capable in a wide range of conditions.
For people who share that passion, RIBsONLY.com has been dedicated to the remarkable world of RIBs since 2008.
Along the way, we have also built relationships with companies that know this market inside out. I call them Friends of RIBsONLY.com
You will find links to these companies in the RIBsONLY.com sidebar on the right. Pay them a visit.
Who Are the Friends of RIBsONLY.com?
They are not simply RIB manufacturers or marine suppliers.
What connects them is their focus on quality, specialist knowledge on the RIB market.
Friends of RIBsONLY.com may offer:
RIBs designed for leisure, professional or performance use;
Professional tube fabrics and materials;
RIB rentals and charters for B2B;
Specialist marine seating;
Equipment, accessories and technical resources;
Practical advice based on real experience.
A Focus on Quality
RIBsONLY.com has always placed quality above quantity.
The same principle applies to Friends of RIBsONLY.com. The aim is not to create the longest possible list of marine companies here on RIBsONLY.com. It is to highlight businesses that are relevant to RIB owners and serious about what they do.
That means looking at factors such as:
Product and build quality;
Materials and engineering;
Durability and safety;
Specialist knowledge;
Reputation and reliability.
If you’re curious about all active RIB builders worldwide, check my RIBManufadturerList.com. There are more than 200!
Good Service Still Matters
A good product is only part of the story. Good service and support after sales are at least as important. Solid companies understand that.
Buying a RIB, replacing tubes or choosing new seats often involves technical questions and important decisions.
Friends of RIBsONLY.com listen first and are client centred. They help customers find a solution that suits the way they actually use their boat.
That might mean helping a first-time RIB buyer or discussing specific technical requirements with an experienced owner.
Either way, useful advice matters more than a hard sell.
Finding the Right Companies
The RIB market has grown enormously, and there is no shortage of choice.
Friends of RIBsONLY.com are companies with a clear connection to the RIB world.
They know the products, understand the customers and share an interest in keeping people safely and happily on the water.
If you are looking for a RIB, the Friends of RIBsONLY.com network is a very good place to start.
Join the RIBs ONLY Community
RIBsONLY.com is about more than boats and equipment. It is also about the people who use them.
If you have a question, want to share your experience or simply enjoy talking about RIBs, join the conversation in the RIBs ONLY 2.0 Facebook group.
Advice from experienced owners can often be just as valuable as information from manufacturers and suppliers.
And there you can share all your knowledge, your boating trips, great looking RIBs, RIB meetings and so on.
Tube material is one of the most consequential specifications on any RIB, yet it’s often reduced to a single line in a brochure.
The choice between PVC and Hypalon/CSM affects lifespan, appearance, repair cost and resale value for as long as you own the boat.
This guide explains what each material actually is, how they perform over years of real use, and which one makes sense for your specific climate and budget.
What PVC Tubes Are Made of
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) tube fabric consists of a woven polyester base coated with layers of PVC on both sides. It’s the same broad material family used in many industrial and marine fabric applications, refined for marine tube construction.
PVC is manufactured through a heat-welding process, which allows for strong, relatively straightforward seam construction.
This contributes to its lower manufacturing cost compared with Hypalon/CSM.
What Hypalon/CSM Tubes Are Made of
Hypalon is a trade name for chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), a synthetic rubber compound originally developed by DuPont.
Most of today’s “Hypalon” tubes use CSM from various manufacturers, since DuPont discontinued the original Hypalon brand, though the name persists throughout the industry.
CSM tubes are typically glued rather than heat-welded, a more labour-intensive process that contributes to higher manufacturing cost. The material itself offers superior resistance to UV radiation, ozone and many chemicals compared with standard PVC.
Durability and Lifespan: The Core Difference
This is where the two materials diverge most significantly.
PVC typically lasts 8 – 12 years under moderate climate conditions with reasonable care. In hot, high-UV climates, that lifespan can shorten considerably, sometimes to 5–8 years, as UV exposure accelerates degradation.
