Preview - Sacs Rebel 55 - Powerboat and RIB

Dark and stealth-like, this devil-may-care powerboat lives up to its name.

This boat would not be complete without a high-tech helm.

Few boats have such an appropriate tag as the Sacs Rebel … It even looks rebellious. There is no hint of compromise, and to be even more explicit, this boat has a Jekyll and Hyde persona, insomuch as it comes in two different forms. There is the ‘sensible’ twin 725hp IPS950 boat, and the truly rebellious quadruple 600hp outboard vessel.

This Italian yard made a name for itself by building luxury maxi-RIBs over the last 30 years, before it ventured into the high-performance hard-boat sector with its Rebel range. The Rebel 55 is the flagship, and it has all the style and quality that Italian chase boats are known for, while still retaining RIB credentials. By this I mean it has foam-filled collars (as opposed to inflatable sponsons), and a walk-around deck sitting inside the safety of the bulwarks, upon which the collars are mounted. Though a nautical work of art, it does not sacrifice style for practicality and safety, meaning that as a white-knuckle boat it is also equally suited for family use. Below it has two double en suite cabins with a saloon/galley area between. The focal point is the superb owner’s cabin in the forepeak. With plenty of beam, this boat can afford wide side decks without taking anything from the accommodation, and headroom is generous.

On deck, the driving experience is courtesy of a quadruple bucket seat helm arrangement, facing an extensive suite of electronics by Raymarine, all of which sit under an open-sided hardtop. Behind this is a gigantic wet bar with twin sofas facing a wide table, while a triple sunbed looks over the bathing platform. More sun worshipping can be enjoyed on the foredeck coachroof sun pad.

: The owner’s cabin is an impressive design.

: The saloon is both spacious and suitably contemporary.

: The ensuite to the owner’s cabin wants for nothing.

The most contentious point regarding this boat is the engine options. It has two very different takes on this theme: one is relatively sensible, and the other, not so. Twin 725hp IPSs will provide an enjoyable ride in the mid to late 30s, while the petrolhead’s delight with 48 cylinders and 2400hp hanging on the transom should touch 50 knots. I have been accused in the past of being a petrolhead, but I grimace at the prospect of feeding the thirst of the rebellious side of the Sacs. With petrol boats you need a good power-to-weight ratio, and a trim beam to get the best from them. This is where a 21-tonne boat with a 5.28m beam does not quite fit the criteria, and I suspect it was designed from the outset with big diesel power in mind. However, the V12 Mercury outboards offered for the Rebel are low-stress high-torque petrol engines, designed for the middleweight fast fisher US market, so they are not out of their depth. You just have to be happy with filling its expanded 3400L petrol fuel tank. In terms of economy, the IPS Rebel is claimed to burn 200Lph at 27 knots, equating to 0.6nmpg, while quadruple V12s burn 400Lph at 32 knots, returning 0.36nmpg.

A rig that has the potential of pushing this beast at an enlivening 50 knots.

This craft is typically Italian, both externally and internally, and at the moment three colour schemes are available, should the dark stealth-like appearance not suit your taste. It is a niche powerboat that offers an adrenaline-fuelled driving experience, regardless of which side of the boat’s persona you sit on.

ENGINE OPTIONS

Twin 725hp IPSs will provide an enjoyable ride in the mid to late 30s, while the petrolhead’s delight with 48 cylinders and 2400hp hanging on the transom.