Twisted Scorpion 36GT: Testing out the RIB that hits 70 knots

The Twisted Scorpion 36GT pairs proven deep-V performance with bespoke detailing, delivering a high-speed test that blurs the line between offshore capability and custom build...

It’s about four nautical miles from Lymington Harbour to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, and by ferry the usually serene journey takes around 40 minutes. But there is now a far more exciting vessel that devours the distance so quickly it makes the island seem as though it’s coming to you rather than you are going to it.

We’re talking about the Twisted Scorpion 36GT, a beautifully built aquatic rocket ship that’s the result of what many regard as the sine qua non of RIB manufacturers being brought beneath the wing of one of Britain’s leading automotive tuning houses.

Once clear of Lymington’s six-knot limit, we give free rein to the twin 400-horsepower V10 Mercury Verado outboards and positively surge up onto the plane, hitting 60 knots in what seems like the blink of an eye.

And, having foolishly headed out without protective glasses on a decidedly draughty morning, it is only the fact that I can no longer keep my eyes open that forces me to throttle back.

“If you had kept the power on we could have hit 70 knots,” assures Jake Cronk, Twisted Marine’s managing director and a man who has long been a Scorpion fan. “In my opinion, they’ve always been the Rolls-Royce of RIBs.”

The Twisted name (with its characteristic reversed S) will be familiar to Land Rover lovers as being that of the firm founded 25 years ago by Yorkshireman Charles Fawcett to customise Defenders.

In 2021, Fawcett indulged a lifelong passion for boats by founding Twisted Marine Services in Salcombe, Devon, which soon became a distributor and customiser of British-built Cobra RIBs. Then, in 2024, Fawcett became an OEM RIB manufacturer by buying Scorpion out of administration.

Scorpion was founded in 1995 and quickly began to lead the way in RIB design through deep V hulls that make the boats exceptionally capable in rough seas, keep them dry inside and result in unprecedented stability, even at crazily steep turn angles.

Scorpion RIBs set record times for numerous challenges such as Round Britain, Round Ireland, London to Monte Carlo and Poole to Cherbourg, to name but a few.

The brand became famed for its exceptional production standards, not least due to the work of Jamie Wheeler who invented the seamless, cone-shaped tube end that has since been adopted by other makers.

Wheeler worked at Scorpion from its very founding and is widely regarded as being among the best “tubers” in the entire world – and, following the acquisition by Twisted, he’s now back at the factory and working his magic.

And just as Twisted’s Land Rover builds maintain the vehicle’s established shape, Twisted Scorpion RIBs embrace the tried-and-tested formula and enhance it with the client’s customisation.

“We were conscious not to touch the hulls or the tubes, because the design is unquestionably the best and works brilliantly,” says Matthew Makepeace, head of marine sales. “Beyond that, buyers can go as mad or as tame as they like in terms of personalisation.”

Based on the former Scorpion Silurian model, the Twisted 36GT can be had with the twin Mercury 400-horsepower Verado engines as tested, or with 350-horsepower units – although, since every Twisted RIB is built bespoke, customers are free to choose whatever outboards they prefer.

There are also three bow configurations on offer, with the boat we tried featuring wraparound bow seating with a deep deck locker for stowing a central cushion which slots between the inward-facing seats to create a generous sunpad.

That deck, by the way, is made from easy-to-maintain synthetic teak that is almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

Elsewhere, the devil is in the detail, from the sturdy Samson post up front (a Scorpion signature) to the premium Hertz audio system, the concealed spotlights just above deck level and a set of beautifully wrought steel steps that make getting on and off the boat a doddle without having to stand on the tubes.

The test boat was also fitted with full stern seating complemented by a fold-out dining table – which can be supplied from a handy wet bar, griddle and sink that Twisted has installed in place of the more usual rear-facing bench.

The highly ergonomic cockpit, meanwhile, benefits from individual, wraparound seats that give race boat-level support in rough seas or during extravagant manoeuvres, with 12-inch Simrad NSX consoles providing all necessary information at a glance.

The whole area is protected from the elements by a bespoke T-top, beyond which you’ll even find a discreet head.

Hand-building RIBs to this level of quality does, inevitably, take time – which is why a realistic target of completing around 10 Twisted Scorpion RIBs by next spring has been set, with six boats being in build during our visit and a 16-week waiting list for delivery.

And, of course, such craftsmanship does not come cheap. Since unique builds have always been Twisted’s speciality, Makepeace says “the sky is the limit” price-wise, depending on how special each customer wants to make their RIB.

And, perhaps, they could do a package deal that includes another of Twisted’s latest projects – a very special take on the much-loved Suzuki Jimny.

But that’s another story…

First published in the September 2025 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.