Salpa Soleil 40 Video: Premium Cabin RIB Explained

The Soleil 40 Fills the Gap

The Salpa Soleil 40 expands the Italian builder’s premium Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) range between the Soleil 33 and Soleil 42.

Introduced internationally in 2025, it combines overnight accommodation with day-cruising versatility.

According to the company, the model features two cabins, a separate shower compartment, and generous outdoor living spaces.

The aft sunbed extends after anchoring, while solar panels help power onboard refrigerators.

Standard equipment includes a bow thruster, joystick control, bucket seats, and a wet bar.

Twin 350 hp outboards reportedly deliver a top speed of 47 knots, with cruising speeds between 28 and 36 knots.

The Soleil 40 is positioned as a practical upgrade for families seeking comfort without moving to a larger RIB.


This video was published on the Greek Boat & Fishing Magazine YouTube channel.

Salpa is an Italian boat builder featured extensively on RIBsONLY.com. Click here to explore more Salpa videos: Salpa RIBs.

After watching this video, you may want to learn more about buying a RIB.

Read this guide to build a reliable reference: RIB Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Boat


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Explore the Aquaspirit S530 RIB Design

5.3 m Aluminium Rigid Inflatable Boat

The Aquaspirit S530 is a 5.3 m aluminium RIB designed for performance and comfort.

Watch the full review to explore its layout and performance.

Featuring a 4 mm V-shaped hull and wide stern, this vessel ensures stability and effortless control.

The Aquaspirit S530’s versatile cockpit comfortably seats seven passengers, making it ideal for leisure cruising or watersports.

Powered by engines up to 100 hp, the boat delivers practical everyday usability.


This video was published on the AQUASPIRIT BOATS YouTube channel.

To gove you more information on this brand, I’ve posted more videos. Watch them all here.


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Aquaspirit 370: A Compact RIB That Feels Much Bigger

AquaSpirit 370 RIB Review: Specs, Performance & Walkthrough

The AquaSpirit 370 RIB is a compact Rigid Inflatable Boat built for performance, versatility, and everyday boating.

This lightweight aluminium RIB measures 3,65 metres and offers exceptional cockpit space for its size.

The AquaSpirit 370 accommodates four people and accepts an outboard engine producing up to 60 hp.

Its marine-grade aluminium hull delivers durability, stability, and confident handling in various water conditions.

The AquaSpirit 370 RIB suits families, yacht owners, watersports enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a reliable RIB tender.


This video was published on the AQUASPIRIT BOATS GLOBAL YouTube channel.

Check out more videos of this brand.


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Tender RIB Buying Guide

A special tender RIB used for a yacht @ RIBs ONLY - Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat
Let’s just say the yacht owner’s wife probably had a very convincing opinion about the tender RIB.

Choosing the Right Tender RIB to Serve a Larger Yacht

A tender RIB serves a different purpose than a standalone leisure boat, and that changes almost every buying decision.

Size, weight, storage method, and folding capability matter more here than they do for most other RIB purchases.

This guide covers what to prioritise when choosing a RIB specifically to serve as a yacht or cruiser tender.

What Makes a Good Tender RIB

A tender’s primary job is safe, practical transport between the mothership and shore, nothing more.

This means compactness, low weight, and easy handling typically matter more than outright performance or comfort.

Durability still matters, since tenders are used frequently and often handled roughly during loading and unloading.

Size and Weight Constraints

Tender size is dictated by the mothership’s davit, garage, or deck storage capacity, not by personal preference.

Check maximum length, beam, and weight limits for your specific storage system before considering any particular model.

Davit-launched tenders typically range from 2.5 to 4 metres, with weight limits often between 150 and 400 kilograms.

Garage-stored tenders may need to fold or deflate partially, depending on available garage dimensions.

Our guide What Size RIB Do I Need? covers sizing principles that apply here too, adapted for storage constraints.

Rigid vs Folding Tenders

Rigid tenders offer better performance and durability but take up fixed space regardless of storage method.

Folding or roll-up tenders trade some rigidity and performance for significantly reduced storage footprint when not in use.

For davit or garage storage with generous space, rigid tenders are generally the stronger long-term choice.

For tight storage or occasional use, a folding design may be the more practical compromise.

Tube Material for Tenders

Tenders spend more time exposed to sun, salt, and abrasion from loading than many leisure RIBs.

