Highfield Boats launches All-New Sport 800, ZeroJet 330 Electric Jet and More at 2023 FLIBS
Aug 28, 2023
Highfield Boats, the leading supplier of Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBS) in North America, will display five all-new and newly updated models for model-year 2024, including both electric and traditionally powered RIBs, at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) on October 25-29, 2023.
Highfield Boats is expanding its commitment to offering alternative electric propulsion options for its RIBs in 2024 by forming new partnerships with leading manufacturers in that segment, including ZeroJet and ePropulsion, in addition to its existing relationships with Flux Marine, Mercury Marine and Pure Watercraft. Highfield also is delighted to announce new partnerships with global traditional outboard engine manufacturers.
“Our new engine partnerships and the investments we are making in sustainable technology will give our dealers and their customers a much wider choice of propulsion packages to equip their Highfield RIBS the way they want them,” said Christophe Lavigne, president, Highfield Boats USA. “We are very excited about the wide range of new and redesigned models we are bringing to the U.S. fall boat show circuit this year along with our current best-selling models.”
Debuting at FLIBS 2023
HIghfield Sport 800
All-New Highfield Sport 800
Available with up to twin 150hp outboard power for breathtaking performance, the new 26’7″ Highfield Sport 800 is equally suited to serving as an offshore-capable primary boat and tender to a large luxury yacht. The Sport 800 offers a maximum passenger capacity of 15. The aft cockpit makes a spacious outdoor-dining spot for six featuring a large removable table and handy refrigerator under the aft-facing seat. The rear seat folds over to form an aft sunpad, complementing the large sundeck in the bow. A standard hardtop provides both shade and sleek styling cues for the new Sport 800.
Highfield ZeroJet 330
The new Highfield ZeroJet 330 – the world’s first production RIB equipped with electric jet propulsion, which made its world debut at the Dusseldorf International Boat Show in January – will be unveiled to the U.S. market at FLIBS. Highfield Boats collaborated with New Zealand electric jet propulsion ZeroJet to design this exciting new 11’ model. The ZeroJet 330 offers sporty performance, with top speeds of up to 22 knots, combined with silent running and the added safety provided by a jet pump rather than a propeller. Twin 48V LiFePO4 lithium-ion batteries provide run times of up to 7.5 hours.
Highfield Classic MAX
New for 2024, Highfield Boats’ popular Classic RIBS range will be offered with a newly expanded “MAX” extra-large bow locker, purpose-designed to hold different brands of lithium-ion batteries so the boats can be rigged with different brands and types of electric propulsion. The MAX boats’ bow locker also is perfect for boaters who want to store more gear in their tender and keep it safe in a lockable compartment. The Highfield Classic MAX 340 will be on display at FLIBS.
Highfield Sport 560
Highfield Sport 660 and Sport 560
These rugged RIBS feature a host of new engineering and design enhancements for 2024 that have been rolled out through the Highfield Sport line. These upgrades include:
• Bluesea dual-circuit battery switch, enabling them to be equipped with two optional batteries for house electrical power
• ACR (automatic charging relay).
• LED courtesy lights on console and helm seat
• USB charger on the back of helm seat
• Bow sundeck
• Console glove box
• Gussi steering wheel
• Hydraulic steering
• Roll bar for boats with single-engine installations
• Swim platform with ladder
• Shower kit with built-in 13-gallon freshwater tank.
These new RIBS are being prepared for market at the new Highfield Boats USA Rigging & Distribution Center in Cadillac, Michigan. “Our expansion to this new facility shows our dedication to offering unparalleled convenience and efficiency to our valued customers throughout North America,” Lavigne said.
