SEAFIGHTER Shadow36 – Twin 4.2L 300hp Yamahas
RIBCO Blade 30 – Twin Suzuki DF200A
SEAFIGHTER Shadow36 – Twin 4.2L 300hp Yamahas
RIBCO Blade 30 – Twin Suzuki DF200A
SACS Strider 700 – Mercury 250hp V8 Verado
Going back a few years, a 7m rigid inflatable boat was looking so big and we’re wondering how we were going to drive it, while standing on its stern we were in awe of the 250hp beast hanging on its transom.Times may have changed and a 7-meter Rib is now considered a small boat, but it will never cease to be an ideal size both for daily trips and for our long-distance getaways, having as a huge advantage the clearly reduced cost of use, especially nowdays when the price of gasoline tends to stabilize around 2 euros per liter.
After all, we shouldn’t forget that a Rib, no matter how big or luxurious it is, does not cease to be simply the "means" with which we enjoy our great Beloved and receive the tangible freedom that the Big Blue generously offers us.
The morning coffee just a few centimeters from the surface of the sea in some lonely beach, the swimming in the crystal clear waters, the sun leaning towards its west painting the horizon with unique colors and of course the... Journey. The journey in the unpredictable sea, the wet gauges from the salty spray, the agony that culminates and that liberating moment of the sight of our destination. Moments of indescribable beauty and unprecedented emotions that are not credited with the measure.
So, after enjoying our short ride with the Strider 700, which with an overall length of 6.96m and a maximum width of 2.83m constitutes the smallest model of the homonymous range from the Sacs yard, we stopped for a while to observe its general design characterized by simple and classic lines.
On deck
Starting from the bow area, we can see first of all that it is extremely narrow, eliminating significantly thus the free space of the sundeck, despite its 2.10 meters of total length.
At the junction of the air chambers, a small polyester platform is formed that gives us the necessary step to enter or exit the boat, while the cleats located to the right and left of it are particularly large and require the corresponding attention when boarding.
The anchor nestles in the stainless steel socket located at the entrance of the bow, thus leaving the surface of the platform free.
The console is particularly elegant and quite narrow, ensuring comfortable passageways to its port and starboard for the uninterrupted movement of passengers forth and back. The steering wheel and engine control are at the right height and the ideal distance from the operator, while the instrument panel made of carbon is excellently finished and has the corresponding space for the placement of the engine instruments and a medium-sized navigation device, having the ideal inclination so that we can easily read the indications either while driving seated or in a semi-upright position.
The driver's seat matches harmoniously with the design of the console and is particularly comfortable, ensuring wide passageways to its right and left.
In the stern area, a 1.75m wide three-seater sofa is formed, the back of which is reclining and gives us the possibility of creating a large enough sundeck for sunbathing and relaxation.
The swimming platforms covered with teak wood are particularly functional for our marine activities since they extend to a great length and keep their surfaces perfectly clean, while at the same time, reaching to the rear of the engine, they offer an increased feeling of security when mooring.
At sea
Powered by a Mercury V8 250hp engine, the lower unit of which were turning a three-blade 14 1/2΄΄ x 17΄΄ Enertia propeller with a 1.85:1 gear ratio, Strider 700 reached a top speed of 39 knots and showed very well data regarding the quality of its navigation. With 150 liters of fuel, a crew of 2 and all the boat's equipment we set out to sea, where the fresh wind was blowing over force 4 giving us the opportunity to evaluate the capabilities of its hull.
Our impressions were very good, with the Rib achieving very soft ride, without the spray reaching the deck, while when we ran at high speed bridging the crests of the waves we found out its very solid construction.
Throttle response and acceleration were nice, with the Strider 700 reaching 30 knots in 8 seconds and 35 knots in 11 seconds, while the planning time was under 4 seconds, with the boat raising her bow up until to find its finally position at low cruising rpm.
The Rib was standing on plane at 2800rpm maintaining an extremely low speed of 11 knots, enabling us to travel on plane mode in bad weather conditions.
At 3000 rpm our speed was 15 knots with a fuel consumption of 1.44 liters per nautical mile, while at 3500 rpm we recorded the most economical cruising speed where we traveled at 19 knots burning 1.3 liters per mile.
At 4000 rpm we were running at 25.5 knots consuming 1.37 liters per mile and at 4500 rpm with 29.5 knots burning 1.7 liters per nautical mile.
At WOT, the engine reached close to its maximum rev limit and so at 5800 rpm we recorded a top speed of 39 knots.
You can see the detailed measurements in the table below:
Taking a closer look at the slip values and the max engine’s rpm we recorded, it becomes obvious that we need to switch to a shorter pitch propeller so as to allow the engine to reach close to its maximum rpm when the boat is fully loaded, having of course a possible burden on fuel consumption.
Manufacturer:
SACS TECNORIB S.R.L.
Administrative headquarter: Via Don Locatelli, 4920877 Roncello (MB) Italy
Tel: +39 0396885489info@sacstecnorib.com
Hellas’ dealer
iDYACHTS
Evaggelistrias St. 2, Glyfada, 16674, Greece
+30 210 9634973
info@idyachts.com
