RIBCO has introduced the Venom 45 SC as the new flagship of its high-performance range, combining a 13.40-metre centre-console platform with a triple-step hull by naval architect Lorne Campbell. The model is offered with outboard or sterndrive propulsion and is intended to combine very high speed with accommodation and equipment suitable for longer days and overnight use.
In its most powerful outboard specification, RIBCO lists up to three 500hp engines and a quoted maximum speed of 72 knots. A sterndrive version extends overall length to 13.91 metres and is offered with up to twin 440hp engines, giving owners a materially different machinery package within the same core design.
Lorne Campbell’s triple-step hull targets speed and control
The Venom 45 SC uses a stepped hull developed by Lorne Campbell, whose work on fast craft focuses on reducing drag while maintaining predictable handling as speed increases. RIBCO uses three steps on the flagship, feeding air beneath sections of the running surface to reduce wetted area and improve efficiency.
Stepped hulls demand careful weight distribution and setup, especially when combined with large outboard installations. Buyers should therefore pay attention not only to headline top speed but also to cruising attitude, low-speed behaviour, fuel consumption and how the boat responds when loaded with guests and equipment.
Outboard and sterndrive versions serve different owners
The outboard configuration can accept up to 1,500hp, while the sterndrive version uses a maximum of two 440hp engines. RIBCO quotes maximum speeds of up to 72 knots for the outboard boat and 51 knots for the sterndrive, making propulsion choice central to the character of the yacht.
Outboards provide easy external access and extreme performance, whereas sterndrives can preserve a different stern layout and alter noise, weight and service requirements. The right choice will depend on cruising area, dealer support and how much emphasis the owner places on outright speed compared with deck use and machinery integration.
Accommodation takes the model beyond a pure dayboat
Despite its performance focus, the Venom 45 SC includes a centre-console cabin with two berths, a separate stern cabin and an enclosed WC with shower. RIBCO also lists a carbon-fibre T-top and a broad range of seating and sunbathing arrangements, giving the boat a more complete cruising brief than a stripped-out performance RIB.
Those features matter because the 13-to-14-metre market increasingly overlaps with conventional luxury day yachts. Owners expect a fast open boat to support privacy, changing, overnight stops and protection from the sun rather than requiring a return to shore after every day on the water.
The flagship moves RIBCO deeper into luxury-yacht territory
At 13.40 metres, the Venom 45 SC is large enough to compete not only with Maxi-RIBs but also with premium centre consoles and open sports yachts. Its combination of 13-person capacity, accommodation and extreme propulsion options gives buyers a wide operating envelope within a relatively compact overall length.
The key question will be how well the flagship balances those competing priorities in real use. If the hull delivers comfortable cruising as convincingly as its speed figures suggest, the Venom 45 SC could appeal to owners who want supercar-level performance without giving up the practical features expected from a luxury yacht.