Hypalon/CSM is often favoured for tenders in sunny climates, given its superior UV resistance over long service life.

Our guide PVC vs Hypalon/CSM RIB Tubes explains this trade-off in full, including cost and climate considerations.

Engine and Performance for Tenders

Most tenders run smaller outboards, typically between 15 and 60 horsepower, prioritising weight and simplicity over speed.

Lighter four-stroke outboards are common, balancing reasonable performance against the weight limits of davit systems.

Our guide How to Choose an Outboard for a RIB covers outboard selection principles that apply to tenders as well.

Storage and Handling Features

Look for reinforced lifting points rated for your davit system’s specific hardware and weight capacity.

Non-marking fenders or rub strips protect both the tender and the mothership’s hull during loading.

Consider how easily the tender can be washed down and drained after saltwater use, given frequent handling.

Cost Considerations

Tender pricing varies enormously by size, material, and engine, typically ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands.

Our guide How Much Does a RIB Cost? breaks down the factors driving price across all RIB categories, tenders included.

Factor in davit or garage compatibility costs, since retrofitting storage systems can add significantly to the total.

Mothership lengthTypical tender lengthStorage method
Under 12 m2,5 – 3,2 mDeck chocks or small davit
12 – 18 m3,0 – 3,8 mDavit or garage
18 – 25 m3,5 – 4,5 mGarage or davit
25 m and above4,0 m and aboveGarage or dedicated tender deck
Tender RIB sizing by mothership length, purely indicative – © 2026 Medianaut, Nautical News Media – Karel Overlaet

Which Tender Should You Choose?

Choose a rigid tender if your storage system has generous space and performance matters for guest use. Choose a folding tender if storage space is limited or the tender is used only occasionally.

Prioritise weight limits and davit compatibility above all else; a perfect tender that doesn’t fit is no tender at all.

To help you create a reference, watch these videos of many tender brands like Highfield, Northstar, Zodiac, Gemini, Interactor, AB Inflatables … to name a few.

Our RIB Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Boat covers the broader decision framework alongside tender-specific factors.


Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy can a tender be for davit storage?
This depends entirely on your davit’s rated capacity, typically between 150 and 400 kilograms including engine and fuel.

Is Hypalon worth the extra cost for a tender?
Often yes, given frequent sun exposure and handling. The longer lifespan usually justifies the premium for tender use.

Can a folding tender perform as well as a rigid one?
Generally no. Folding tenders trade some rigidity and speed for significantly reduced storage footprint.

What engine size is typical for a yacht tender?
Most tenders use 15 to 60 horsepower outboards, balancing weight limits against reasonable performance.


Related reading: What Is a Rigid Inflatable Boat? · What Size RIB Do I Need? · PVC vs Hypalon/CSM RIB Tubes · How to Choose an Outboard for a RIB · How Much Does a RIB Cost? · videos of tender brands


How to Choose an Outboard for a RIB

Which outboard to choose @ RIBs ONLY - Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat
©  Siggy Nowak via Pixabay

Choose the Outboard carefully

The engine is the single most expensive component on most RIBs, and the decision with the biggest long-term impact on safety, performance and running costs.

Get it wrong, and even a beautifully built hull disappoints on the water.

This guide walks through horsepower selection, single versus twin configurations, and the practical trade-offs that matter once you’re comparing real options rather than spec sheets.

Start With the Manufacturer’s Recommended Range

Every RIB hull has a manufacturer-specified horsepower range, tested for that specific hull shape, weight and transom strength. This range isn’t a marketing suggestion.

It reflects genuine engineering limits.

Fitting an engine below the recommended minimum leaves the boat underpowered, sluggish to plane, and potentially unsafe in a following sea.

Fitting one above the maximum risks transom stress, handling problems and, in many jurisdictions, invalidates insurance or certification entirely.

Always confirm this range directly from the manufacturer’s documentation or CE plate, never from a general size-to-power assumption.

How Horsepower Affects Real-World Performance

Within the recommended range, more horsepower generally means faster planing, better acceleration and more confident handling when fully loaded. It also means higher fuel consumption and greater purchase cost.

