{"id":5094,"date":"2017-05-01T19:00:39","date_gmt":"2017-05-01T17:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ribsonly.com\/2\/?page_id=5094"},"modified":"2026-10-27T13:10:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T12:10:58","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ribsonly.com\/2\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"About
The “Golfe du Morbihan”, Brittany, France, featuring “Camping de l\u2019All\u00e9e” – \u00a9 2025 – Medianaut, Nautical News Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About RIBsONLY.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi, I\u2019m Karel Overlaet. If you\u2019re fascinated by Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs and RHIBs, what’s the difference<\/a>), you\u2019ve landed in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My journey on the water didn’t start with a marketing strategy, but with a notepad and a camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a maritime reporter, I spent years at the helm of motorboats, exploring the boating industry, interviewing naval architects, and sharing stories of coastal adventures. Writing for several Nautical magazines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2003, I founded my publishing house “Medianaut” to combine my love for media and the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But everything shifted when I bought my first RIB (read my complete guide<\/a> on what it exactly is).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That single purchase changed how I experienced the seas. The agility, safety, and sheer thrill of navigating challenging sea conditions in a RIB immediately hooked me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I realized these boats were far more than just utility craft or yacht tenders; they offered the ultimate way to explore open water safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driven by that realization, I launched RIBsONLY.com back in 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, finding independent, hands-on information about RIBs was surprisingly tough. I wanted to build a dedicated platform where technical depth meets genuine passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hands-On Testing, Not Desk Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whenever I can, every review, guide, and sea trial on this site comes from real-world experience. I get out on the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve put dozens of hulls, engines, and setups through their paces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means taking a 10-meter offshore RIB out into 4-foot swells in the Sardinia to feel how the deep-V hull handles heavy chop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also means testing throttle response on twin 600-hp outboards and analyzing transom designs during tight high-speed turns in a Technohull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of my favorite holiday grounds is the Gulf of Morbihan in Brittany, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navigating its fierce tides, strong currents, and island-dotted bays provides the perfect real-world laboratory to evaluate how a boat handles unpredictable waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Community Behind the Code<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Building RIBsONLY.com was just the first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To bring RIB enthusiasts together, I created our main Facebook community<\/a>, followed by a separate marketplace page, the most thrustworthy RIBs ONLY marketplace<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I keep the Facebook group focused purely on authentic discussions, sea stories, technical tips, and genuine advice without commercial clutter other groups endure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From News Site to Knowledge Platform<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today, RIBsONLY.com is the go-to resource for owners, prospective buyers, and professional operators worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re exploring the knowledge shared in over 2,700 articles on RIBsONLY.com, finding answers quickly with the RIBs ONLY Brand Finder app<\/a>, or buying your very first boat, you’re in good company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome aboard, dive into the articles, and feel free to reach out<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fair winds,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karel Overlaet<\/strong>
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Medianaut & RIBsONLY.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watch the video below for a glimpse into why Morbihan holds a special place in our hearts. Depending on the tide, it holds between 30 to 60 islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n