Six Redbays: why one Irish boating family keeps going back to the same builder

Adam Brennan has spent a lifetime boating off the wild Atlantic coast of Ireland, building up extensive experience across a remarkable range of RIBs and motorboats. A long-standing Redbay customer with six of the brand’s boats to his family’s name, Adam talks to Powerboat & RIB about his latest acquisition, a Redbay 850 powered by a Suzuki DF350 Stealth Edition, circumnavigating Scotland, running a 70-boat rally, and why the North Atlantic demands a very particular kind of boat.

Firstly, Adam, tell us about your boating background and how you came to have such a passion for the sea?

I have grown up overlooking the west coast of Ireland since day one. My dad had an Aquador 26HT when we were children and we would often go for day trips on that. I guess it wasn’t until 2008 when we got our first RIB, an Avon 720, where I started to feel the true experience boating can give you. We went on many trips and holidays on this boat, including a trip to Galway to see the Volvo Ocean yacht race stop by in 2009. These trips developed my idea of what a boat can give you and where it can take you!

To what degree and in what ways has your coastal environment and local waters influenced your outlook and general boating perspective?

Living on the North Atlantic, a high bow and a solid hull is a lot more important than cupholders and sunpads! Over the years we have had an Avon 720, Redbay 7.4s, Humber 5m Assault, Delta 5.5m, Scorpion 9.75m MK2, Redbay 1150, Delta 7.4X, Tornado 7.5m, Redbay 1450, Redbay 1050, Redbay GF1050, and currently a Redbay 850. As you can tell, I have a habit of trying different designs, layouts and sizes but they are all focused on no-nonsense, heavy-duty offshore use. With work commitments I cannot just jump on the boat when the sun shines, the boat must work when I have the time to use it. With where we live, the sea is rarely calm, so when the opportunity arises, I want a boat that can cope with what the North Atlantic can throw at it.

I know you love all manner of boats, but you appear to have a particular affinity with RIBs. Tell us the reason for this and why you tend to favour them?

Again, I think that comes down to our location. A RIB tends to have a sharper deep-vee hull which helps cut through the swell and waves. The sponsons on a RIB add a huge amount of stability which is beneficial when you are bopping around in a 3m swell! Another benefit of a RIB is they tend to be lighter than a similar-sized motorboat. This aids with towing the boat to get it to different locations but also fuel efficiency which extends our range. For example, we circumnavigated Scotland last year. We were able to tow the boat to Cushendall in Antrim without any issue, launched the boat and did 885 nautical miles over six days with just two fuel stops. I think you would struggle to find another motorboat that would give you that ease of use and capability. Some of the locations we go to would not have the best pontoon facilities, so to be able to go off the beaten track and tie up to an old pier knowing that I don’t have to worry about fibreglass damage is a big plus.

Apart from the fact they’re based in Ireland, how and why has Redbay become your favoured choice?

My dad bought his first Redbay in 2012. We found them at the Southampton International Boat Show on our way to view another RIB he had a deposit on. We didn’t even go to the stand of the other brand when we saw the Redbay 7.4s on display. The order was placed and that was that. Since then we have ordered five more Redbays and have been involved in the build of a few others too. We go back to them time after time because of their build quality and flexibility. But also because it is a family-run business that has a level of community and hospitality that is hard to find. They are boats that are built for the waters we live in but there is a lot more to them than just that!

Can you tell us about your experiences with Redbay Boats from the perspective of a buyer and from your standpoint what might set them apart from other RIB builders?

The special thing with Redbay is you are not buying a boat. You are buying into a community of like-minded boaters who all have a similar passion for adventure, and Redbay are all about that by organising events for their owners. Now, it helps that they have a great product and it is a company that is constantly evolving and developing. They are also very focused on listening to the customer, taking on their ideas and visions, turning them into a reality. You can see that with what comes off the production line. When you see one Redbay, you really have only seen one Redbay!

Tell us about your latest Redbay acquisition.

My latest Redbay is an 850. My two previous RIBs were both 10.5m which were very big to tow on the road. The idea of the 850 was to open up more opportunities to tow the boat to more RIB runs and locations a little further away. It is a smashing machine powered by a Suzuki DF350 Stealth Edition with four Scot S2J suspension seats. Navigation is all Garmin with a 12-inch GPS, AIS and radar. Icom looks after the communication side of things. It is an incredibly capable boat that is very easy to relocate to new cruising grounds. There is plenty of dry storage for a week-long expedition with four crew. I decided to keep the console and seating quite far aft for crew comfort but also to allow a large open foredeck for extra fuel storage that allows me to have a 380 nautical mile range at 28 knots. Colour-wise, I have had a bit of everything over the years so I decided to mix it up a bit with this one. Spradling brought out a new Silvertex colour this year to their range of waterproof marine materials called ‘Hunter’ which I thought would be the ideal upholstery colour to go nicely with Henshaw’s tubes in Army Green. Just to top it all off, I got SBS Trailers to colour-match the trailer to tie it all in together – the result is a really unique but capable package.

