A Year In Review | Our Top 20 Highlights of 2025
This has been a year of living our motto, ‘When you must go to sea’, whether you go to sea for work, play or adventure. It has been a year of product and category development; making our boats even more capable, adaptable and robust for whatever the sea throws at them.
A year of customer development and support; providing boat handling and rough water training for customers new and old, and by partnering with a global leader in marine insurance to ensure all Redbays receive the protection they deserve. A year of being on the water more, and in more places; a year of adventures, of new friendships being forged and memories made.
It has been a busy year in Redbay. Here is our top highlights 20 for 2025.
1. PANTAENIUS x REDBAY PARTNERSHIP
In February, we launched a partnership with leading European marine insurer, Pantaenius Insurance, bringing comprehensive cover to our customers to protect both craft and crew. You can read more about the partnership here.
2. DIVE IRELAND 2025
We attended and exhibited at the 2025 Dive Ireland Expo in Tipperary in March. A hugely successful event focused on the dive community in Ireland and the UK. We will be exhibiting at the 2026 event at The Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary on March 21st 2026.
3. THE LAUNCH OF THE GF1050 'TEXA MÒR'
March saw the launch of Texa Mòr, our GF1050. Powered by twin Suzuki 350’s, full Garmin navigation and communication system, including Phantom Black Radar and a unique tender cradle system, this boat, like its owner, is made for adventure.
4. THE ANNUAL BULL RUN
The 16th Annual Bull Run took place in Kerry on Easter Sunday, leaving from beautiful Dromquinna Manor 60+ boats made their way down Kenmare Bay and out to the majestic Bull Rock. Organised by long-standing Redbay customers, the Brennan family, we are proud to sponsor this event and urge as many of our customers as possible to sign up for 2026 charity run.
5. THE NEW STORMFORCE 750 WAS INTRODUCED
The new leisure version of our SF750 model was launched in April 2025. All - new design. Same legendary capability. An evolution of our renowned Stormforce 7.4, the all-new Stormforce 750 is built with the same sea-keeping pedigree and trusted performance that made its predecessor a favourite amongst serious boaters.
The new Stormforce 750 brings everything you loved about the 7.4 to the next level - enhanced comfort, modern design, and superior performance without losing the rugged dependability. Already a popular classic with 6 builds completed this year.
6. TRADING UP PODCAST
Tom & Conor also featured in Jim Fitzpatrick’s ‘Trading Up’ podcast in early May. Describing the background to the business, the challenges and opportunities in the industry and the plans for the company as it approaches its 50th Anniversary. 7. INISHBOFIN CHARITY RIB RUN 2025
Fifty-three RIB’s took to the water in glorious sunshine for the Inishbofin Charity RIB Run 2025. Redbay was there in our latest Stormforce 750 as we followed a spectacular route including Inishbofin, Innisturk, Clare Island and Innisshark. An unforgettable day and one we hope to repeat in 2026.
8. GF 1050 'GYPSEA'
Our second GF1050 of the year, ‘Gypsea’, was launched in late May. A unique and powerful machine, fitted out to the exacting standards of its new owner it has been spotted on more than one occasion making waves in Dublin Bay.
9. THE BIG TRIP
Circumnavigating Scotland was on the bucket list for an adventurous group of Redbay customers from the kingdom of Kerry. After the long journey of trailering their boats to Cushendall, the lads set off on an epic 885 nautical mile adventure from St Kilda in the West, to Shetland in the North, Inverness in the East and then back through the Caledonian canal to the Western Isles and home to Red Bay. You can read more about it here.
10. ST KILDA TRIP
Speaking of St Kilda, a group of four Redbays made the trip out west to St Kilda on one of the calmest, clearest and sunniest days of the year. This magical place, with a unique cultural, historical and environmental heritage, is within our reach and is yet one of the most isolated and dramatic places you can visit.
11. THE NEW SHOWROOM
The redesign of our customer suite and showroom was completed in early summer. We have utilised the space to tell the story of Redbay and showcase our latest models, navigation and communication equipment, and engines. It also houses Redbay 1, the first boat in our fleet and our Redbay Ski-Sport 136 speedboat. Please call in for a visit.
