Tornado Boats was founded over 50 years ago by David Haygreen, a professional engineer and commercial diver whose career was forged in some of the most demanding marine environments.

Tornado was never conceived as a marketing concept. It was born from necessity, ingenuity, and a deep respect for the forces of nature — principles that continue to define the brand today.

The Origin of the Name

The name Tornado emerged naturally while reflecting on the raw power and unpredictability of nature at sea. A tornado represents pure energy, movement and strength — exactly the qualities David believed a professional boat should embody.

The original logo was deliberately simple: a single “T”, reflecting clarity, function and purpose. While the logo has evolved over the decades, its meaning has remained unchanged.

From Experience to Innovation

While working as a commercial and scallop diver, David needed a boat that simply did not exist: fast, stable, safe, and capable of operating day after day in harsh offshore conditions.

Rather than compromise, he built his own. What began in a garage evolved into an early inflatable–rigid hybrid design. Midway through construction, a rigid hull was integrated, giving birth to what would later be known as the Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB).

In the early 1980s, Tornado boats were tested by the British Royal Navy and selected over competing designs, resulting in an order for 160 boats — a defining milestone in the company’s history.

Engineering Before Fashion

From the outset, Tornado Boats has been driven by engineering rather than appearance. Early Hypalon tubes were abandoned in favour of polyurethane, prioritising durability and resistance.

When adhesive limitations became apparent, Tornado pioneered welded polyurethane tubes, developing proprietary techniques that later became industry standards in the professional RIB sector.

International Production

For many years, Tornado boats were built in England, where the original factory, moulds and tooling were established under the founder’s direct control.

In 2006, production moved to China, with factory setup, processes and quality control personally overseen by David Haygreen. Throughout this period, design authority and technical direction always remained with the founder.

The Dealer Period and Clarification

During international expansion, Tornado appointed regional dealers. One such relationship, involving a Scandinavian dealer, later resulted in disputes concerning brand representation and intellectual property.

After several years of legal proceedings, bad faith was proven and Tornado successfully recovered full control of its name and brand. This period explains why conflicting or outdated information about Tornado may still appear online.

Tornado in Portugal

Following this period, production briefly returned to England before being permanently established in Portugal in 2014.

Equipment and know-how from the original English factory were transferred to Portugal, ensuring continuity in construction standards and engineering philosophy. Portugal was chosen for its maritime tradition, skilled workforce and Atlantic testing conditions.

Today and the Future

Today, Tornado Boats designs and builds professional RIBs ranging from 5 to 12 metres, serving commercial, rescue, diving, patrol and offshore operations.

David Haygreen works alongside Hugo Alves, with whom he has a professional relationship spanning more than 25 years. Hugo Alves, a professional diver and engineer, oversees development, production and technical management from Peniche, Portugal.

Every Tornado boat follows the same principle that guided the very first one: form follows function, and reliability comes before appearance.