Boat setup · Field guide

Three proven RIB layouts

The safest mark boat has clear working zones, short communication paths and no loose warp near the propeller.

Reviewed August 2026 · Independent editorial guidance

Layout A — two-person club boat

Driver at the console owns boat position and radio. Mark handler forward owns ground tackle. Put one prepared mark on the tube forward, anchor in a low crate on the floor, and run no loose warp aft of the console.

Use small, pre-flaked warp bags
Mount GPS within the driver’s eyeline
Tether radio and GPS independently
Abort rather than improvise a heavy recovery

Layout B — three-person national boat

Driver drives; navigator handles GPS, compass, timing and radio; mark handler rigs and deploys. This separation reduces task loading during rapid trapezoid changes and lets the driver maintain a proper lookout.

Layout C — dedicated gate or pin boat

Optimise for accurate relative geometry: fixed GPS mount, hand-bearing compass, rangefinder if permitted by the team, short recovery strop and clearly separated replacement mark. Avoid filling the boat with unused course equipment.

Weight and trim

Heavy anchors low and near the centreline; inflated marks secured without obscuring the driver; fuel and crew arranged so the boat planes safely. Never compromise emergency access, kill cord use or boarding space.

Editorial standard

Product specifications can change. Check current manufacturer information, event requirements and local operating procedures before buying or relying on equipment.