12. GIGHA RIB TRIP
More island hopping took us to Gigha in June for a customer day out. Boats of all sizes made the trip across the North Channel, with Scottish boats also joining in. Lunch on this gem of an island is always special.
13. STORMFORCE 850 DIVE BOAT
In July, we completed a very special Stormforce 850 Dive Boat for the Irish market. This build, further underlines our commitment to ensuring a safe and accessible diving industry on these islands.
14. REDBAY x MUSTO
In mid-summer, we also launched our new technical clothing line with a range of Musto all-weather gear, boating jackets and leisurewear. This was further complemented with a new range of Redbay-branded Spinlock deckvests. You can buy directly from our showroom or online at: https://redbayboats.com/collections/shop
15. AROUND IRELAND 2025 (with a trip to Ardbeg thrown in)
One of our most adventurous Redbay boaters of the year has to be Ross Walsh. He decided he wanted to go to this year's Ardbeg/ Redbay event, but being based in Cork, he knew that wasn’t going to be easy. So he kitted out his SF1050 ‘Atlantic Dawn’, brought the old man with him and headed North, rendezvousing with us in Cushendall in time to cross the North Channel to Ardbeg. Then, he just decided to go home, down the Irish Sea and back to Cork - facing some huge seas along the way. Over one thousand miles done and dusted. Not bad for an 11-year-old. You can read his story here.
16. ANNUAL ARDBEG TRIP 2025
Our annual Ardbeg outing took place on Saturday, 16th August, with more than 40 boats and 200 people leaving Cushendall and heading for Islay. As always, a very special day spent with customers, suppliers, friends and family. Great weather, a wonderfully warm reception from the staff of Ardbeg and the people of Islay, made for great craic, some dancing and a few burnt heads. Thank you to everyone who attended and all of our wonderful event sponsors.
17. LITTLE & LARGE
In September, we spotted our unique Stormforce 7.4 metre tender alongside its mothership, Lunasea, a 73m superyacht, in Palma. Good to see Redbay in fine company, and many thanks to the Captain and crew for the tour of this amazing boat.
18. STORMFORCE 1150 EVENT
In October, we held our first SF1150 customer experience event at our factory, followed by sea trials and lunch in a cosy village pub in Carnlough. A curated, deep dive into all things SF1150 with four versions and layouts to view, our guests then got an opportunity to experience the SF1150 in the elements she is built to handle, as we faced big seas en route from Red Bay to Carnlough harbour. Guests also got the opportunity to drive the boat on the way home, to fully grasp its awesome capability and power.
We will be running similar events in 2026, both from our factory in Cushendall and potentially further afield in Ireland and Scotland. If you would be interested in attending, please let us know by emailing niall@redbayboats.com
19. REDBAY ONLINE
Further growth in our online footprint this year; we now have more than 55,000 visitors to our website and have grown our online followers to more than 15,000. We have also advertised in Motorboat & Yachting, Powerboat & RIB and attended or exhibited at more than eight conferences, exhibitions and boat shows this year. Bringing our brand to more places and people than ever before. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and our website also hosts our pre-owned section of cherished Redbay’s.
20. AS THE YEAR CLOSES
.. a quick look at the numbers. 168 metres of boats built, across 22 RIB’s ranging from our SF610 to SF1250’s. We finish the year with three SF1050’s Sea Safari boats nearing completion, and we also have a unique 40-person, class six certified SF1250 vessel for passenger ferry services in build, launching in late 2026.
Our last boat of the year… a unique Stormforce 850 in Caraibe green with a matching trailer for a long-standing customer now on his fourth Redbay.
In early 2026, we will be launching a Redbay Training Academy for our customers - basic training, advanced boat handling skills and a unique rough weather course. The training will be provided by RYA Powerboat Advanced Instructor Danny Gallagher and supported by the team at Redbay. More details and instructions on how to book in the New Year.
We are proud to co-sponsor Rib Rendezvous 2026 with Suzuki Marine. Taking place May 2/3rd 2026, this will be the largest RIB gathering in the UK & Ireland with more than 100 boats circumnavigating Mull clockwise, with lunch in Tobermory and dinner at Kerrera Marina.
This will be the boating event of 2026 and not to be missed.
You can sign up here.
From all the team at Redbay thank you for your support, for the memories and we look forward to seeing you all in 2026. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
