Protector 250 Chase and 330 Targa Reviewed

Double Trouble

Rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) — a solid hull with inflatable pontoons — are not at the top of the popular boating charts in Australia, and that’s a real shame as they are one of the most versatile styles of boat around. Having run commercial RIBs in the dive industry back in the days, I can vouch they would have to be one of the safest, most forgiving, and well-suited hulls to numerous commercial operations and recreational boating — scuba diving, snorkelling, adrenalin joy rides, family cruising, and even fishing can be done off RIBs. 

My time on RIBs was in the early stages, launching 7–9m rigid inflatables from rugged beach terrain out through the angry surf of the east coast of Africa. I still quiver at memories of some of the launches — 1.5 plus tonnes of pax and gear onboard, 10–15ft mongrel surf, a cloud of 2-stroke smoke coughing from the worn-out twin outboards, a set of shivering knees, and mouth as dry as the Aussie outback. The RIBs took a constant thrashing, stood up to it, and enabled us to do what we did best without severe consequences.

A prime example of this would be the Protector RIBS manufactured by Rayglass Boats in New Zealand, a global name renowned for the quality and innovation incorporated into their commercial and recreational RIBs, and now distributed by Queensland Marine Centre (QMC) in Coomera. We recently jumped on board QMC’s latest Protector 330 Targa and 250 Chase, which proved to be quite the eye-opener as they have innovative layout configurations combined with adrenalin-rush performance and handling. 

BEHIND THE BRAND

Before getting into the 330 Targa and 250 Chase in detail, a quick look at the Protector brand. Their range is designed to withstand the harsh Kiwi oceans, so the 25–41ft RIBs are built as tough as they come. Their structurally sound hulls are hand-laid fibreglass 24-ounce roven-woven layers, built up to three-quarters-of-an-inch thick on the sides, one-and-a-half-inches thick at the keel — that’s why they have had no hull failures since the first was produced in 1999. 

You then have the inflatable collar (or pontoons), with seven baffled air chambers for added buoyancy and safety, as well as providing extra stability and comfort. There’s quite a few positives to the inflatable section, however, if made from cheap, substandard material, like lightweight PVC, they can cause more headaches than they are worth. Cheap material and cheap glue equals fast-delaminating surfaces and seams, and a hefty repair or replacement bill. Adding peace of mind is the fact that all Protector pontoons are made from Pennel and Flipo’s Orca 866 fabric, a quality, high-end, commercially rated material that provides the best UV, abrasion, and ageing resistance that can be found on the market. The quality material coupled with quality heat bonded glues enables Protector to offer 5-year warranties. 

Aside from being ready-to-go commercial vessels, the Protectors also sport some pretty attractive styling, design, and innovative creature comforts to suit the recreational user. Let’s take a closer look at what these two Kiwis have to offer. 

PROTECTOR 250 CHASE

At 25ft, the 250 Chase might be the baby of the Protector range, but it packs one hell of a punch. Aesthetically, the open centre console styled RIB sports nice modern lines and a colour palette to match. At a glance, the oversized centre console and T-top stands out as it’s larger than standard, and I like it. 

When it comes to layouts, there doesn’t look like much on offer. However, the 250 Chase is an open boat waiting to be loaded with family and friends, island picnic gear, esky’s, dive gear for island reef hopping trips, ski or wakeboards, fishing gear, or basically anything you want for fun filled days on the water, with the option of a few custom accessories added to suit if need be. 

Like most hulls, there’s a plethora of option boxes that can be ticked and in this case the test 250 had removable rear seat boxes with storage installed, reboarding steps on either side of the sexy new Merc Verado V8 300hp, a heavy-duty ski-pole, and electric anchor system in the bow. If you think there’s a shortage of seating, think again as the pontoons are a comfortable seating option with plenty of grab-handles and rope grab-rails to suit.

Back to the console, I like it as the large screen and aerodynamic T-top provides decent shelter from the elements. At the helm, the raised seat-base platform positions you at a comfortable level when seated or standing. The extra depth created in the hull allows for the addition of an electric head and extra storage space, accessible via the hinged front seat of the console.

