/ Text and photosby Barry Tyler - Published in Bow 2 Stern Magazine /

If you are going to take on the might of the big boys in your game, you need two key ingredients, a very good product and an angle. Gold Coast boutique Inflatable manufacturer Lewie Marine ticked the box in both instances, with their new 370 Clearview Rigid Inflatable.

There is an old adage that you don't ever ‘Fight City Hall’ as invariably you will almost always come off second best for the might of a cashed up manufacturer with appropriate infrastructure and staff will always match you stride for stride – then spit you out in bubbles when the time suits. This is especially so when the product in question is a range of Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB) in an inflatable market that is over-subscribed at the best of times, so the only safe way to make a lasting impression was to come up with something a little different.

Lewie Marine is a classic example for owner, Ben-Lewie McDonald, had had more than an up close and personal view of the industry following stints at inflatable-manufacturing establishments such as Cobia Boats on NSW’s south coast and Gemini Inflatables at the Coomera Marine Precinct in Queensland, and had seen all the pitfalls that evolve along the way, both in terms of building them and more importantly – ensuring they lasted for an acceptable period of time – out in the salt air and harsh sunlight.

With an obviously analytical mind he had worked out for himself, right from wrong, how to be competitive in a most competitive industry and the next incremental step for him was to embark on a business venture in his own right. Push came to shove and after commencing business initially concentrating on repairs and modifications of existing RIB and soft-bottom inflatables, a request to build a 6.5m commercial model for the NSW Fisheries saw Lewie Marine take a sharp detour into fullon inflatable manufacture.

Commencing in the commercial sector, encouraging for Lewie was the influencing realisation after only a very short period of time – that this area of the market offered him the flexibility to be significantly more creative with design and features. He wouldn’t just be building rank and file ‘pleasure’ inflatables and RIB’s and in fact it was during the course of producing one of his more flamboyant creations, that he discovered his potential niche in the market, his foot in the door of bonafide and more importantly sustainable, inflatable manufacture.

The ‘project’ at the time was to build a glass viewing window into the bottom of a particular hull, and the more he ‘got into’ the exercise the more he began to appreciate the potential for a product that would be as attractive to the pleasure market, as much as it so obviously would be to the commercial sector.
“The potential for success in the pleasure market is perhaps the most exciting aspect for me,” McDonald enthused.
“Imagine the ‘cruiser owner who has everything’ hearing about a glass-bottom inflatable that while still very capable as a tender, offers family and friends the unique and meaningful flexibility of exploring reefs and bays as well. When one owner buys a boat like this, a new ‘water-toy’ that no-one else has – it’s a safe bet all his/her friends are going to want to have one as well. Its uniqueness, its novelty value, will be its very attraction.”

Breaking New Ground

There is nothing new about glass bottom boats of course, but it is certainly a whole new ball-game when it is inserted into the bottom of a hitherto ‘rigid’ inflatable hull floor/bottom assembly. With the removal of a significant section of the actual hull, so new problems emerge none the least being maintaining the strength, rigidity and integrity of the hull; as such a completely new and obviously secret spine was developed by Lewie Marine, which ties it all together and provides the necessary back-bone.

Gone too is the traditional Vee bottom of most RIB’s, for obvious reasons (flat glass panel in the floor), yet Lewie Marine have still managed to incorporate a generous 22° deadrise into the bow section which, when combined with the cushioning effect of the over-size side pontoons (or tubes if you prefer), provided a surprisingly comfortable ride through the harbour chop I experienced the day of my test. What also surprised me during the course of my test was the performance of this hull. First and foremost this was a bottom-gazer and as such unadulterated top speed and performance were far from a high priority, yet the single overhead cam, 3-cylinder, 808cc, 50hp BF50 4-stroke Honda pushed the rig along at a most respectable 45mph at the maximum 6000rpm. I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to cross an estuary chop at that speed in ostensibly a flat-bottomed boat but the point was this boat had the credentials to go this fast and still be most predictable and sure-footed.

The other point worth mentioning and this is what this boat was all about, was the hull’s ability to maintain a very brisk idle speed whilst still providing clear bubble-free visibility through the window – the model name says it all, Clearview. Easy I suppose in this day and age of cutting-edge technology with adhesives, but from where I sit I would venture to suggest the way the 50mm-thick window – bolted in as well as fastened in with Sikaflex – was quite obviously mated very precisely with the associated mounting cavity in the hull.

