Design scoop

The words ‘luxury’ and ‘RIB’ are seldom used together, but innovative Kiwi boatbuilder JP RIBS is making a business of producing and selling highquality, high-powered luxury RIBS to discerning boaters all over the world.

MARINE MANUFACTURER TRU-DESIGN Plastics Ltd has won a prestigious DAME Award for the second year in succession at the world’s largest marine boat show, METS, in Amsterdam.

With 117 entries from 26 countries Tru-design won the top accolade in the Marine Equipment Category for its new Skin Fitting Installation Tool.

Installing skin fittings has always been a laborious task for boatbuilders and enthusiasts alike. The major problem is because traditionally two people are needed for the job: a person on the outside of the hull to hold the skin fitting in place and prevent it from turning, with a second person inside the hull tightens the backing nut.

With Tru-design’s Skin Fitting Installation Tool, the procedure can be performed by one person. Even better, it holds the skin fitting securely which facilitates the clean and easy application of sealant.

Available in five sizes from ¾” to 2”, they are reusable and work with both Tru-design’s Dome Head Skin Fitting models as well as its Recessed Head models.

The company’s pervious DAME award was for its ‘Load bearing Collar’ which has changed the concept of a skin fitting and ball valve assembly. www.trudesignplastics.com Tru-design Plastic’s Alan Maddox (left) recieves the award from Bill Dixon, Chairman of the DAME Award jury.

The boats were initially designed for and pitched at European clients, primarily as superyacht tenders, but the company is now also producing versions for the New Zealand market. Father and son team Johnny and Phil Edgar have pooled resources to set up JP RIBS, manufacturing luxury superyacht tenders and sports boats in Whangarei.

Phil is a competition yachtsman with many high-profile events under his belt. A retired boatbuilder, he was talked into helping son Phil realise his ambitions to produce a series of high-quality RIBS that reflected Johnny’s 15 years’ experience working on superyachts.

Johnny currently splits his time between New Zealand and Europe, where he works for a well-known yacht management company, while Phil looks after the JP RIBS’ manufacturing process in New Zealand.