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The Protector range of large RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) is opening new multi-million-dollar export markets for Mt Wellington Rayglass Boats, says founder and CEO Tony Hembrow.
Hembrow says spearheading this latest export drive are the company's new Protector 38s - luxurious $500,000-$1 million, 11.6m (38 foot) RIBs are proving popular as "upmarket, yet practical" tenders for superyachts.
Released earlier this year, the Protector 38 made an immediate impression in the United States. Within just months of its release, five American superyacht owners had selected a Protector 38 as their tender and Hembrow says demand continues to be strong.
"We have enjoyed a lot of success in offshore markets during the past decade but the popularity of this Protector has really taken us by surprise," he says. "We have been the RIB of choice at the last three America's Cup regattas and more than 100 Protectors were on the water in Valencia last year. Rayglass also exports Protector brand RIBs to several European countries as well as to Russia, Asia, the Caribbean, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
"However, with the success of the Protector 38s, what we are seeing is a whole new market opening up."
Hembrow says this is because, until now, the success of Protector brand RIBs has been mainly as patrol or "official" boats, or as a stand-alone, private pleasure craft.
"What is so exciting for us is that the Protector is now fast becoming a 'must have' accessory for these large superyachts and the superyacht market is by far the fastest growing section of the marine business worldwide.
"We believe annual sales of our Protector brand RIBs could easily top $15 million over the next few years."