Added high-end features to sweeten the deal include the twin soft-rider seats, a spacious dash layout with adjustable steering tilt helm, digital binnacle control, top of the range Simrad 16-inch NSS EVO 3 GPS/sounder with 1kW transducer, Simrad VHF, Fusion Apollo stereo system, numerous switch panels, Lenco trim-tab switch, windscreen wiper and wash, and T-top LED lighting to mention a few. The rest of the hull is neatly finished with the Ultralon (U-Dek) in teak / black brushed, so looks the part and is nice and easy to clean and maintain. 

On the performance side, the 250 Chase is a fun and exhilarating boat to drive. It adds a smile on your dial, and this stems from the 250 Chase sporting the latest Mercury V8 Verado 300hp that’s renowned for high-powered torque and power through the rev-ranges. 

The V8 300hp Merc’s hole-shot is fast but smooth at the same time, along with the mid-range power boosting to the top end within the teary blink of an eye. With the horsepower ratings of 250–400hp, I reckon the 300hp is more than ample, with its impressive top-end of 45kt (83km/h) with two persons onboard. Surprisingly, the 250 Chase still produces a comfortable and safe ride at high speed, however, the top-end is not going to be the kind of speed you should be racing around at. It’s more about having the extra torque through the rev-ranges and ability to load the boat up without sacrificing on the power side. 

Taming the throttle down, the optimum and comfortable cruise speeds are around 25 knots in the chop, and 32 knots in the calmer water. At 32 knots the revs sit at 4500RPM, and economy at 49L/h giving you a healthy range of approximately 187 nautical miles on a full 315L tank with 10 per cent reserve. 

I must say that I have a soft spot for the new ‘non-supercharged’ Mercury V8 range. The 32 valve/4.6L/V8 with digital throttle control is so smooth and quiet, however, if you want to be noticed, simply switch over to the sport exhaust function to enhance a grunty V8 sound. The Integrated Electro-Hydraulic Power-Steering and ability to integrate the Mercury Joystick Piloting is also a highlight on these motors, as well as weighing in lightweight 272kgs, which is 30kg lighter than the 300hp supercharged L6 Verado. 

As for ride, well the 250 Chase has a sharp bow entry with 23-degree deadrise at the transom, and this produces a nice soft ride through the chop, along with the tubes working as enhanced reversed chines to deflect spray in all conditions. Weighing in at approximately 2 tonnes, the 250 Chase is a nimble and really easy boat to handle on the water, however, they don’t mind a bit of abuse thrown at them either in hard turns and when taking on large chop and swell. 

PROTECTOR 330 TARGA

A look at the 330 Targa reveals a substantial step up from the 250 Chase, and at a glance, this 10.5m / 33ft RIB with 800hp of pure Merc grunt on the transom is an absolute beast and looks like it means big business on the water. The Targa design with beamy cab portrays a bit of a commercial work boat or even military look to it, but I do prefer it to the diamonds and glitter styled boats on the market. 

Stepping aboard, the hardcore visual perception instantly changes as the decks are lined with the luxe look and soft-to-foot Ultralon (U-Dek) in Teak/black brushed. The cockpit consists of modular passenger seating with storage at the stern instead of a permanent bench styled seating arrangement, and I don’t mind this at all as the seats can be completely removed or shuffled around the boat to suit. The transom also includes a ski-pole, rollbar rails, and access to concealed plumbing and batteries. 

As for cockpit space, the 330 Targa boasts an open deck large enough to take a 10-seater dining room table, suiting commercial operations and recreational boating alike. The large open platform would be ideal for the serious scuba enthusiasts, or even just recreational boaters who love to entertain with lots of family and mates. What about fishing? Most people think you can’t fish off RIBs due to the risk of puncturing the tubes, and although there’s a hint of truth in that, you can avoid fish spine punctures (particularly bottom fish species) by adding additional tube covers. I had custom clip-ons in heavy duty pontoon material made, and that saved my tubes from spine holes and mis-gaffs. Add a few fishing accessories to the 330 Targa to suit, and you have a multipurpose RIB to please all. 

