SACS Top Class Strider 13: Review

At $590K as tested, this is the most well-appointed, luxurious and, yes, expensive RIB we’ve ever driven. But in Europe, big lifestyle RIBs like this are go. So how does this Italian inflatable cruiser measure up Down Under? We ventured outside Sydney Heads and up the coast to a surf break to complete this review.

OVERVIEW
- Comfortable, capable cruising craft in their own right
SACS. Surely you have heard of them? Super. Agile. Cruising. Sports. We made that up. But SACS most certainly stands for something, namely a new level of luxury and capability in the big RIB market.

Produced in Milan under the direction of award-winning designer, Christian Grande Design Works, the semi-custom boats are said to embody the philosophy that: "The RIB is no longer a mere means of transport but becomes the fulfilment of a dream and a way of asserting one’s personality."

Represented in Australia by SACS Marine Australia, the range is available from four to 18 metres in three core product lines: Individual Class, Sport Class and Top Class. Italian styling, a focus on performance and handling, large floor and cockpit spaces, unique features and top-shelf finishes are part of the mix.

SACS Marine Australia representative, Richard Gazal, is confident the standout values of Italian craftsmanship, attention to detail and great performance will ensure the SACS RIBS attract plenty of local attention.

This year’s Sydney boat show saw the launch of the SACS Sport Class S780, Top Class Strider 8, Strider 10 and Strider 13 on the Australian market. A luxury motoryacht owner based in Sydney, Gazal imported the SACS range after being blown away by the tender he was running.

We took two SACS offshore for our test. While we drove the impressive S780 to begin with and then the fully-loaded Strider Top Class 13, the subject of this review, with twin diesel engines, bow thruster, bathroom and more cool kit to carry us to hitherto new heights in the RIB boating experience.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Premium Italian product with the works commands a premium price
With the base 430hp big-block 8.2 HO MAG DTS with Bravo Three drives, the Top Class Strider 13 has a local listed starting price of $490,316. These petrol donks will chew through it, so the twin diesels are a sensible upgrade on this high-end luxury RIB.

The base diesel engines, the 320hp Mercury MD4.2L, and no fruit keep the cost of this boat down to about the same $490K starting point. The six-cylinder 350hp Mercury Cummins QSD 4.2L engines in our test boat were an excellent mid-range diesel choice. There are also 370hp V8 4.2 diesels if you want to carry a lot of crew all the time (the Top Class Strider is rated to carry up to 16 people).

Suffice to say, the SACS are highly spec’d boats and the standard factory-rolled Strider 13 includes such niceties as anchor windlass, polished stainless-steel anchor, Zulag Isotta adjustable steering wheel, twin helm armchairs with seat bolsters, cockpit bar, drawer fridge, massive teak lunch table, fresh-water system, cockpit shower, electric inflator, teak-topped swim platform, and trick concealed electric swim ladder.

Notable upgrades on the test boat included Raymarine electronics kit; Elegance Pack including underwater lights and carbon dash; 3kW generator and cabin air-con; cockpit electric griddle; custom ivory/grey/black hull, tubes and deck; Axius joystick and bow thruster; teak decks; fridge upgrade; hydraulic swim platform; and bedding kit.

The importers customised this demo boat, removing the forward deck step alongside the helm console to create a bigger single-level walkaround layout. After this, and more, the bottom line for this Top Class Strider 13 as tested was $595,000 for what is an absolutely loaded, luxury, cruising RIB.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
- Luxury adventure and lunch boat with weekending amenities
The layout of the Top Class Strider 13 is essentially a walkaround with a step-down centre cabin with vee double bed in the bow and a separate fully-enclosed luxury WC with vanity and shower and toilet.

The stand-out features on deck include the absolutely massive hydraulic swim platform with electric swim ladder. Not only does this add to your sunbaking waterfront real estate, but it’s a great spot for suiting up for your dive, readying the inflatable toys and tubes, and defrosting after a swim.

Little kiddies could splash about on the semi-submerged platform from which you could even launch a little tender for this tender. Underwater lights add to the 24/7 party appeal and squid-fishing opportunities.

In true Med’ boating fashion, there’s a beautiful upholstered aft sunpad for eight that doubles as the engine bay lid and lifts electrically on struts. Inside, I noted, loads of sound insulation, big clear sea strainers, batteries strapped in place, Racor fuel filters and high-end engineering all round.

There is hot-water off a heat exchanger for your showers, an accumulator tank so it stays warm after your dive or in the morning, and shorepower with battery charging.

Lid down, the luxury stitched quilted upholstery beckons over the closed-cell foam cushioning. Sunbaking central.

The centre sunpad cushion lifts off to create a walkthrough from the boarding platform to the cockpit. The highlight here is the brilliant U-shaped transom lounge with folding table that can seat and lunch up to eight!

The designer stainless-steel deckware, teak decks and high-end upholstery, sparkling metallic hull paint and cool hardtop and rakish cabin lines help create some superyacht chic.

The inbuilt amenities centre at the back of helm post adds to the at-anchor appeal, with single-burner stove, sink, and twin drinks fridges.

There’s cavernous underfloor storage on this boat, so you can pack everything away for the run back home with the summer sea breeze. The twin helm seats sit before a cool carbon dash with 12in Raymarine hybrid touch screens, Fusion stereo, bow thruster and joystick and loads of switches like a real race boat.

