A RIB is a rigid inflatable boat, and is the kind of boat the RNLI use as their inshore lifeboats. They have a rigid hull, with inflatable sides, and regularly used as safety boats for yacht races, and just to play about on. Broadsword is owned by the Metropolitan Police Sailing Club, and is based on the river Hamble near Southampton.

'BROADSWORD' is a RIBCRAFT 5.85 metre fitted with a Suziki 140hp four stroke outboard which makes it go ....quite fast. There is side by side pod seating for 4 people behind the steering console, which includes a VHF radio with a DSC controller, a GPS and colour chart plotter and offshore compass, among the other instruments. She also has a separate 5 hp 4 stroke auxiliary engine and is fully equipped with all the necessary safety equipment including lifejackets flares etc.

Rob has completed an RYA course on Broadsword itself covering handling of the boat, tides, route plotting, radio work etc. The scouts all had a go at driving the boat.