Moving forward, the spacious cockpit leads to the Targa’s open cab which includes split screen with wipers, side windows, sunroof, port and starboard rear facing seats with storage built in, deluxe captain and passenger seating with recessed side mouldings, and a spacious and ergonomic dash layout. Electronics include the latest Simrad 16in NSS EVO 3 GPS/Sonar with 1kW transducer, side switch panels, bow-thruster, Lenco trim-tabs, and a separate top panel of analogue gauges. Above the windscreen there’s a separate panel dedicated to other electronics, like the Simrad VHF radio and Fusion Apollo series stereo head unit. 

Another area that impressed me was the step-down simple but practical dual bunk cabin of sorts. The two 6ft 6in single bunks provide extra storage space, a spot to have a kip, and a neatly hidden electric flush head below the port bunk. The fore cabin door provides access to the open bow, which includes a samson post with handrails and auto-anchor (windlass) system with thru-bow anchor.

Onto performance, well 800hp of supercharged Mercury Verado grunt says it all and at 33ft and with a beam of 2.9m, you will need it. In saying that, the 330 Targa weighs in at around 4 tonnes and that’s a good 1-1.5 tonnes less than a decent quality full glass boat of the same size.

Unlike the baby 250 Chase, the 330 Targa sports the straight 6-cylinder (L6) supercharged version of the Verado’s. Again, it is a very smooth and quiet motor, and particularly so in the 2.6L supercharged straight 6. 

On the water the twin 400s shunt the 330 Targa onto the plane effortlessly and although it’s a fair-sized boat, the acceleration is super responsive throughout the rev ranges. The top-end speed on this boat is out of control with a whopping 55.5kt (102.7km/h) achieved at wide open throttle in open water. Now that’s humming on the water, however, the ride and handling of the 330 is so smooth you don’t feel it. Again, it’s not all about top speeds, but rather having the extra power and torque available. You might wonder why bother having so much power? Well, that’s simple as overpowering will have your motors working effortlessly at cruise speeds, in comparison to a lower horsepower that’s overworking your motors.

A smooth, stable, and dry ride is what you get at civilised cruise speeds. Interestingly there’s two notable speeds where economy and range is at its best. At 3000RPM you sit at a moderate 21 knots cruise speed and range of 265 nautical miles off a full tank with 10 per cent reserve (609L). The range then drops at 3500rpm slightly and then pics back up at 4000rpm/34kt, and range only decreasing to 246 nautical miles – so you have the best of both worlds when it comes to controlling cruise speeds to suit the conditions.

Unlike the smaller 250 Chase, there’s a lot more hull to manoeuvre, however, considering the size, it’s still quite nimble and responsive. Stability is second to none as the tubes balance the hull nicely in all conditions. Having trim-tabs allows for fine tuning of the ride, however, I did not feel the need to touch them at all. The optional bow-thruster is another worthy box to tick, as it makes docking and tight manoeuvring so much easier.

THE WRAP

Comparing the two models, the 250 Chase is no doubt easier to handle, tow, and with less to maintain of the two. It’s an ideal executive tender to a superyacht, can be accessorised to suit multiple water sports, or just be used as a great day boat on the dams, bays or island hopping. What would I add or change? A roll bar on the transom with rod-holders, rocket launchers to the T-top, drop-in backrests for the port and starboard stern seats, and a large esky.

The big girl is in a different league, as the 330 Targa offers longer range in comfort, good protection from the elements, larger volume for more persons and entertaining, could be tricked up to suit overnighters, accessorised to suit multiple water sports, and potentially could be a serious tender to a large superyacht. What would I change or add? The wet bar option and a cooker or BBQ, as well as some decent fishing accessories and bling to suit.

Regardless of model, both boats excel in performance, handling, and stability. The commercial build quality makes them work and play ready, and like all boats, Protector RIBs have numerous option boxes that can be ticked to suit your style of boating. 