Flat teak decks range forward to the four-person bow sunpad and the set-up with windlass and stainless steel anchor. You might notice the integrated speakers, which could do with a bit of extra amp power, I thought while cranking things up as we cruised the coast. Take 6-8 friends and go surfing, diving or just mucking about.

Below decks is full headroom throughout a two-person cabin with luxury communal bathroom. The latter has a shower, trick vanity, electric freshwater toilet, opening portlight and storage.

The double bed back in the bow area and abundant dry storage complete this very complete RIB cruiser, with more on-trend chic courtesy of the white-oak joinery and Italian mood lighting. That’s amore.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- High-end hypalon and composite hull
As you might expect, the SACS inflatables are constructed from high-end materials. The sponsons on this Top Class Strider 13 model are made from ORCA FABRIC 866 from Belgian company Pennel et Flipo, which produces some of the best hypalon with the highest decitex value that money can buy.

The ORCA material is cold glued or assembled using vulcanisation and is backed by a five-year material warranty, with SACS giving two years warranty on the entire boat.

The hull is composite with foam sandwich to cut down on weight, but there’s certainly plenty of extras piled into this upmarket luxury RIB. The boat tips the scales at 5200kg without engines, but we’re supposing around 8000kg with the twin diesels and all the fruit on this loaded boat.

The 800 litre fuel capacity and 150 litres of fresh water certainly mean you can roam away from weekends.

ON THE WATER
- More than 200nm range and lots of driving pleasure
There’s abundant potential with the Top Class Strider 13. This is an offshore capable cruiser as much as a luxury commuter and conveyance to wow the harbour crowds and your guests.

With a pleasant sea rolling out yonder, I figured this was our calling. So I grabbed the Zulag Isotta adjustable steering wheel, spun the boat with the Axius Joystick and bow thruster, advanced the twin throttles, and powered out into the wide blue yonder.

The adrenalin was running as we skirted along the coast under the towering sandstone cliffs, to the drum of crashing waves, through the salt mist vapour. Fairy Bower, a famous surfing break at Manly, yielded a few right-handers as the locals looked on with amusement. Teak decks rather than wax added to the luxury ride.

The boat likes plenty of throttle to rocket out of the hole but soon settles back into a smooth cruise of 22.5 knots at a lazy 2500rpm, 28 knots at 3000rpm and, back in the Harbour, we saw 39.8 knots. The SACS guys say they have cracked 40 knots.

Offshore, the boat proved dry and smooth, which are traits of big RIBS, and with the seat bases folded down to create a leaning post, it’s a nice thing to command. Otherwise, it pretty much drives itself, with low engine noise, no smoke, and great efficiency from the common-rail turbocharged six-cylinder engines. The upgraded joystick will assists docking these twin counter-rotating Bravo 3 ‘legs’ at the end of the day.

On the consumption front, we can say with confidence that the range is in excess of 200nm at cruise speeds. So you’re looking at a coastal passage-maker or at least a port-hopping cruiser if you feel so inclined.

VERDICT
- An adventure RIB for offshore exploration and inshore luxury cruising
"The SACS range is unique in its European styling and finish. SACS boats offer something different for those looking for a more stylish, performance-based rigid inflatable," the importer Gazal said leading into the SACS big launch at Sydney boat show.

We also entertained other possibilities as we bounded about offshore. Some adventure boating sprung to mind: a bit of Jacque Cousteau stuff, diving for some crays for the barbie, spearfishing a big mahi mahi around the FADS, if not taking some friends for a beach party, a crowd for a dinner commute, and the squeeze for the weekend.

With diesel power, generator and air-con, outdoor galley, sleeping for two and bathroom, the SACS Top Class Strider 13 is the most capable big RIB we've been aboard. As mothership and motoryacht get bigger, so too their tenders and RIBS. This one has a commensurate level of performance and pizzazz, while doubling as a stand-alone dayboat and weekender.

LIKES
>> Highest quality, top-shelf, big RIB
>> Italian style, performance and pizzazz
>> Wonderful creature comforts and sleeping for two
>> Beautiful cockpit lunching arrangement
>> A true luxury conveyance, ideal superyacht tender, absolute dive weapon and explorer

NOT SO MUCH
>> There’s the price to negotiate
>> If resale value concerns you, limited market appeal

Specifications:
Price as tested: $595,000 with twin 350hp MerCruiser Cummins QSD 4.2L diesels with Bravo 3 drives and many options and customisations as detailed above.
Price from: $490,316 with twin 320hp Mercury diesels or 430hp 8.2 HO MAG DTS MerCruiser petrols
Length overall: 13.35m
Certified length: 11.98m
Beam: 3.83m
Draft: 0.80m
Number of compartments: Eight
Tube Diameter: 55cm
Material: ORCA Hypalon
Dry weight boat: 5200kg without engines
With base engines: 6200kg
Displacement as tested: Estimated 8000kg
Fuel: 800 litres
Water: 170 litres
Carrying capacity: 18 people
Sleeping: Two

Imported and provided by:
SACS Marine Australia
For more information go to: www.sacsmarine.com.au
Phone: (02) 8336 6333
Email info@sacsmarine.com.au