First impressions
If you're looking to do a bit of serious ribbing and you've got twenty grand available, I'd recommend you take a look at what Valiant have to offer. This huge Portuguese RIB manufacturer has a vast range of models with something for everyone whether you're a beginner or a fully-fledged professional.

On test this month is a 5.6 metre (called a V-570) Vanguard Sport with sensible family seating, an electric ice chest and a powerpack with sufficient oomph to cope with most conditions. The light grey tubes are a practical colour and their darker grey wear patches are a sensible addition. The teak laminate non-slip deck makes the boat look a cut above the rest.

Layout
A substantial bow cleat is moulded into the bow and the anchor locker and bow locker both make useful storage areas. A powered icebox in front of the console provides not only somewhere for the tinnies but with its cushion, it provides a useful perch for one or two.

The helm console is positioned centrally with the wheel and engine controls offset to starboard and a Garmin 482C plotter and Icom IC-M421 VHF radio completes the equipment.

Two jockey consoles with black seat covers (strange when all the other upholstery is grey) are mounted behind the console and a bench seat for two sits in across the stern in front of the engine bay.

A storage locker is moulded into the transom and a side platform with steps gives access to and from the water on the port side. A stainless steel 'A' frame provides a mounting for aerials and navigation lights.

The great advantage about the layout of this boat is that it is very flexible and if you need the helm forward, it can be done.

As time has moved on in recent years, the flexibility of interior layouts has in many cases diminished as everything has become part of the main deck moulding, but Valiant have maintained the flexibility making this boat as good for safety and rescue work as for family days out.

Sea keeping, handling and performance
As with every Valiant I have ever tested, this boat has a content feel about it. It is not designed for racing but it is well finished and soundly engineered.

In our speed tests, it achieved a very creditable 34.8 knots (40.1 mph) on a day that was far from perfect, and at no stage was it anything but perfectly balanced, and surprisingly, fairly dry!

The engine ran quietly and smoothly without any lumpy rev ranges and accelerated effortlessly away from a standing start to be planing within just over four seconds.

Value for money
At the price range that this boat comes in, there is a huge choice of other RIBS available, but the wide range of layouts and engines you can choose here means that you should be able to come up with a combination that will compete with virtually everything else at a similar price in the market.

Summary
There is a huge choice of RIBs available on the market in the £18,000 - £25,000 range and if you are looking for a no-nonsense well tried and tested model with a strong pedigree you really should take a look at the huge Valiant range. This one more than earned the right to have its Valiant name on the stern.

Features

• Anchor & Bow Lockers
• Internal & External Lifelines
• Bow Cleat & Mooring Eye
• Lifting Handles
• Stern Towing Eyes
• Deck Drain Plug
• Hull Drain Socket
• Rubbing Strake
• Integral Fuel Tank 106 litres
• Tube Reinforcements
• Non-slip Deck with Teak Laminate
• Power 60hp - 135hp

Reviewed Nov 2005

Packages: