Safety’s a Priority

Although we're focused on making sure you have a fun experience, at Hamble RIB Rides we take your safety very seriously and RIB rides do require a general level of fitness. Pregnant women or people with back or knee problems are advised against this type of experience. Please contact us for further information.

Hamble RIB Ride’s boats pass stringent safety standards in order to operate commercially in and around the Solent, and we carry a variety of emergency equipment during every charter.

At the start of every charter, we will give you a lifejacket and make sure it is properly fitted. Our short safety brief is designed to tell you the essential things you need to know in the unlikely event of an emergency – it’s in your interest to listen to this.

Children are welcome on RIB experiences and we have a range of lifejacket sizes. However, for high speed experiences we do recommend that children need to be at least 1.25 metres tall (around 4 feet) to enjoy the experience. For smaller children we would be delighted to arrange a more sedate charter, for example motoring up the Hamble River, stopping for a picnic and generally enjoying all of the busy river life and interesting wildlife there is to be seen.

Travelling at speed can get chilly, even on a warm day. This is why we give you complimentary use of our wet weather gear, which is worn over the clothes you are already wearing. Each set consists of a pair of dungarees and an over-the-head jacket. We recommend you wear comfortable trousers and trainers or other comfy shoes (no heels please). On top, wearing a couple of layers, including a fleece, give you options for the day.

We also highly recommend sunglasses and sun cream. Even if the day is not looking all that bright, water does reflect the sun.

Finally, we can’t guarantee tangle-free hair at the end of your experience! A hat or hair band can be blessing for those with longer hair (although be warned that baseball caps might fly off!).