Review: Zodiac Milpro SRA-750 RIB

Originally reviewed by senior boat reviewer John Willis, tthis military-spec Zodiac inflatable blew us away. The mix of raw performance from the Gen1 E-TECs combined with the sharp V hull and soft tubes made this a serious excitement machine.

Now available as an ex-demo model, the vendor is keen to sell and willing to separate the costly but fantastic Milpro AIR Jockey seating arrangements to suit the buyer.

The history of Zodiac inflatables goes all the way back to 1934 when Zodiac engineer Pierre Debroutelle designed a prototype for a two-seat inflatable kayak. By 1937, Zodiac was supplying inflatable boats to the Naval Air Service. These craft became the ancestor of the modern-day inflatable boat.

Zodiac inflatables found many roles in safety and rescue environments due to their compact size and instantaneous deployment capability, particularly in shipping and aviation, but they have been immensely popular for ocean rescue, as tenders to larger vessels, as well as for commercial and recreational diving exploits. The advent of rigid hull inflatables took the design to higher levels with the strength of acrylics, aluminium and fibreglass and the ability to form performance hulls with the stability and safety of compartmentalised flotation.

Today the Zodiac Milpro group has developed an unrivalled range of more than 60 different inflatables, rigid inflatables and aluminium boats for a huge range of applications and all sea conditions. The Zodiac Milpro military and professional sectors now have five dedicated ISO 9001-approved production facilities worldwide, including Australia, all focused on answering the needs of the most demanding customers with professional and military inflatable and rigid inflatable boats. Modern security demands have hastened a surge of innovation and product development.

The SRA-750 has a very capable 5mm deep-V aluminium hull commercially fitted out with a robust centre console, strong towing and recovery points, and five specially designed Milpro AIR or AIR DUO jockey seats. The hull features inflatable ‘D-shape’ collars for maximum safety and stability, acting like a full set of floaties for the entire boat. The collars are inflatable and removable and while the overall beam is 2.76m when fully extended, you can let the air out to bring the vessel under the wide-load provisions of 2.5m.

The dual centre console is big and wide, with plenty of dashboard space. This one has a Raymarine A-series 12in multi-function display as well as twin binnacle controls, Evinrude’s I-command gauges, Raymarine VHF, an array of switch gear including isolators, compass, strong grabrail and a tough stainless steel-spoked steering wheel with hydraulic helm and rubberised grips.

The Zodiac Milpro SRA-750 is an ideal high-speed military-grade vessel that has applications for recreational and commercial pursuits as well as the obvious defence concepts.

2015 Zodiac Milpro SRA-750 sea trials

Twin 150hp Evinrude E-TEC Gen 1 outboards with Rebel three-blade 15.5 x 17in propellers

*Sea-Trial data supplied by Zodiac, range calculated with 10% reserve

Zodiac Milpro SRA-750 specs

Zodiac Milpro SRA-750 price: $230,000 + GST

Price (new)

Price (now)

$176,000 (no seats)

$189,000 (incl 2 seats)

$225,000 (Incl 8 seats)

GENERAL

MATERIAL Aluminium with CSM / neoprene, polyurethane coated inflatable pontoons

TYPE Commercial Rigid Aluminium hull inflatable

LENGTH 6.77m

BEAM 2.76m (inflated); less than 2.5m deflated

WEIGHT 2567kg

DEADRISE 24°

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE Cat B – 8; Cat C – 16

REC. HP Single 225hp; twin 2 x 115hp

REC. MAX HP Single 250hp outboard motors; twin 2 x 150hp outboard motors

FUEL 2 x 260lt

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL 2 x 150hp Evinrude E-TEC Generation 1 outboard motors

PROPELLER Rebel three-blade 15.5 x 17in

MORE INFORMATION

Zodiac Milpro Aust

25, Cawarra Road, Caringbah, NSW, 2229

Phone (02) 9574 5800