The New Soleil 37 Performance: RPM, Speed and Fuel
The Salpa Soleil 37 brings serious cruising comfort to an 11.3-metre Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB).
Below deck, there’s a double bed, an optional third berth, useful storage and a bathroom with a separate shower. The convertible double bed also becomes a dinette.
Outside, the cockpit seats eight to ten around a U-shaped sofa.
An electrically adjustable aft section transforms into a huge sunpad, while the bow offers another space to relax.
A galley, sturdy carbon hardtop and well-designed helm complete the package.
During the sea trial, twin Yamaha 350 hp outboards pushed the Soleil 37 to around 48 knots.
The hull felt stable through waves and sharp turns, with little vibration.
At normal cruising speeds, fuel use stayed close to 3.5 litres per nautical mile.
Sea Trial Results
| RPM | Speed (Knots) | Fuel Consumption (Liters / Nautical Mile)* | Notes / Operating Regime |
| 3,100 | 18 | 3.4 l/NM | Relaxed cruising speed; Redan (stepped hull) working minimally. |
| 3,500 | 22–23 | 3.0–3.3 l/NM | Redan starts working; efficient planing speed. |
| 4,000 | 26–27 | 3.4–3.5 l/NM | Air cushion generated under the hull for optimized efficiency. |
| 4,500–4,800 | 30 | ~3.0–3.3 l/NM | Optimal cruising range; excellent speed-to-efficiency ratio. |
| 5,000 | 38–40 | 3.8–4.0 l/NM | Exiting cruising range; high-speed performance with great stability. |
| 5,500 | 43.5–45 | 5.0 l/NM | Fast cruising / sporty driving. |
| 6,000–6,100 | 47.5–48 | 5.0 l/NM | Top speed / Full throttle (WOT); “racing mode”. |
* Fuel consumption is combined for both engines.
Speed converter
- –knots
- –km/h
- –mph
- –m/s
1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour = 1.852 km/h. Indicative values, not for navigation.
RIBsONLY.com – Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat
This video was published on the NonsolomareTV YouTube channel
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Related reading: What Is a Rigid Inflatable Boat? · Why Do RIBs Have Inflatable Tubes? · RIB Buying Guide · Buying a Used Rigid Inflatable Boat? Free Download!
Specs
| Model | Salpa Soleil 37 |
|---|---|
| Length overall | 11.35 m |
| Beam overall | 3.62 m |
| EC certification length | 9.91 m |
| Tube material | ORCA 866 |
| Tube diameter | 73 / 53 cm |
| Tube compartments | 8 |
| Hull design | Single-step hull |
| Recommended engine power | 2 × 350 hp |
| Maximum engine power | 2 × 500 hp |
| Fuel capacity | 650 l |
| Freshwater capacity | 160 l |
| Hot water capacity | 25 l |
| Maximum persons | 16 |
| Design category | CE Category B* |
* discover what this means
Karel, RIB Advocate
Karel Overlaet is owner, founder, and editor-in-chief of RIBsONLY.com, Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat. A passionate RIB owner himself, he curates the web’s largest collection of RIB news and videos. What started as a passion project has grown into a knowledge hub with lots of news and 50+ in-depth guides for beginners and experts alike. He also created RIBManufacturerList, a unique global directory of all active RIB brands.
