Terms & Conditions

RIB Club Terms and Conditions

The main purpose of these Terms and Conditions is to clearly outline the obligations, rights, and responsibilities of both RIB Club and the member. This helps to set expectations and to guide the member toward getting the best value and experience out of membership.

Useful Definitions

Membership: RIB Club features two membership tiers for our members to choose from — Blue and Black. These offer diferent options for various boating packages and availability enhancements.

Blue: RIB Club Blue membership includes access to Blue events across all of the Club’s locations as well as access to the Club’s entire 9-metre fleet through a standard boating package.

Black: RIB Club Black is our invite-only membership that includes access to all events including our most exclusive Black events. Black members can create boating packages that include access to all boats including the luxury, high-performance private RIB and standard-hull fleet.

Family Upgrade: This is an add-on option for any membership tier where your family members such as a spouse and/or children are added to your membership as social members. This option allows them to attend events that are especially designed for them. (e.g. ladies-only hiking trip; kids' rock climbing class, etc.).

Boating Packages: The boating package is designed within the constraints of the membership level as above. All boating packages give access to all RIB Club 9m boats in all locations.

Standard Availability: One hold within a window of the next 7 days and one hold any time after 7 days, plus unlimited Early Returns and On-the-day Cancellations.

Additional Boat Types: The member can upgrade the boating package to include access to the larger 12m boats as well as the high performance, luxury private RIBs and traditional-hull boats. Options are constrained by the membership level as described above.

Events: RIB Club membership includes access to year-round club events. Some events are limited to certain membership tiers.

A Hold: The member can put a hold on a chosen boat for a given date in the future.

AM/Morning Hold: A hold placed on a boat that allows the member to enjoy the boat from 10am to 2pm.

PM/Afternoon Hold. A hold placed on a boat that allows the member to enjoy the boat from 2:30pm until sundown.

All-day Hold: A hold placed on a boat that allows the member to enjoy the boat from 11am until sundown.

Membership Eligibility and Use of Boats

Membership of RIB Club is anchored in trust and honesty, and that begins with the information within the membership profile. RIB Club is first and foremost a community, and all members play an important role in creating each other’s experiences. All information provided in the membership should be accurate and offered in good faith.

Additionally, the following requirements apply for full members to take out boats:

1. The member must hold an appropriate licence as required by regulations and local law. The member is required to upload a copy of the licence for review and approval.
2. The member must attend an orientation and assessment prior to using any of the club boats. Some high-performance boats are designated as requiring an additional orientation and assessment prior to use of that specific boat, even if the initial orientation and assessment has been completed.
3. The member must review and sign the RIB Club Safety Manual prior to using any club boat.
4. The member must carry their approved licence and always have a copy of their RIB Club contract when using the boat so that both can be presented to relevant authorities upon request.
5. The member must have a minimum credit of 50 litres of fuel in their fuel account before taking a boat out. Some high performance dual-engine boats have higher minimums.
6. The member must fully complete the departure checks and return checks within the RIB Club Hub.
7. All boats must be returned and secured in their respective moorings before sunset.

Vessel Condition and Member Responsibility

Members play a vital role in the stewardship of our fleet. Prior to taking a boat out, the member’s inspection and confirmation of the vessel's condition are critical tasks. The departure checks and return checks are the members’ responsibility and offer a guided opportunity to do the kinds of checks any skipper should be undertaking.

Reservation and Usage Policy

All RIB Club boating packages allow unlimited use of the boats with the only constraint being the number of concurrent future holds that a member can have at any one time. If the member has an available future hold and there is availability the member can hold the boat for their use with the only exception being that members cannot place a hold on both days of any given weekend during peak season, defined as April to October.

There are no limits to the number of Early Return holds and On-The-Day-Cancellation holds that a member can use, and these types of holds do not require an available future hold or prevent use of a boat on both days of any given weekend.

Confirmed Holds and Departure Procedures

It is very important that any use of a boat occurs only after the departure check is completed. The system will not make the departure check process available if there is no hold in a member’s name for that day. Additionally, the departure check requires acknowledgement that the name of the boat on hold matches the boat. Repeated failure to perform the departure check may result in the termination of the member’s boating package.

Unauthorised use of a vessel not only disrupts club operations but is a breach of our trust and legal agreements. We enforce this strictly to ensure fairness and security for all members.

Fuel Policy and the Virtual Fuel Tank

Members do not have to fuel the boats themselves. RIB Club operates member fuel accounts, and each member has a virtual fuel tank for which fuel is purchased by the litre at the prevailing average of the pump price at the marinas at our locations. The price is updated on the first of every month to reflect the current price. Each time the member uses a boat in the fleet the litres of fuel used are deducted from the fuel account balance.

