Flowability test for a DDR-400 Vanguard

Crigid grudge and perimetral floater. The semi-rigid have been able to make a gap in the market against traditional vessels thanks to a list of advantages, among which are versatility, economy and safety. The Vanguard Marine team has contributed to its evolution over the last four decades, and today it manufactures custom models for all types of customers, from private to military or rescue, with ranges of between four and 12 meters, and with capacity for up to 34 occupants. We are looking at the main advantages of these aquatic SUV.

The concept of semi-rigid was born as the evolution of traditional pneumatic, boats with a pressurized tube around a platform often flexible. Its English name, RIB, is an acronym that easily defines what is a semi-rigid:Rigid Inflatable Boator inflatable rigid ship. The result is a hybrid that has revolutionized the naval and nautical market in recent years by combining with incredible success the best performance of a rigid hull with the advantages of a pneumatic.

Your 4 × 4 sea consideration is not free. The semi-rigid offer a battery of advantages that allow them to be equated to the versatility of an SUV. We analyze the top ten:

1. Light: The combination of a rigid hull with a perimetral floater is a considerable weight saving against traditional vessels. A Vanguard DR-500, 4.95 meters long by 2 meters manga, weighs 234 kg without engine, about 40% less than an equivalent rigid boat.

2. Economy of use: Less weight means less displacement in the water, which together with the design of its helmets allows the semi-rigid to reduce the push needed to advance. This means that we will need less engine power than an equivalent rigid boat to achieve the same speed, which results in lower consumption and higher use economy.

3. Stability: The support provided by the floats involves an extra stability against rigid vessels, especially under conditions of waves. Floats exercise protection against waves and absorb their impact by achieving high speeds with a high level of comfort. The semi-rigid also have a lower centre of gravity, which directly results in stability. The Vanguard range offers more wide or deeper V-shaped helmets depending on the use needs.

4. Manifestability:The reduced movement and presence of the perimetral floats provide an extra of manoeuvrability especially at low speeds, access to ports, coves or sailing between obstacles. The low ground (from 25 centimeters of a DR-400 to 70 centimeters of a TX-12.0 in vacuum) will allow us to navigate through inaccessible areas for rigid ships of similar size.

5. Versatility: One of the terms that best define a semi-rigid thanks to its ability to adapt to a multitude of uses and needs. Its transformation capacity and excellent performance in both freshwater and navigationoffshorethey make it the vessel chosen by both defence, rescue and security bodies, as well as charter companies or individuals.

6. Capacity: The semi-rigid offer an excellent ratio between length and capacity. Its lightness and floatability allow for greater load capacity than a rigid equivalent, allowing a possible overload in case of emergency with security guarantee for the entire crew. Its interior can be configurable with infinite solutions: from decks designed for maximum load capacity to the assembly of seats for the transport of passengers in different configurations, in addition to awnings, cabins and all types of accessories. The Vanguard semi-rigid are approved to transport from six (DR-400) to 34 people (TX-12.0).

7. Security: In addition to being protected perimetrally by a pressurized tube as a real bumper, the semi-rigid are practically immaterial. The floats have independent cameras, which means that in case of accidental disinflating, pressure is not lost on the entire tube, but only on the affected chamber. In addition, helmets can be built with a closed encapsulated cell foam reserve that guarantees total floating even with all disinflated cameras. Not in vain, the semi-rigid are widely used as rescue vessels under SOLAS certification (Safety of Life at Sea, International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea).

8. Portability: The possibility of deinflating the pressurized tubes makes it possible to reduce the size of the semi-rigid tubes considerably. This, together with its lightness, facilitates transport in a simple trailer, its launch without the need totravel liftand its storage even in a particular garage. A Vanguard TX-12.0, the signature's largest length model, weighs 2.136 kg in vacuum and can be transported in a conventional trailer.

9. Maintenance:A well-maintained semi-rigid offers excellent longevity. Because of its exposure to the sun, the rocks, the blows and other external attacks, the floater is the most exposed part to wear, but it is a replaceable element.Retubing, division of the Vanguard Marine group, is specialized in the recovery of semi-rigid by replacing the floats, an operation that doubles the useful life of the ship at a very competitive cost.

10. Personalization: The personalization capacity of a semi-rigid goes far beyond the combination of helmets of different shapes and slices with floats of different materials and colors. In addition to the multiple deck configurations, we can test our imagination by diving between an extensive catalogue of accessories, from seats or consoles, to awnings, tambouches, bites, reinforcements, support structures, security elements or all types of electronics.