Paul Lemmer of RIB International Magazine who conducted a test on the Rib:
“There are occasions when you see something rather special, only to be let down when you finally get to sample it, be it food, wine or, in my case, a RIB. When this does happen, it can lead to one becoming rather cynical, so it was with great relief that, when we tested the new Stingher 800GT, the craft was every bit as good as it looked…and it does look rather good.
This attractive range of Italian RIBs had caught my eye each time I had seen them at various boat shows and occasionally on the water around the Solent. Also, when speaking to ‘the trade’ the feedback on the craft was very positive, so I was keen to find out how they stacked up against the opposition, and our offer to test the 800GT version …
Stingher RIBs are manufactured in Northern Italy by the highly respected Italboats, considered one of Europe’s premier RIB builders and certainly no newcomer to the industry, with over 21 years of RIB building under their belts….
The dashboard layout is excellent, with all instruments easy to read and everything positioned correctly for ease of operation. Above the rear seat is a stylish GRP radar arch with the usual lights etc, but mounted on the top is a rather novel solar panel that keeps the batteries charged …
Bilge area, easy access to the electric bilge pump, proper location for the batteries and, finally, accessibility to the fuel filter, this was a lesson in sensible, practical thinking, with everything in one location for instant access should something go wrong! There is no doubting the excellent finish of everything on this craft, or the practical nature of the fit-out and engineering. But now for the acid test – how does she handle and ride, especially on a very moody Solent? But conditions were far from ideal, and whilst the weather may have blunted our top speed, it did provide us with a challenging sea state to evaluate the handling.
With her high bow and deep-V hull configuration, the Stingher 800GT displays impeccable manners underway, and we could, not fault her handling in any department. Heading into steep waves she rode with reassuring poise, and in a steep following sea she just lifted her bows to brush aside potentially tricky troughs. Cornering was equally impressive but the best feature was her dry ride and stability throughout the test; not once did the craft make the helmsman have to make any corrections over the bigger waves and, believe me, that is unusual…
As previously mentioned, the Stingher 800GT looks right from the moment you set eyes on her, and if looks are the main issue when parting with your well-earned cash, then this is one craft that should be on your shortlist. To sum up, this is a well-made, stylish RIB with a comfortable interior, that handles really well, ticks all the boxes and is available at a very attractive price. It would appear that my instincts were right – the Stingher 800GT package really is as good as it looks. ”
-Paul Lemmer – Courtesy of RIB International