About this tender
The Cobra 8m is the build we ask Cobra RIBs for when a yacht programme needs a proper inboard-engined tender at the compact end of the range. It is the entry point to Cobra's Nautique Inboard line - a platform that carries the same deep-V hull geometry, suspension helm seating, and handbuilt GRP finish found on the larger 9m and 10m models, but in a hull that fits a tighter garage envelope. Ten passengers, a diesel sterndrive driveline, and 240 litres of fuel capacity: the numbers are modest only in the context of its length.
Cobra has been designing and building RIBs from its Christchurch, Dorset factory since 1988, and five generations of hull development are visible in the 8m. The Generation V deep-V hull increases deadrise while reducing energy loss and improving efficiency; the tube position is engineered to maximise spray deflection. Every boat leaves the factory after a full quality-control check, hand-finished by the same team that produces the larger Inboard models. That continuity of build standard is why we see the same fit and finish quality here that a captain would expect on a 10m GRP tender.
The 8m Inboard is offered with a configurable layout and a choice of diesel engine and sterndrive combinations, with left-hand or right-hand helm position available to suit your programme. The engine room lid serves double duty as a sunbed area aft - a practical detail that returns deck space to the crew when the boat is at anchor. Upholstery, tube colour, and decking are all specified to order, so the finished boat integrates cleanly with the yacht's livery.
We would put the Cobra 8m alongside other British-built inboard RIBs in the 8m class and note that Cobra's price point remains competitive without any production being sourced overseas. For owners who want the proven Cobra Inboard DNA in a hull short enough to sit comfortably in a mid-sized superyacht garage, this is the model to specify.
Highlights
The four details we'd point out first to a captain who hasn't seen one on the water yet.
Cobra's fifth-generation deep-V hull design increases deadrise while reducing energy loss, with tube position optimised for spray deflection. The hull is moulded on a 5-axis CNC machine to a tolerance of 0.005, then hand-finished at the Christchurch factory. The result is a GRP structure that punches above its length class in rough water.
The 8m runs a diesel inboard engine paired with sterndrive propulsion - the same configuration used across the Cobra Nautique Inboard range. Diesel suits a superyacht programme where fuel compatibility with the mothership and low-speed torque for ferry work both matter. Engine choice is confirmed with Cobra at order stage.
Cobra's proprietary suspension helm seats are fitted as standard across the entire Nautique Inboard range. All suspension mechanisms are integrated and concealed within the seat back, protecting them from salt air and keeping the helm area clean. A sit-stand bolster option is available, which is the preferred configuration for offshore passages.
A 240-litre fuel tank is confirmed for the 8m, a meaningful number for a hull of this length and one that supports extended day-runs without a return to the mothership for fuel. Combined with the efficiency gains from the Generation V hull, range is genuinely usable rather than nominal.
Every Cobra 8m is custom-built to order in Christchurch, UK. Layout, helm position, tube colour, upholstery, and decking are all specified by the owner or captain. No production is sourced overseas. For a superyacht tender programme, that means lead-time discipline and a single point of contact for snagging and warranty.
Gallery
The full specification
Specifications, prices, availability, and performance figures are supplied for guidance only and remain subject to confirmation by the yard, seller, broker, survey, contract, and final specification.
Questions, answered
Last call · Available
Cobra · Christchurch, UK
Tell us about your yacht, your programme, and the missions 8m needs to handle. We come back within 48 hours with a written assessment - fit for the brief, lead time, and trade-offs against alternatives in the same band.
Prefer to talk? +44 (0) 77180 88055 · other ways to reach us
From the library