Hypalon/CSM typically lasts 12 – 20 years, and well-maintained examples in favourable conditions have been known to exceed this considerably. Its superior UV and ozone resistance makes it the preferred choice for boats used in consistently sunny climates or stored outdoors year-round.
These figures assume reasonable maintenance and storage. Neglected tubes of either material will fail sooner; well-cared-for tubes of either material can outperform these general ranges.
PVC degradation signs include a chalky, powdery surface residue, visible stiffening or brittleness, and eventual cracking, particularly along fold lines and high-flex areas.
Hypalon/CSM degradation signs include surface fading and a slightly rougher texture over many years, though the material tends to remain flexible for much longer before showing PVC’s characteristic brittleness.
PVC tubes are generally easier and cheaper to repair, using PVC-specific adhesives and patch kits widely available even to boat owners themselves for minor repairs.
Hypalon/CSM repairs typically require specialised adhesives and, for anything beyond minor patching, professional application.
This adds cost but reflects the material’s more demanding bonding chemistry.
Both materials benefit significantly from regular cleaning and UV-protectant treatment, which meaningfully extends service life regardless of which material you own.
Climate arguably matters more than any other factor in this decision.
Hot, high-UV regions (Mediterranean, Middle East, Australia, southern US) generally favour Hypalon/CSM, where its superior UV resistance directly translates into meaningfully longer service life.
Temperate, lower-UV regions (northern Europe, UK, Pacific Northwest) see PVC perform much closer to its Hypalon counterpart in relative terms, making the cost saving harder to argue against.
Boats stored under cover or indoors, regardless of climate, see both materials last considerably longer, sometimes narrowing the practical difference between them.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose PVC if you’re working with a tighter budget, live in a temperate climate, or plan to own the boat for a shorter period before upgrading.
Choose Hypalon/CSM if you live in a consistently sunny, high-UV climate, plan long-term ownership, or prioritise maximum resale value and minimal long-term tube-related expense.
Neither choice is wrong. Both materials, properly maintained, deliver many years of safe, reliable service.
Our complete RIB Buying Guide covers this decision alongside every other factor that shapes the right purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can PVC tubes be upgraded to Hypalon later? Full tube replacement is possible on many hulls, effectively allowing a material upgrade, though this represents a significant expense best planned in advance.
Is Hypalon always the “better” material? Not universally. It offers superior longevity and UV resistance, but at meaningfully higher cost. PVC remains a perfectly sound choice for many climates and ownership timelines.
How can I tell which material my RIB’s tubes are made from if I’m not sure? Check manufacturer documentation first. If unavailable, the tube’s texture, seam construction (welded seams suggest PVC, glued seams suggest Hypalon) and overall feel can offer clues, though professional confirmation is more reliable for a significant purchase decision.
Does tube material affect insurance or resale value? Tube material itself rarely affects insurance directly, but it can meaningfully influence resale value, particularly for older boats where remaining tube lifespan becomes a real buyer consideration.
Radical Marine Ltd has proudly partnered with Ribcollar Inflatables Ltd. It is expanding expert RIB retubing and inflatable collar services coverage across all of Scotland.
For over twenty-five years, Ribcollar Inflatables has expertly designed, manufactured, and installed durable, high-quality inflatable collars trusted by numerous marine professionals.
Their exceptional craftsmanship, unwavering reliability, and precise attention to detail have earned lasting trust from rescue teams, commercial operators, and private vessel owners.
This collaboration enables Radical Marine clients to take advantage of a complete portfolio of inflatable collar solutions, including :
Full retubing and collar replacement
Repairs for punctures, rips, and delamination
Valve servicing and replacement
Surface restoration, colour renewal, and long-term protection
Each collar is built using premium ORCA® Hypalon, offered in a choice of 38 colours, giving owners the freedom to personalise the appearance and performance of their vessel.
From leisure RIBs to professional workboats and rescue craft, the shared mission of both companies is to ensure every vessel remains safe, efficient, and visually impeccable on the water.
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