The minimum initial fuel account requirement is equivalent to half a tank of fuel which is 150 litres. To take a boat out, the fuel account must have at least 50 litres of credit. Top ups must be at least half a tank (150 litres).

There is no limit to the number of litres that can be purchased for a fuel account for members who would like to pre-purchase the equivalent of multiple tanks of fuel. Should the member decide to not renew their membership and fuel credit remains in the fuel account, the Club will repurchase the fuel at the member’s cost.

In the rare event that it is necessary for a member to refuel the boat because the tank has been depleted, the fuel account will be credited with the litres shown on a receipt for fuel.

Membership Financial Commitments and Renewals

Members must settle invoices for membership fees and boating packages before using boats. Once the invoice has been settled, a membership account will be created and the member can create place holds on the calendar.

We do not automatically renew memberships and boating packages unless a member specifically requests that facility. Where the club invites renewal, the member will receive that invitation at least thirty days in advance of the renewal date. If the member does not accept renewal prior to ten days before the expiration of the membership, the club reserves the right to withdraw the invitation and offer the membership slot and boating package to the club waiting list.

Fair Usage Policy

RIB Club is designed to provide seamless and equitable access to our fleet for all members. Historical patterns show that most members use our boats well within a natural range, ensuring availability for the entire community.

To maintain this balance, RIB Club reserves the right to manage exceptional usage patterns that significantly exceed historical norms. Specifically, if a member’s usage exceeds 40 days in a membership year, we may employ technology or operational mechanisms to ensure fair access for all. This could include:

• Dynamic Booking Adjustments: Temporarily adjusting booking privileges to balance availability.
• Proactive Scheduling Assistance: Collaborating with the member to better align their bookings with fleet capacity.
• Boating Package Review: Discussing potential changes to the member’s package or tier to better reflect their activity level.

Respect and Care for Vessels, Other Members, and the RIB Club Team

"Consider it yours" is the overarching philosophy of the club. We ask that you treat our vessels with the same care and respect you would your own, ensuring they are left in good condition. Please remember, the end of your day out on the water sometimes marks the beginning for another member.

Our member selection process largely removes the need to state the obvious golden rule of leaving the boat as you would like to find it. Good citizenship is core to the club and becomes clear via the follow-on member's departure checks and rating of the boat or the prep team’s reports. Conversely, poor citizenship does too. The club reserves the right to terminate the membership of any member that shows repeated disregard for either fellow members or the boat preparation team.

Damage and Loss

RIB Club offers a transparent process in the event of damage or loss. Out-of-pocket expense from accident and loss for members is, in most cases, limited to the corresponding amounts shown below. The only exception to this is where the damage or loss results from clear negligence or recklessness in violation of the RIB Club Safety Manual.

The out-of-pocket expenses limits where there is no de facto negligence are as follows: For RIB Club Blue members, the limit is €1000 per incident during the use of 9m boats.

For RIB Club Gold members, the limit is €750 per incident during the use of 9m boats, and, if they have opted for a boating package that includes 12m boats, €1500 per incident when using 12m boats.

For RIB Club Black members, the limit is €500 per incident during the use of 9m boats, €1250 during use of club 12m boats, and €2000 when using boats that are part of the RIB Club Private fleet.

Incidents and loss are rare, but the following are indications of cost for the more routine damages and losses over the years. In any incident, the actual replacement or repair cost will be supported by invoice(s).

Lost Cushion: €250-€600 per cushion depending on the size and shape of the cushion.

Damaged propeller: €400-€1000 per propeller depending on boat and whether the prop can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

Gel coat damage repair: €50-€2000 depending on severity and location.

Ruptured tube repair: €500-€2000 depending on the extent and location of the trauma. Loss of anchor and/or chain: €150-€300 depending on boat.

It should be noted that damage to engines, gearboxes, and other structural issues involve costs that in most instances exceed the out-of-pocket expense limits. To reiterate, should damage occur due to provable negligence or recklessness, the member will be liable for the full extent of the club’s out-of pocket costs.

Any collision, damage and injuries must be reported immediately to the club within the RIB Club Hub or directly to a member of staff. Failure to report any incidents on the same day they occur may result in the member being liable for the full cost of damages and/or the termination of membership.

Return of the Boat to the Mooring

Proper return of the boat is a simple process and one that makes the golden rule of leaving the boat how you’d like to find it easy to do. The return check within the RIB Club Hub will also provide a guide and checklist, as well as an opportunity to report damage, loss or other issues.

All items of trash should be removed from the boat, and the boat should be washed down with fresh water. In some locations at various times through the year water bans prevent this, and the club will notify the members of any such prohibitive rule.

