France / China · Tier 1
Highfield Dinghies in Australia
The aluminium RIB benchmark
Brand profile
Highfield at a Glance
Highfield earns one of the largest sections in this guide because it spans almost the entire dinghy market on its own: packable roll-up tenders, ultralight aluminium RIBs, conventional RIB tenders, console boats and heavy-duty commercial support craft. For an Australian cruising sailor it is the brand most likely to have a model that fits the davits, the budget and the job.
Nationally distributed with an established Australian dealer network. The manufacturer links Australian spare-parts support directly to Northside Marine.
- Market position
- The aluminium RIB benchmark
- Best matched to
- Aluminium RIB buyers · Sailing yacht tenders · Cruising catamaran tenders
- Australian access
- Official distributor
- Range footprint
- 5 families · 36 models · 2.0–7.6 m
- Boat types
- Aluminium RIB · Roll-up inflatable · Console RIB · Commercial RIB
- Main markets
- Packable Tenders · RIB Tenders · Club & Rescue
Our take
If you want an aluminium-hulled RIB tender in Australia, Highfield is the default shortlist and everything else is measured against it. The UL290 in particular is the single most cross-shopped cruising tender in the country.
Editorial fit scores
Brand-level scores against each job. Individual models are scored separately — see any model page. Methodology.
Range architecture
How the Highfield Range Is Organised
Use the family structure to eliminate the wrong part of the catalogue before comparing individual models.
| Family | Role in the range | Models | Length band | Primary market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roll Up | Packable inflatables for yachts without davits. Prioritises stowed size over ride. | 5 | 2.00–3.20 m | Packable Tenders |
| Ultralite | Aluminium rigid hull at significantly lower weight than comparable GRP RIBs. The cruising sailor's range. | 5 | 2.40–3.37 m | RIB Tenders |
| Classic | General-purpose aluminium RIBs with heavier fit-out, higher power ratings and console options on larger hulls. | 9 | 2.60–4.59 m | RIB Tenders |
| Sport | Performance RIBs. Progressively less a dinghy and more an independent recreational powerboat. | 9 | 3.36–6.60 m | RIB Tenders |
| Patrol | Heavy-duty, commercial and support RIBs. The range clubs, marinas and rescue operations should be reading. | 8 | 4.21–7.60 m | Club & Rescue |
Starting points
Highfield Models Worth Opening First
These are the best-documented starting points across different Highfield families—not a paid ranking or a claim that one model suits every buyer.
Roll Up
Highfield Roll Up 200
- Length
- 2.00 m
- Power
- 3.5 hp
- Capacity
- 2 people
- Hull weight
- —
Ultra-compact tender
Open model profile →Ultralite
Highfield UL240
- Length
- 2.40 m
- Power
- 6 hp
- Capacity
- 3 people
- Hull weight
- —
Lightest rigid-hull option
Open model profile →Patrol
Highfield Patrol 420
- Length
- 4.21 m
- Power
- 60 hp
- Capacity
- 8 people
- Hull weight
- —
Entry commercial-grade patrol boat
Open model profile →Sport
Highfield Sport 330
- Length
- 3.36 m
- Power
- 30 hp
- Capacity
- 5 people
- Hull weight
- —
A representative model from the Sport family. Confirm the current Australian specification.
Open model profile →Buyer due diligence
Buying Highfield: questions to ask
Before choosing a model, ask the dealer to confirm availability, the complete package weight and local service support. Get the answers in writing so you can compare quotes on the same basis.
- Which Highfield models are physically stocked in Australia now, and which are special-order only?
- What is included in the quoted package, and what will the complete ready-to-use weight be with propulsion, fuel or battery, safety gear and normal accessories?
- Who performs warranty assessment and supplies replacement parts in the state where the boat will be used?
- What tube fabric, seam construction and repair materials are supplied on the exact Australian configuration?
- Can the complete boat-and-engine package be demonstrated with the buyer's normal passenger and gear load?
Take the answers into the comparison tool, then use the sea-trial protocol or, for sailing boats, the sailing dinghy buying guide.
Highfield
Roll Up
Packable inflatables for yachts without davits. Prioritises stowed size over ride.
| Model | Length | Max power | Persons | Hull weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roll Up 200 Ultra-compact tender | 2.00 m | 3.5 hp | 2 | — |
| Roll Up 230 Small yacht tender | 2.30 m | 4 hp | 2 | — |
| Roll Up 250 General tender | 2.50 m | 6 hp | 3 | — |
| Roll Up 280 Larger portable tender | 2.80 m | 10 hp | 4 | — |
| Roll Up 320 Family portable tender | 3.20 m | 15 hp | 5 | — |
Highfield
Ultralite
Aluminium rigid hull at significantly lower weight than comparable GRP RIBs. The cruising sailor's range.
| Model | Length | Max power | Persons | Hull weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UL240 Lightest rigid-hull option | 2.40 m | 6 hp | 3 | — |
| UL260 Excellent small-yacht RIB where davit capacity is limited | 2.60 m | 8 hp | 4 | — |
| UL290 The cruising-couple sweet spot: useful without becoming unmanageable | 2.90 m | 15 hp | 4 | — |
| UL310 Strong liveaboard candidate where floor and payload matter | 3.13 m | 15 hp | 5 | — |
| UL340 Better suited to larger catamarans and family cruising | 3.37 m | 20 hp | 6 | — |
Highfield
Classic
General-purpose aluminium RIBs with heavier fit-out, higher power ratings and console options on larger hulls.
| Model | Length | Max power | Persons | Hull weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic 260 Entry point of the Classic range | 2.60 m | 15 hp | — | — |
| Classic 290 | 2.90 m | — | — | — |
| Classic 310 | 3.10 m | — | — | — |
| Classic 340 | 3.40 m | — | — | — |
| Classic 360 | 3.60 m | — | — | — |
| Classic 380 Popular club and coach-boat size | 3.80 m | — | — | — |
| Classic 400 | 4.00 m | — | — | — |
| Classic 420 | 4.20 m | — | — | — |
| Classic 460 Top of the Classic range | 4.59 m | 70 hp | — | — |
Highfield
Sport
Performance RIBs. Progressively less a dinghy and more an independent recreational powerboat.
Highfield
Patrol
Heavy-duty, commercial and support RIBs. The range clubs, marinas and rescue operations should be reading.
| Model | Length | Max power | Persons | Hull weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrol 420 Entry commercial-grade patrol boat | 4.21 m | 60 hp | 8 | — |
| Patrol 460 | 4.60 m | — | — | — |
| Patrol 500 | 5.00 m | — | — | — |
| Patrol 540 | 5.40 m | — | — | — |
| Patrol 540 Coaster Coaster configuration | 5.40 m | — | — | — |
| Patrol 600 | 6.00 m | — | — | — |
| Patrol 700 | 7.00 m | — | — | — |
| Patrol 760 | 7.60 m | — | — | — |
Direct alternatives
Brands to Compare with Highfield
These brands overlap with Highfield in at least one Australian market. Compare the exact model, support path and complete operating package.
France
Zodiac
The name that defined the category
Japan
Achilles
CSM tubes for tropical UV
Ukraine
BRIG
Fibreglass refinement, tender to flagship
Australia / International
Easy Inflatables
Aerowave boats, supplied and supported by Easy Inflatables