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Category: professional

Police Force Cool Test – Highfield Patrol 660 & 760

Karel Overlaet, RIB Advocate

Police Force Testing 2 Highfield Boats

This video is designed for procurement professionals, police departments exploring new vessel contracts, and enthusiasts of commercial patrol craft. This time it’s testing by the police force.

But it might be of interest to you to see what these Highfield boats are capable of.

It documents an official evaluation of two patrol vessels by the police force.

You gain a behind-the-scenes look at how patrol boats are assessed for the police force, with emphasis on contract suitability.

The footage clearly demonstrates boat handling characteristics. It shows the onboard systems and overall performance. This offers an authentic view of operational capability.

The Patrol 660 is equipped with twin Suzuki 115 hp outboard engines.

The larger Patrol 760 is powered by a single Mercury 225 hp outboard. This configuration ensures robust propulsion and reliability across both platforms.

Check out all the specs below.

This video was published on the Highfield Boats YouTube channel.

If you’re interested, I got a whole series on Highfield Boats—don’t miss it.

Proud to share that Highfield is a good Friend of RIBs ONLY.

Specs

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Passenger Paralysed for Life in Sea Safari RIB Incident

Karel Overlaet, RIB Advocate
Passenger Paralysed in Sea Safari Boat Incident @ RIBs ONLY - Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat
The Lundy Explorer – 11 m Humber RIB

Prior to My Post About the Incident

It is not my intention to sensationalize this incident.

On the contrary. Here on RIBsONLY.com I share safety-related information to help ensure you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.

We always can learn, is my motto.

Let me be also clear. RIBs ONLY is not a court.

The UK based MAIB* presents facts and recommendations about boating incidents, but it is not a court either.

Know that the skipper holds full responsibility for all passengers on board, meaning persons and animals.

He/she is also responsible for the condition of the boat, all its equipment, including all safety items, and its engines.

The skipper makes various decisions to avoid any form of incidents. These include interpreting all conditions and applying knowledge of the area.

Assessing the weather and sea state is also part of their responsibility (more info about the sea state).

Safety always begins with common sense. Sometimes, that means deciding not to go out on the water at all.

So now, let’s dive into the incident that happened at a very low speed. Our thoughts are with the 28-year-old injured passenger.

The text and link below is © Crown copyright, 2025 and was published on the 21st of August 2025.

Tip: if you want to know all the details of this incident, check the full report. It’s absolutely worth it: factual study and the narrative (page 3).

Synopsis of the Full Report of the Incident

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Gilles’ Awesome Zodiac Milpro SRR870 RIB

Karel Overlaet, RIB Advocate

Onboard a Cool Milpro RIB

Foamy seas, steady rhythm—Gilles’ Rigid Inflatable Boat cuts cleanly through 4 bft winds.

Spray and every controlled bounce reveals unmatched stability of this Rigid Inflatable Boat.

A thrilling ride proving precision, strength, and seaworthy adventure.

You can find more news and video of this brand here on RIBsONLY.com: Checkout the brand.

Discover the story of Zodiac Milpro, a brand founded in 1896 and renowned for its innovation on the water.

This video was originally published on the RIBs ONLY YouTube channel.

This video was published on the RIBs ONLY YouTube channel.

For more news and videos about their models, visit RIBsONLY.com and explore more about the brand.

XW Production: XW Modular 750 Rigid Inflatable Boat

Karel Overlaet, RIB Advocate

The XW Modular 750’s Hull Design

A new brand has been added to RIBsONLY.com — number 275.

After finding only a single video from this brand on their website, I reached out to Jürgen Visnapuu (LinkedIn) at XW Production to learn more.

The hull was designed in-house by XW Production’s founding member Niclas Hans Kling (Sweden). He teamed up with the core engineering team.

Kling has an Impressive background at the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration.

Together, they created a platform built for professional demands from the ground up like the XW Modular 750 Rigid Inflatable Boat.

Built Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Production takes place on Muhu Island, Estonia (EU).

Each hull, like this XW Modular 750, is welded from marine-grade aluminum, before being fully outfitted and quality-assured on site.

This ensures total control over craftsmanship, durability, and performance.

Three Things That Set the Brand Apart

The brand distinguishes itself for three key reasons:

  1. Fully Modular Mission Deck
    Quick-swap modules—whether for diving, SAR, sonar, or crew transport—allow rapid reconfiguration without structural modifications. Adapt in minutes to changing mission requirements.
  2. Exceptional Seakeeping and Pro Ergonomics
    A deep-V aluminum hull ensures stability and composure even in heavy chop. The low tube height is optimized for effortless diver deployment and recovery.
  3. Rugged and “Unsinkable” Mindset
    With a marine-grade aluminum structure and a high-buoyancy collar (≈ 1.5 times the fully loaded displacement), the boat is built for crash tolerance and extreme reliability. A USV / autonomy-ready power / data backbone makes it future-proof for unmanned and tech-integrated operations.

So there you have it.

This video of the XW Modular 750 was published on the XW Modular YouTube channel.

Specs

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Zodiac Milpro™ SRR870 Rigid Inflatable Boat

Karel Overlaet, RIB Advocate

Onboard the SRR870

This short video showcases the New Jersey Conservation Police in action.

Zodiac Milpro’s™ SEA RIB® Responders™ are robust, military-grade vessels designed for optimal performance and ease of use.

Key features include:

  • Enhanced Maintenance and Comfort: The design prioritizes straightforward maintenance and user comfort.
  • Removable Collar: Equipped with Zodiac Milpro’s™ unique intercommunicating valves, the collar can be easily removed, streamlining maintenance and replacements.
  • Self-Draining Decks: The decks are self-draining and include a molded bow box and an aft motor well, offering convenient storage solutions.
  • Integrated Fuel Tanks: These boats feature large-capacity, built-in fuel tanks with accessible deck hatches for easy refueling.

This video of the SRR870 was published on the Zodiac Milpro international – Official YouTube channel.

Here are more Zodiac Milpro models: Enjoy these military grade RIBs.

Specs

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