Material Guide
Orca Hypalon 828 vs 866 for RIB Tubes
Orca 828 and Orca 866 are both proven Hypalon fabrics for RIB tube manufacture and retubing. The difference is weight and denier — not a jump in quality. This guide explains what sets them apart, when we use each grade, and why reinforcement matters more than most owners realise.
Orca 828 — surface mass
1340 g/m²
Standard weight. 990 denier base fabric. Default for leisure and most boats to around 7m.
Orca 866 — surface mass
1565 g/m²
Heavyweight. 1500 denier base fabric. Standard for boats over 7m and commercial, patrol and rescue craft.
Both grades certified
ISO + SOLAS
Both carry ISO 6185 and SOLAS ISO 15372 certification. Both use CSM/CR construction.
Quick Answer
828 vs 866 — the core differences.
Standard Weight
Orca Hypalon 828
1340 g/m² · 990 denier · CSM/CR
The standard RIB retube fabric. Suited to leisure boats, yacht tenders and lighter-duty commercial applications up to around 7 metres.
- Surface mass: 1340 g/m² (±140)
- Base fabric: 990 denier polyester HT
- Tensile strength: ≥ 350 daN/5cm
- Tear resistance: ≥ 20 daN
- Suits leisure RIBs, tenders and day boats
- ISO 6185 and SOLAS ISO 15372 certified
Heavyweight
Orca Hypalon 866
1565 g/m² · 1500 denier · CSM/CR
The heavier and stronger Hypalon fabric grade. Standard for boats over around 7 metres and for commercial, patrol, rescue and military RIBs of any size.
- Surface mass: 1565 g/m² (±165)
- Base fabric: 1500 denier polyester HT
- Tensile strength: ≥ 500 daN/5cm
- Tear resistance: ≥ 33 daN
- Suits commercial, patrol and rescue craft
- ISO 6185 and SOLAS ISO 15372 certified
Strength & Weight
Which grade is stronger and which is heavier?
Technical Specifications
828 vs 866 — side by side.
| Specification | Orca Hypalon 828 | Orca Hypalon 866 |
|---|---|---|
| Base fabric | Polyester HT 1100 dtex / 990 denier | Polyester HT 1670 dtex / 1500 denier |
| Surface mass | 1340 g/m² (±140) | 1565 g/m² (±165) |
| Coating (external) | CSM / CR | CSM / CR |
| Coating (internal) | CR | CR |
| Tensile strength | ≥ 350 daN/5cm | ≥ 500 daN/5cm |
| Tear resistance | ≥ 20 daN | ≥ 33 daN |
| Certification | ISO 6185, SOLAS ISO 15372 | ISO 6185, SOLAS ISO 15372 |
| UV resistance | Strong — CSM compound | Strong — CSM compound |
| Typical application | Leisure, tenders, lighter commercial. Most boats to ~7m. | Commercial, patrol, rescue. Boats over ~7m. |
| Source: Orca by Pennel & Flipo technical data. Figures are nominal values. | ||
How We Decide
Boat length is a starting point, not the whole picture.
Reinforcement
Fabric grade vs reinforcement — what matters more?
01
Rubbing Strips
Protect tubes where they make regular contact with pontoons, quays and other vessels. The most common reinforcement on working RIBs.
Most applicable on: commercial operators, harbour patrol, rescue craft, any boat mooring alongside regularly.
02
Cladding
Heavier wear protection including 3mm cladding for large-area wear. Most often specified on military, police and commercial hard-use craft.
Most applicable on: military and police RIBs, offshore patrol, commercial craft in demanding operating environments.
03
Boarding Wear Patches
Protect tube surfaces at the points where crew and passengers regularly step on when boarding. Relevant for most operational craft.
Most applicable on: sea safari, passenger RIBs, rescue and patrol, any operational craft with regular crew boarding.
04
Bow Reinforcement
Additional protection around anchor, recovery and fairlead points where the bow is more exposed to contact and chafe.
Most applicable on: RIBs in offshore or tidal environments, search and rescue, boats recovering lines and anchors regularly.
