Apex Boats, a boat-builder and rigid inflatable boat (RIB) specialist, was founded in 1986 by Roger Dherlin after 12 years’ blue ocean cruising experience. Originally based in Maryland, USA, the company moved to Costa Rica in the 1990s to meet the increased demand for its boats, taking advantage of the well-educated local workforce and clement climate.
Based in Atenas, close to the Costa Rican capital San José, the local, high-altitude, climate is recognised as one of the best in the world; its low humidity is perfect for the bonding process necessary for the boats’ construction.
Today, the Apex Boats team have more than 35 years of experience. The 2,000-square-metre factory is staffed by 50 top boat craftsmen building RIBs, rafts, fibreglass boats and custom vessels constructed to client specifications. All are manufactured to the highest standards of quality, in line with US Coast Guard regulations, European CE and UK certifications using the best raw material and accessories money can buy.
Apex Boats’ inflatable tubes are constructed using the best hypalon material available on the market, a polyethylene synthetic rubber worldwide known for its great durability, resistance to chemicals, extreme temperature and UV light. The tubes are larger than those of most other manufacturers, improving buoyancy and stability, and their rounded ends allow for the tough rubber strake that provides abrasion protection along the side of the RIB to be extended around the stern of the boat.
Apex Boats’ distinctive design allows for more interior space, heavier payloads, better stability and smoother ride than most of its competitors’ vessels. The hull, deck and stringer are constructed in fibreglass by hand using the finest resins. Unlike many other manufacturers, the stringer (the internal structure forming the ‘spine’ of the boat) is built without wood to increase longevity and strength, which becomes part of the hull.
All Apex Boats decks have a non-skid surface integrated directly into the mould, meaning it will never need replacing. The deck and hull are assembled using flexible fibreglass to absorb shocks, vibration and movement during navigation, all of which give Apex Boats their strength, light weight and durability with minimum maintenance.
From 2.4m to 13m in length in standard designs, and up to 18m by special order, Apex Boats has the largest RIB line in the world, with its wide range of designs currently used by the coast guard, police and security services, together with a range of NGOs and, of course, for professional scuba diving and recreational boating.
Alongside its expert boat-building business, Roger Dherlin also created the Apex Boats Foundation to develop a variety of non-profit ecological projects in Costa Rica. These include reforestation of the region with endemic tree and plant species, and educational projects with local schools, helping to promote the protection and preservation of marine life.
As part of its commitment to marine conservation, Apex Boats partners with Fins Attached, a shark research and conservation organisation and one of the founding partners of Rob Stewart’s Sharkwater Foundation. Apex Boats also works with Okeanos Explorer and the Undersea Hunter Group, renowned specialists in both recreational liveaboard diving and scientific exploration in Cocos Island; numerous local and international NGOs and institutional authorities for the protection of marine life.
With more than 35 years of experience focused on quality, and controlling all aspects of the boats’ design, style, mould and tubes, Apex Boats is able to meet any customer’s needs and provides infinite customisation opportunities for its clients.