Range of sizes

Many observers would perhaps suggest also that a 3.7m RIB is a little on the small side for a glass-bottom-boat especially if you were looking at it from a commercial perspective, but the reality is Lewie Marine will build any size of vessel you require. In saying that though, and it would be interesting to work the sums out, a (relatively) smaller hull such as this, which easily handles a full complement of five people around the viewing window, I think would probably be a more cost-effective and attractive proposition from a hireage perspective. Cheaper cost of boat, cheaper cost of engine, cheaper to run yet still able to carry five paying customers – it might be the way to go. In the ‘pleasure’ instance of course it is irrelevant, for it means the whole family can enjoy the moment together!

While the hull was built to appropriate proportions and naturally passed all the very stringent Marine Safety Authority ‘standards’ criteria, including the dunk test which requires the hull to float and indeed support three adults whilst the tubes are deflated, what also impressed me about this particular RIB was the high standard of the workmanship and presentation of the tubes. Divided into three buoyancy chambers and built thankfully of 1670-denier hypalon material, the neat tidy seams and appropriately positioned gusset panels suggested this package was designed and built by someone who knows and understands the basic rudiments of RIB manufacture. Unlike, I hasten to add, a number of the ‘imported’ PVC models which look like they were built in a back-street abortion clinic; the Clearview looks like it was designed and built to capably stand the test of time.

The other endearing aspect of the ‘looks’ of the 370 Clearview, was the impressive list of features you wouldn’t normally expect to find on a 3.7m RIB. Notwithstanding the glass bottom, included also in this package which rolls out at $33,000 as tested, were hydraulic steering, side helm console, aft bench seat, integral bow seat, Fusion stereo, Icom VHF, Lowrance sounder (was to be fitted following test), hypalon construction, over-pressure relief valves, deck lights, underwater lights (great for night viewing), drink holders and a very stylish Targa arch cum ski-pole.

Yes, yet another use for your inflatable, for with the additional room for an observer, and the obvious grunt from the Honda – this boat lends itself well to the pursuit of water skiing or wake-boarding at anything other than competition level. User-friendly subtleties Those obvious features were then complemented further by user-friendly ‘subtleties’ such as the aft steps on the transom that aided boarding for swimmers or skiers, the hypalon bag arrangement which prevented water entering around the remote control and hydraulic lines from the engine and steering, the underfloor integral Esky and the aluminium 60L fuel tank which was mounted effectively in the base of the aft bench-style helm seat. And as much as the features and the styling, the attention to
detail was also just as evident and appreciated.

This was the kind of inflatable that quite frankly would match any of the very top brands for features, style and appeal – without the associated price-tag! I’ve mentioned the Targa which of course can make or break any boat, but the way the stripes have been
added, the conveniently placed hand-grips, presentable yet practical upholstery package, the bi-fold floor cover over the viewing window and the appropriate side console complete with screen and grab-rail surround – all combined well to raise the ‘appeal-level’ of the 370 Clearview.

As accomplished and practical as this package was though, the reality is there was still some further flexibility with appointments and layout. You could of course run quite satisfactorily with the standard bare-bones tiller-steer commercial package which comes onto the market at just $23,000, or, you could shift things around a little, dependent on your own particular requirements and expectations. For instance, if you opted for the tiller steer version but still with a few ‘extravagancies’, the rear bench seat could be utilised for storage or another Esky, simply by moving the fuel tank up into a larger bow seat moulding.

There was a lot of weight in the rear, so as to maximise the floor area for the viewing window, so a move such as this would aid the ride ‘attitude’ when there was just the one person in the boat. And if you really wanted to you could lessen the fuel load down to say 40 litres and then add a 20L fresh water tank up in this bow section. As well, one could add an anchor well or indeed add to the actual hull tubes items such as an anchor warp guide, mini bowsprit, more grab handles or even mounting brackets if you were mounting the boat on the transom of your cruiser. That is surely the overriding beauty and convenience of inflatable construction for you just glue the additional features onto the tubes – where and when you need them.

Conclusion

I have no doubt you could add a few more dollars still to the bottom line of your 370 Clearwater Rigid Inflatable Boat by Lewie Marine, with yet more toys, but the bottom line is you can have precisely the tender package that addresses your expectations – your own version of the consummate luxury cruiser accessory – with into the bargain the unique attraction of underwater viewing by day or by night, courtesy of the impressive Aqualuma underwater lights! It is hard to get overly enthused about a RIB – traditionally it is a work-horse – but in this instance its styling, workmanship, features, attention to detail, performance and yes even handling, elevate it into the luxury end of the market – as the perfect tender accessory for the discerning luxury cruiser owner who has everything!