Cougar Centre Console R-11 Sport Review

Here’s a RIB that 007 would gladly steal

Traditionally, little RIBs exist as tenders to ferry you from shore to boat. Not so with the big vessels like Cougar’s latest R-11 Sport unless you own a superyacht and your man Jeeves is ferrying your guests (including James Bond and his Bond girl du jour) to the party. Your superyacht will need a big garage: at just under 11m, the R-11 Sport is Cougar Marine’s biggest RIB, a boat well and truly unto itself, finished to a high standard.

The centre console R-11 Sport carries 10 people comfortably with room on the bow and aft of the console, in addition to the electric, bolstered helm seat covered by the fibreglass shade top. Furthermore, the R-11 Sport has the luxury of a large, fully moulded toilet compartment situated in front of the console unit, equipped with an electric toilet, sink and pull-out shower head, thus providing full family comfort on the water.

Its auto-inflating, heavy-duty, multi-compartment tubes are built of 1300gsm hypalon and can endure tough conditions hence their 10-year warranty. But be reassured when you are making the most of the power generated by diesel or petrol (your choice) sterndrive engines, the boat’s twin stepped 24? deep vee hull ensures manoeuvrability and a smooth ride, delivering a steady and stable environment even when driving at a more leisurely, family, pace.

Other features include a transom shower, a through-hull stainless steel anchor and windlass system, hydraulic steering, auto bilge pumps, a self-draining cockpit, fuel shut-off valves and LED nav light with auto retracting sternlight.

But given the history of Cougar now distributed in Australia by Eagle Yachts Pty Ltd in time for the brand’s 40th anniversary the sporty nature of the boat may well be what attracts you. The first catamaran to win an offshore powerboat race was a Cougar. Steve Curtis, head of the company, has won the Class 1 World title eight times.

So be warned: should you use the Cougar R-11 Sport to ferry guests to your superyacht and the guest list includes 007, rest assured that he will make his escape on the R-11. And with a range of colour choices for the tubes, there’s little chance of them clashing with the Bond girl du jour’s bikini.