15 Oct
You might know IRON Boats for its fleet of high-performance boats, but do you know how it became a fast-growing niche performance brand across Scandinavia, Europe, the United States, New Zealand, and other countries? Learn IRON Boats’ story and how it became the world’s largest rigid inflatable boat (RIB) retailer and one of Mercury’s top non-chain retailers.
Where It All Began
Lars and Henrik Peterson, two brothers from Sweden, were ordinary men running hardware stores. Today, they are known as the Iron Brothers and are carving a path to become leaders in the marine industry with their IRON Boats brand.
From a small company launched in 2020, the brothers have built a reputation for innovation and performance and have now sold over 800 boats across seven models in more than 31 countries.
Partnering with Mannerfelt Design Team
By the time the Peterson brothers launched IRON Boats, they already had several years of experience working in a boat retailer and navigating the rugged Swedish archipelago. Through this marine experience, they realized something was missing in the boat market: a boat that was both practical and cutting-edge in performance. So, why not build what they couldn’t find?
For the brothers, partnering with Mannefelt Design Team, a Swedish studio specializing in energy-efficient boat design, motorboat racing engineering, and naval architecture, was a no-brainer.
Ocke Mannerfelt founded the Mannerfelt Design Team in the early 1980s, and Ocke and his son, chief designer Ted Mannerfelt, now run it. Ted is an automotive designer trained at the Royal College of Art, with experience at Lotus Cars and Jaguar. Today, Mannerfelt Design Team is famous for designing race boats and holding multiple offshore racing world championship titles.
Drawing on their experience, the partnership enabled the Peterson brothers to create IRON: a sleek, versatile boat built for adventure. From its stealth-inspired design and exceptional seaworthiness to its superior functionality, it soon gained recognition in Sweden and other countries.
Racing-Inspired Design
When the Peterson brothers launched their business, they aimed to set a new standard for functional, stylish, and affordable day cruisers. They wanted boat enthusiasts to access exceptional performance without sacrificing their comfort or their passengers’. Basically, they wanted boaters to feel like they could race the waves, but also set out for a day of fishing, picnicking, and cruising in the same boat.
That’s one reason IRON Boats is such a fast-growing company in the boating scene. After extensive on-water testing by respected French boating publication Moteur Boat, they described one of the IRON models as having ‘a fantastic hull’ because of its seakeeping abilities, predictable handling, and ability to maintain control and comfort in challenging boating conditions. The Scandinavian design philosophy and deep-V hull define every model, and they have set the standard for premium adventure RIBs.
Bridging the Gap Between a RIB and Fiberglass Sport Boat
Described as a hybrid of a RIB and fiberglass sport boat, IRON Boats captures the best of both. You still get the high-performance handling, spaciousness, and sleek aesthetics of a fiberglass center console, but you also have the heavy-duty impact protection and rugged utility of a RIB.
Patented IRON Fender System
Rather than using the inflatable tubes common in traditional RIBs, IRON boats feature a rigid plastic fender with built-in air channels integrated into the fiberglass hull. This patented system:
- Lowers the center of gravity to promote stability
- Dampens movement and noise for smooth running
- Delivers archipelago protection when navigating rocky Swedish channels without worrying about punctures
Race-Crafted 23-Degree Deep V-Hull
Drawing on the Mannerfelt Design Team’s offshore powerboat racing history, IRON Boats’ fleet features a 23-degree deep V-hull. It’s designed to pull a drag-reducing cushion of air underneath the boat at high speeds to improve fuel efficiency and soften the impact of landings when jumping waves.
The keel also has a unique flat skid pad with two concave channels to grip the water during sharp turns. This prevents the tail from sliding out.
Anti-Diving Bow
Swedish waves are frequently described as short, steep, and frequent. To keep the boat from diving into the backside of a wave, the bow has a flared, broad top section. This keeps the bow lifted and pushes spray away from the cockpit, keeping passengers as dry as possible.
From the Swedish Archipelago to the World
Lars and Henrik Peterson live on Sweden’s rugged west coast in Billdal, just south of Gothenburg. They brought IRON Boats to life here after years of navigating the harsh Swedish archipelago, but their newly produced fleet didn’t stay there.
While IRON Boats models are popular in Sweden for handling harsh weather and rough seas, they are gaining a following in other countries with similar conditions. As of 2026, there are IRON Boats dealerships in:
- Australia
- Cyprys
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Latvia/Lithuania
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Netherlands/LUX/BEL
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Slovenia/Serbia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States
Learn More About IRON Boats from Sportboats Marine in Fort Myers Beach, Florida
If you’re interested in learning more about how IRON Boats’ high-performance boats stand out from the crowd, connect with the team at Sportboats Marine in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
We’re proud to be your local nautical hub for leading boat manufacturers, including IRON Boats, Nor-Tech, and Nitra Boats. Navigate our curated selection of boats today, and let’s get you out on the water, slicing through waves in style.