Members must leave onboard facilities, like toilets, in a state you would be pleased to find them. This reflects our collective commitment to cleanliness and respect for other members and the RIB club team. Marine toilets are not the same as toilets on land. They are not designed to flush paper, and, accordingly, they offer a limited solution to members' needs.

The operation of a marine toilet will be explained during the orientation, and it is the member’s responsibility to explain the proper operation and limitations of the toilet to guests. We consider blocking the toilet with paper to be a choice to ignore the rules, and the time and expense of unblocking or replacing the macerator pump will be billed to the member.

Finally, the mooring lines should be secured at bow and stern. This is a critical step, and part of the orientation process is to demonstrate that you can properly secure the lines to avoid damage to the boat.

Safe Operation and Conduct on the Water

Safety of our members and other people in and on the water is our paramount concern as a club and community. Reckless and unsafe behaviour is not tolerated, and evidence of such will, in most situations, result in membership termination.

Adhering to local and national maritime laws and guidelines is expected of all members to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Members must read and sign to acknowledge their understanding of the Safety Manual before operating boats. RIB Club boats are coded for a maximum of twelve passengers, and exceeding that number is not only dangerous but subject to severe fines from maritime authorities.

Members participate in water sports and/or fishing at their own risk and RIB Club expressly denies any liability for injury or other harm as a result of voluntary engagement in these activities.

Smoking cigarettes or cigars is not permitted on the boats.

Maritime Authority Fines

If stopped at sea by officials or requested to not board guests in prohibited areas, members are responsible for any fines issued by any of the local maritime authorities based on the member’s conduct and failure to provide valid personal and/or boat documentation. Boat paperwork is always stored in a dry bag on board.

Weather and Navigational Safety

Members have the responsibility of any other captain when they take a boat out. Part of that responsibility is assessing weather conditions and making safe navigational decisions. Where we are aware of challenging conditions, we will communicate them to you. When we as a club determine that the conditions are sufficiently inclement that we consider boating to be dangerous, we will notify all members affected that we are imposing a weather shutdown.

In such a circumstance the departure check will not be available, and the boat cannot be taken out. Should the weather improve, and we lower our view to that of a challenging conditions advisory, the departure check option will reappear and members are able to use the boats at their own discretion.

Please note, our insurance policy is void if boating is undertaken in unsafe conditions, and unauthorised use of the boats during the time that a weather shutdown is in effect will expose the member to unlimited financial exposure and, in most instances, result in the termination of membership. Safety is, quite simply, non-negotiable.

Disruptions Resulting in the Cancellation of Holds

As a club we try to do everything we can to minimise the disruptions to members’ planned days of boating. Beyond a proactive approach to maintenance, we utilise AI to assist with building intelligent slack into the system. That slack has two benefits: one is that it’s often possible to mitigate the effects of a mechanical failure or damage that prevents use of the planned boat by offering a replacement, and the other is that, if not needed, the so-called slack boat is released on the day giving an additional opportunity for boating to a member who enjoys spontaneous days out.

Of course, there are times that because of a problem with a boat, or because of an adverse weather shutdown, a planned day out will not be possible. While RIB Club accepts no liability for these disappointing events, we are committed to trying to accommodate the member by utilising the AI pre-emptive hold and/or slack in the system to get the member out as soon as convenient to them afterwards.

Event Registration and Cancellation

RIB Club events are available to members and, in most instances, do not require an additional payment or cover. Eligibility for events is driven entirely by the member’s membership tier and, if it is a family event, whether the member has opted for the family upgrade.

Registration for events is handled in the RIB Club Hub, and this will be demonstrated in the orientation process. Some events have limited availability, and we ask that in the interests of good club citizenship that if a member is unable to attend an event that they have registered for, they cancel with as much notice as possible so that another member can plan to attend. Timely cancellations are also important in the context of the club often making financial commitments based on the confirmed registrations.

Rules and Expectation of Private Events

RIB Club’s member selection process generally makes outlining acceptable conduct at events moot. That said, it is very important that members are respectful of one another and, especially at family events, conduct and language is appropriate.

Members are also expected to respect the privacy of others and refrain from posting images of any club members to public forums or social media sites without the permission of the members affected. Violation of privacy at events is something that will, in most instances, result in the member losing access to future events.

Members are responsible for their own belongings at club events and activities.

Cancellation and Termination of Membership

RIB Club reserves the right to terminate a membership at any time in response to significant breaches of safety protocols or other instances of negligence or antisocial conduct. In all but the most grievous incidents an attempt will be made to address the issue informally prior to termination of the membership. If a membership is terminated for cause, no refund will be given.

Changes and Updates to Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time when it becomes necessary to further outline or adjust the obligations, rights, and responsibilities of both RIB Club and the member. Members will be notified that the terms and conditions have been updated, and the updated document will be available in their member portal.

April 25, 2025