Built for Southern conditions
Southern Pacific’s newest addition to its inflatable boat range, the SeekR, is built for action. At 6.2 metres, it lands in the sweet spot for chase boats, support vessels and active family boating. Designed to be fast, functional and reliable, it’s the kind of RIB that could be just as at home shadowing a race fleet as it is towing kids on a biscuit or running gear ashore.
From the outset, the SeekR has been engineered for New Zealand’s mixed conditions — a detail that runs deep in Southern Pacific’s design DNA. Since 1988, the Kiwi company has been building inflatable boats for our coastlines, lakes and offshore work, adapting and evolving from a small Browns Bay workshop to a modern factory in Kumeu. Now operating under the Kiwi Yachting Group, Southern Pacific continues to shape its fleet with local experience and feedback.
A next-generation chase boat
Where its predecessor, the PerformR, first introduced a sharp and agile platform for performance-focused RIBs, the SeekR builds on that legacy with a focus on user versatility. It was launched in 2024 as the first Southern Pacific model to feature the new ‘never-go-flat’ D-tube — a hybrid air-and-foam-filled tube system covered in Hypalon for toughness. The result is increased internal space, better resistance to puncture and abrasion, and greater rigidity along the tube line.
These D-tubes serve more than one purpose. Their squared-off profile also creates a step or ledge along each side of the vessel, helping with boarding or gear transfer — a practical bonus for clubs, sailors and families alike.
Functional and flexible layout
The layout is simple but smart. There’s a full-width aft bench seat with dry storage beneath, a tidy anchor locker up forward, and a sleek GRP console amidships. A jockey seat comes standard, with the option to upgrade to a Shark suspension seat for high-speed runs or longer hours on the water.
Built using CNC moulding for precision and consistency, the hull carries a 22-degree deadrise and a high-shear bow profile. That delivers a dry ride and excellent handling in open water, whether you’re punching into a head sea or tracking alongside a racing yacht. The underfloor 60L fuel tank keeps weight low and central, supporting the recommended 100hp outboard setup — ideal for a wide range of uses.
LED nav lights, USB charge ports and a 500GPH bilge pump round out the standard electrical package.
Who’s it for?
This isn’t a luxury tender or a stripped-back surf sled. The SeekR is squarely aimed at yacht clubs, coaching crews, and families who want a little more capability from their RIB — more comfort, more handling confidence, and more room to move. It’s also likely to attract attention from professional skippers needing a reliable multi-use platform for regattas or waterfront operations.
With a dry weight of 620kg and a payload up to 1160kg, it’s light enough to trailer or davit launch, yet robust enough to carry crew, gear, and tow lines in rougher seas.
A long-running Kiwi success story
The SeekR reflects the latest evolution in a long-running Kiwi success story. Southern Pacific has come a long way since gluing seams by hand in Browns Bay. The SeekR marks another step forward — a RIB that knows its job, respects the elements, and doesn’t overcomplicate things.