What elements of the craft do you particularly like and, now you have started to get to know the boat, what things might you now change or improve?

I do like the colour combination! It was a bit of a risk but I think it turned out great! Also, the engine is fantastic. The Suzuki dual prop system pops it up onto the plane with ease even when fully loaded. At cruising speed it gives great fuel economy and there is plenty of power in it for when it is needed!

I only fitted a single GPS screen. I had two on my previous boats and I do miss having some of the extra information to hand – however that is not a disaster!

Besides your ‘Bull Run for Fun‘ event happening this July, which I believe has over 70 boats now registered, what other adventures and boating highlights have you got planned on the horizon this year?

Yes, the Bull Run has really taken off over the last few years and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone in July again! We went to Scotland in May for the RIB Rendezvous and from there we spent a week or so exploring the west coast.

We are also going to do the Redbay Ardbeg run in August. I am sure we will squeeze in a Round Ireland or something similar to top it off! I have also had an itch to head to the Faroe Islands or Norway over the last few years and now with the 850, towing it to the south of France or northern Spain is also on the cards!

In conclusion, what advice might you give to others in such areas as (1) buying a boat, (2) developing the necessary skills, and (3) safety?

On buying a boat: I think with regards to buying, a proper sea trial is essential. Seeing boats at a pontoon or on a stand at a boat show does not tell you how they will perform out on the water. I would recommend going to the shows, making a shortlist of the models you like, and then booking in a factory or broker visit for a sea trial. Also, you must think about where you use your boat and what sea conditions are most commonly found there. There is no point in investing in a boat that is built for the Mediterranean when you are based in the Bristol Channel!

On developing skills: Doing the basic courses is a must. But from there I do think that the cruise-in-company and RIB runs that are growing in popularity are a great place to learn from other owners. The knowledge and hints and tips you can pick up on the pontoon by just talking to fellow boaters is very useful.

On safety: We would almost always cruise in company. Even on our big trips there would always be two or more boats. That way if anything does go wrong we always have a backup. Onboard safety equipment: we would always have life jackets worn by each crew member, a flare kit, a safety knife and a few other bits like a puncture repair kit, bucket, sponge, etc. All of our electronics onboard are well maintained and always in working condition, as well as the engine that is serviced annually.

Boating off the wild west coast of Ireland means you’re trusting your life to not only the boat, but the engine too. What engines have you used along the way that have given you the confidence needed to put to sea in these challenging waters?

Over the years I have used all sorts of engines and configurations of inboards with legs, shafts and jets, as well as outboards, both four-stroke and two-stroke. Reliability plays a big part wherever you do your boating, not only due to the conditions but also the availability of mechanics to do the work on them — a growing issue in our neck of the woods. Since 2016 I have teamed up with Suzuki Marine, who have a proven track record over the years of great reliability and performance. I have covered thousands of hours with these engines all over Ireland and the UK. They have never let us down and continue to put smiles on our faces and bring us to new destinations.

Q: What is the Redbay 850?

The Redbay 850 is an 8.5m offshore RIB built in Ireland by Redbay Boats for demanding open-water use.

Q: What engine does the Redbay 850 use?

Owner Adam Brennan’s Redbay 850 is powered by a single Suzuki DF350 Stealth Edition outboard, a counter-rotating dual-prop four-stroke engine known for its fuel efficiency and performance.

Q: What range does the Redbay 850 have?

Adam Brennan’s Redbay 850 is configured with additional fuel storage in a large open foredeck area, giving a stated range of 380 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 28 knots.

Q: Why does Adam Brennan choose Redbay over other RIB brands?

Adam Brennan’s family has owned six Redbay RIBs over more than a decade, citing their build quality, flexibility, and a strong owner community as the key reasons for their loyalty. He describes Redbay as a family-run business where customer input directly influences production.

Q: Why does Adam Brennan prefer RIBs for the North Atlantic?

Adam Brennan says the sharp deep-vee hull of a RIB cuts through Atlantic swell more effectively than a similarly sized motorboat, while the inflatable sponsons provide stability in rough conditions. The lighter weight also aids towing and fuel efficiency.

Q: What navigation equipment does the Redbay 850 carry?

Adam’s Redbay 850 is equipped with a Garmin 12-inch GPS chartplotter, AIS and radar, with Icom handling communications.