AB Inflatables

RIBs and dinghies from AB Marine Group, built in Colombia.

AB Inflatables is the boat brand of AB Marine Group. The company was founded in 1969 in Venezuela, where founder Ulrich Heyer imported and assembled aluminium boats; following an import ban in 1983, it began manufacturing them itself. His son, Ivor Heyer, joined the business in 1985 and learnt the trade of inflatable boat manufacturing from an Italian manufacturer, after which AB began building rubber boats from 1989 onwards. In 2007, production moved to Colombia, where the brand has owned its own factory since 2022. AB states that it manufactures all components in-house and supplies products with CE and NMMA certification.

The range consists of RIBs and dinghies with fibreglass or aluminium hulls. The Navigo VS, Ventus VL, Nautilus DLX and the larger Oceanus VST have fibreglass hulls, whilst the Alumina ALX and Lammina AL and UL have aluminium hulls; in addition, there are the Mares, the AB Rider, jettenders and a professional range. Sizes range from approximately 7.5 to 28 feet, or 2.3 to 8.5 metres, fitted with outboard engines and, in the case of the largest Nautilus model, an inboard engine as well. The boats are mainly used as tenders for sailing and motor yachts and as day boats.

Facts & figures

• Founded in 1969 in Venezuela by Ulrich Heyer
• Has been manufacturing inflatable boats since 1989
• Has been manufacturing in Colombia since 2007, and in its own factory since 2022
• Part of AB Marine Group
• Builds boats ranging from approximately 7.5 to 28 feet
• Imported into the Benelux by Boot Akkrum in Akkrum