Practical Note
Moving from 828 to 866 is not a substitute for proper reinforcement. A well-reinforced 828 tube will outlast an unreinforced 866 tube on a boat that works hard. We always discuss both as part of the specification.
Summary
828 vs 866 — at a glance.
| Orca Hypalon 828 | Orca Hypalon 866 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric weight | Standard — 1340 g/m² | Heavyweight — 1565 g/m² |
| Typical boat size | Up to ~7m | 7m and above |
| Leisure use | Yes — standard choice | Yes — where specified |
| Commercial / patrol | Lighter-duty commercial | Yes — standard choice |
| Rescue / military | Some applications | Yes — preferred choice |
| UV resistance | Strong — CSM compound | Strong — CSM compound |
| Colour range | Full Orca range, all finishes | Full Orca range, all finishes |
| ISO / SOLAS cert | ISO 6185, SOLAS 15372 | ISO 6185, SOLAS 15372 |
FAQ
Common questions on 828 vs 866.
Which Orca Hypalon grade is stronger — 828 or 866?
Orca 866 is the stronger grade. It has a tensile strength rating of ≥ 500 daN/5cm against ≥ 350 daN/5cm for Orca 828, and a tear resistance of ≥ 33 daN against ≥ 20 daN. The higher strength comes from the heavier-denier base fabric — 1500 denier in 866 compared to 990 denier in 828.
Which Orca Hypalon grade is heavier — 828 or 866?
Orca 866 is the heavier grade. Its nominal surface mass is 1565 g/m² compared to 1340 g/m² for Orca 828 — a difference of around 225 g/m². On a full set of replacement tubes for a larger boat, this adds up to a measurable weight increase in the finished tube package.
Is Orca 866 much more abrasion-resistant than 828?
Not in practical day-to-day terms. The higher tensile and tear resistance figures in 866 are relevant to structural load at larger boat sizes, not to surface wear in the way most owners mean when they ask the question. Proper reinforcement has a greater effect on wear life than the fabric grade choice.
Which grade suits leisure RIBs?
Orca Hypalon 828 is the standard choice for leisure RIBs, yacht tenders and day boats up to around 6 to 7 metres. It delivers strong UV and weathering resistance and is the default RIB retube fabric for this market. Orca 866 can be used if the owner specifies it, but it is not normally necessary.
Which grade suits boats over 7 metres?
Orca Hypalon 866 is the standard specification for boats above around 7 metres. At greater lengths, tube panels carry larger structural loads and the higher tensile and tear strength of 866 provides a better match for the demands of the hull. The 7-metre threshold is a practical guide rather than an absolute rule.
Which grade suits commercial, patrol and rescue RIBs?
Orca Hypalon 866 is the standard choice for commercial, patrol and rescue RIBs. The higher tensile and tear strength make it better suited to the operational demands of working craft, regardless of boat length. Some smaller commercial and rescue RIBs are retubed in 866 because the application warrants it.
Does colour availability differ between 828 and 866?
No. Both Orca 828 and Orca 866 are available across the main Orca Hypalon colour range. Colour choice does not depend on which grade you select. For full colour options, finishes and swatch guidance, see our Orca Hypalon colour chart.
Can I choose Orca 866 on a smaller boat?
Yes. Many smaller commercial and working boats are retubed in 866 where the operator wants the heavier grade as part of the specification. It costs a little more and adds some weight to the finished tube package, but it is not a problem technically.
What matters more — fabric grade or reinforcement?
Both matter, but reinforcement is often the overlooked part. Good rubbing strips, boarding patches, cladding and bow protection extend the working life of a tube far more reliably than simply upgrading the base fabric grade. We discuss both as part of every retube specification.
Colour Options
Need help choosing a colour as well as a fabric grade? Both Orca 828 and Orca 866 are available across the main Orca Hypalon colour range. See our Orca Hypalon colour chart for available colours, finishes and practical advice for RIB tubes.
Not sure which grade is right for your boat?
Send us the boat make, model, length and a few photos of the existing tubes. Ribcollar will advise on the right Orca Hypalon grade, finish, reinforcement strategy and fittings for the job.