RIB achievements
Short Marine celebrates a milestone in RIB sales, despite the pandemic.
17 November 2021
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In the 12 months since Short Marine was named as the official Australian Distributor for Capelli RIBs, they have sold 32 units.
The middle of a pandemic might not be the best time to launch a new brand to the market, but it has not stopped the Short brothers and their Mosman operation from delivering 32 new Capellis in just one year.
Not simply tenders atop the foredeck of yachts, or in their chocks on the swim platform of large cruisers, the deliveries to date range from 3.6 to 15-metres, highlighting the incredible diversity of the 47-model offering from the Italian shipyard.
Australia has taken to day boating. This segment is a big focus for Capelli, and no doubt part of the appeal is that the pontoons are not black and won’t burn you. Being a bit beamier also means they have a smoother ride and even more stability, which is one of the key attractions of the RIB.
Of course, being Italian means style is at the core of design, as too is pace, with many models able to make the 50-knot speed effortlessly and safely. They also offer more seating, lounging and entertaining options than most vessels of a comparable size.
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Sam Short commented, “Capelli is an Italian manufacturer that has been around since 1974 and absolutely known for their build quality and totally luxurious offering”.
“The Luxury Line is used a lot as tenders for superyachts, and we are thrilled that there is already one Tempest 44 here on the Harbour, and a Tempest 50 is on its way now. We are thrilled to have the distributorship for Australia and aim to replicate Capelli’s success in Europe right here.
“Our aim is replicate what we have done so far with the American-built Grady-Whites we sell. When we became a dealer only four years ago there were just five boats on the harbour, and now there are now 82,” he added.
Apart from only taking on the very best brands, the Shorts have instilled an attention to detail in their crew and an unwavering commitment to helping their clients. All of which has meant their yard is one of the busiest around.
Capelli has a background in making GRP cruisers, and still do, which is why the rigid part of the RIB is so good. They are all vacuum bagged and use solely vinylester resin. The benefit is a lighter and stronger vessel that is also almost totally uniform, which means it can carry its load right across its form.
Over time, this equates to a boat that resists delamination and is not prone to osmosis, as well as not cracking in vulnerable areas like the transom that holds the mighty outboards, adds up to less hassle and lower cost boating. Of course, it also means higher resale value.
“Capelli really are the ultimate in comfort, safety and design,” said Short. “Only the highest quality resin, stainless steel, and heavy-duty 1670dtex ORCA Hypalon are used.
“The latter is what is used normally for the pontoons of commercial craft. It is much heavier than the 1100dtex found on nearly all other recreational vessels. This gives it much better tear and puncture resistance.”
Lapping all of the joins also means there is much less chance of the water running by at the stern actually ripping the tube apart, which Short Marine see time and time again in their service facility at Mosman.
Capelli also use EPDM rubber components on the tubes, not PVC, which burns in the sun, and fails over time.
To inspect the Capelli range for yourself, visit Game and Leisure Boats in Runaway Bay or Short Marine in Mosman.
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