Buyers often default to the maximum recommended horsepower, assuming more is simply better. In practice, the right choice depends on typical loading and use:

  • Light, occasional use with few passengers. Mid-range horsepower within the recommended band usually suffices, keeping costs and fuel consumption reasonable.
  • Regular full-capacity use, watersports towing, or offshore trips. Higher horsepower within the range provides safer margins when the boat is genuinely loaded.

Single vs Twin Outboards

This decision affects cost, redundancy, fuel consumption and handling in ways worth understanding before you commit.

Single outboard advantages include lower purchase price, simpler maintenance and typically better fuel economy for the same total horsepower. The clear disadvantage is a complete loss of propulsion if that engine fails.

Twin outboards provide genuine redundancy. If one engine fails, the other gets you home. Twins also allow differential thrust for tighter low-speed manoeuvring, valued by many owners docking in tight marinas.

The trade-off is cost. Twin configurations typically cost considerably more upfront, add weight, and increase maintenance and fuel expenses compared with a single engine of equivalent combined horsepower.

We break it down in our article Single vs Twin Outboards on a RIB.

Single outboard RIB @ RIBs ONLY - Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat
Single outboard RIB ) © 2026 – Northstar

Twin outboard RIB @ RIBs ONLY - Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat
Twin outboard installation – © Adam Younger

Redundancy matters most for offshore use, remote cruising, or commercial and charter operations where reliability is non-negotiable. For coastal day boating close to help, a well-maintained single engine is often entirely sufficient.

Two-Stroke vs Four-Stroke: A Quick Note

Modern outboards are overwhelmingly four-stroke, offering better fuel economy, lower emissions and quieter operation than older two-stroke designs.

Two-stroke outboards still exist in the used market and offer a lighter weight advantage, but expect higher fuel consumption and stricter emissions restrictions in many regions.

For most buyers today, particularly when purchasing new, four-stroke is the practical default.

New, Used or Refurbished: Weighing the Options

New outboards carry full manufacturer warranty and the latest fuel-efficiency and reliability improvements, at the highest purchase cost.

Used outboards can offer significant savings, but engine hours and documented service history matter enormously. An outboard with high hours but meticulous servicing often outperforms a low-hours engine that sat neglected.

Refurbished outboards, professionally reconditioned by a dealer or specialist, can bridge the gap, offering some warranty assurance at a lower price than new.

Whichever route you choose, our Buying a Used RIB: Complete Inspection Guide covers exactly how to assess a used outboard’s real condition before committing.

Weight, Transom Strength and Correct Installation

Every RIB’s transom is engineered for a specific weight range.

Fitting an engine heavier than the transom was designed for, even within the horsepower range, can cause long-term structural stress.

Correct mounting height and trim angle also affect performance significantly, sometimes more than horsepower itself.

A poorly mounted engine, even a powerful one, delivers disappointing performance and increases fuel consumption.

Professional installation, or at minimum professional verification of an existing installation, protects both performance and safety.

Matching Engine Choice to Boat Size

Engine requirements scale directly with hull size and weight. As a rough guide, based on typical manufacturer recommendations:

RIB LengthTypical Horsepower Range
2,5 – 3,5 m15 – 40 hp
3,5 – 5 m40 – 90 hp
5 – 6,5 m90 – 150 hp
6,5 – 9 m150 – 300 hp, often twin installation
9 m+Twin or triple, 300 hp+
Horsepower breakdown diagram – © 2026 Medianaut, Nautical News Media – Karel Overlaet

For a complete sizing decision that considers passengers, use case and towing alongside engine requirements, see our guide What Size RIB Do I Need?.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fit a more powerful engine than the manufacturer recommends?
No. Exceeding the recommended maximum risks transom damage, handling problems and can invalidate insurance or certification.

Is a twin-engine setup worth the extra cost for leisure use?
It depends on use case. Offshore or remote boating benefits significantly from the redundancy; coastal day boating close to assistance often doesn’t require it.

How do I know if a used outboard is in good condition?
Check documented service history, inspect the lower unit for water intrusion, and always arrange a sea trial before purchase.

Does engine weight affect a RIB’s handling?
Yes, significantly. Correct weight and mounting height affect planing behaviour, fuel efficiency and overall handling more than most buyers expect.


Related reading: What Is a Rigid Inflatable Boat? · RIB Buying Guide · What Size RIB Do I Need? · Buying a Used RIB: Complete Inspection Guide · Single vs Twin Outboards on a RIB


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