Facts & Figures

Protector 250 Chase 

Price as tested 

$259,990 W/ PD AND Registration 

OPTIONS FITTED

Electric toilet inside front opening console hatch (no holding tank), Upholstery: Sand surf with sand surf piping, 2 x soft rider upholstered seats, Navigation lights LEDs, Tilt Helm, Blue Sea auto battery switching by helm area, Lenco retractable Trim Tabs with LED display, Samson post with handrails, thru bow anchor, Ultralon (U-Dek) Teak/Black Brushed, Inside Console Sole: Ultralon Teak/Black brushed, Bimini top with canvas cover, 1x wipers, Marinco 2.5 Marine wiper motor 110 Degree, 2in shaft,12V, Marinco Premier Panto Arm’s W/Spray Nozzle, Marinco 20in Black Polymer Wiper Blade, Windscreen Washer Reservoir (1.26 Quarts) & Pump, 1 x VHF Simrad RS40 AIS with Antenna (Receive only AIS), 1 x Fusion Stereo MS-RA770 Apollo Series, with 2 x speakers XS Series (2x 7.7in) & Antenna, 1 x Simrad 16 NSS EVO 3 GPS/sounder/1 Kw transducer (no AU Chart fitted), Under bow auto anchoring system, Fold up s/s teak step boarding ladder

GENERAL

Type Rigid Inflatable 

Material GRP/Orca 866 collar material

Length 7.5m (24ft 7in)

Width inflated 2.9m (9ft 6in)

Deadrise  23 degrees

Weight 2,000kg approximately 

CAPACITIES

People nine

Min. HP 225hp

Max. HP 400hp

Fuel 315L

Water raw N/A

Water fresh N/A

ENGINE

Make/model Mercury Verado 300hp V8 

Type V8 [64 degree] with Dual Overhead Cam [DOHC], 32-valves

Weight 272kg

Displacement 4.6L

Gear ratio 1.85:1

Propeller 14.0x19p Mercury Enertia

MANUFACTURED BY

Rayglass Boats NZ

SUPPLIED BY

Queensland Marine Centre (QMC)

Unit 10, 71 Shipper Drive, Coomera QLD 4209

Ph 07 5519 9035

E sales@qmc.com.au

W qmc.com.au

Facts & Figures

Protector 330 Targa

PRICE AS TESTED

$541,700

OPTIONS FITTED

2 x 400hp Mercury L6 Verado’s, Vessel link fitted connect to Simrad screen, 1 x Simrad 16 NSS EVO 3 GPS/sounder, 1kW transducer, 1 x VHF Simrad RS40 AIS with Antenna (Receive only AIS), 1 x Fusion Stereo MS-RA770 Apollo Series, with 6 x speakers XS Series (2 x 7.7in, 2 x 6.5in, 2 x 4in) & Antenna, Bow thruster SP 40 (fit Joy stick controller), Targa Top (full flat glass screens) with Sunroof hatch, Tilt Helm fitted, Electric toilet under port bunk squab (no holding tank), Blue Sea auto battery switching by helm area, Lenco retractable Trim Tabs with LED display, Samson post with handrails (thru bow anchor, Ultralon (U-Dek) Teak/Black Brushed, Cabin Sole: Ultralon Teak/Black brushed, Vertical back drop with window (Beige colour, Back drop to transom (Beige colour), Marinco 2.5 Marine wiper motor (110 Degree, 2in shaft,12V), Marinco Premier Panto Arms W/Spray Nozzle, Marinco 20in Black Polymer Wiper Blade, Windscreen Washer Reservoir (1.26 Quarts) & Pump, Fold up s/s teak step boarding ladder with lanyard

CAPACITIES

People 12

Berths 2 x single bunks

Min. HP 500hp

Max. HP 900hp

Water raw N/A

Water fresh 75L When wet-bar with fridge & freshwater (cold) installed

Length 10.5m (35ft 9in)

Width inflated 2.9m (9ft 6in)

Deadrise 23 degrees 

Weight 4000kg approx. 

Fuel Tank: 670L

ENGINE

Make/model Merc. L6 400HP

Type 400CXL

Weight 313kg

Displacement 2.6L

Gear ratio 1.75:1

Propeller 13.6x21p 

MANUFACTURED BY

Protector By Rayglass Boats NZ

SUPPLIED BY

Queensland Marine Centre (QMC)

Unit 10, 71 Shipper Drive, Coomera QLD 4209

Ph 07 5519 9035

E sales@qmc.com.au

W qmc.com.au