ZAR 85 Sport Luxury

Sport Luxury

Design & Styling

The ZAR 85 SL represents the most sophisticated expression of ZAR Formenti’s Sport Luxury philosophy.

Key features:

Futuristic and sporty deck design.
Premium upholstery and luxury finishes.
Large ergonomic helm console.
Wide passages for easy movement onboard.
High freeboard and excellent protection at sea.
Customizable hull, tubes, and upholstery colours.

Deck Layout & Comfort

The ZAR 85 Sport Luxury offers a layout normally found on much larger boats:

Forward Area

Large sunbathing area.
Comfortable cushions.
Spacious storage compartments.

Cockpit Area

Large aft U-shaped seating arrangement.
Convertible dining and relaxation area.
Optional table installation.
Exterior galley/wet bar possibilities.

Console & Cabin

A major feature of the ZAR 85 SL is its multifunctional console/cabin concept:

Console area can transform into a double berth.
Space available for toilet installation.
Cabin lighting and comfort equipment available.
Suitable for overnight stays or resting during longer cruises.

Performance

The ZAR 85 SL is designed for both speed and comfort.

The deep-V hull provides:

Smooth passage through waves.
Excellent directional stability.
Secure handling at high speed.
Comfortable cruising in offshore conditions.

With powerful outboard configurations, the boat delivers strong acceleration and performance while maintaining the stability expected from a premium RIB.

Standard & Optional Equipment

Typical equipment includes:

Hydraulic steering.
Sport steering wheel.
Large windshield.
Stainless-steel fittings.
Electric anchor windlass.
Swim platforms and retractable ladder.
Freshwater shower system.
Refrigerator.
Cooking facilities.
Marine toilet options.
Navigation electronics.
Audio systems.
Bimini/top options.
Teak-style decking options.

ZAR 85 Sport Luxury vs ZAR 79 Sport Luxury

FeatureZAR 79 SLZAR 85 SLLength~7.9 m~8.5 mBeam~2.9 m~3.2 mSpaceLargeVery largeCabin conceptLimitedDouble berth / WC possibilitiesFuel capacitySmaller~400 LEngine capabilityUp to ~300 hpUp to ~500 hpBest useFast cruising, family boatingLuxury cruising, longer trips, yacht tender.

Ideal Uses

The ZAR 85 Sport Luxury is particularly suited for:

Mediterranean cruising
Island hopping
Luxury yacht tender duties
Family and guest excursions
Diving and water sports
Weekend coastal adventures

With its combination of Italian design, high performance, premium comfort, and practical cabin features, the ZAR 85 SL is positioned as a luxury RIB capable of replacing a much larger cruising boat while remaining trailerable in suitable configurations.

Specifications

Specification ZAR 85 Sport Luxury

Length 8.50 m / 27 ft 11 in
Beam 3.20 m / 10 ft 6 in
Tube diameter 0.60 m / 23.6 in
Air/watertight compartments 6
Passenger capacity 12 (factory says to be confirmed)
Dry weight ~1,900 kg (factory says to be confirmed)
Minimum power 250 hp
Recommended power 300–400 hp
Maximum power 500 hp
Single-engine shaft XXL
Twin-engine shaft XL
CE category C – Coastal
Fuel capacity ~400 L / 105 US gal
Freshwater capacity ~100 L
Refrigerator 64 L standard

Standard Equipment

1. Standard equipment

The 85 SL has an unusually comprehensive standard specification.

Helm & driving
Two-person helm console
Hydraulic steering
Sport steering wheel
Electrical switch/fuse panel integrated into console
Fully installed navigation lights
Bow navigation lights
Anchor light on pole
Helm seat with pivoting leaning bolster
Internal console storage
Integrated handrail

Fuel & engine area
Approximately 400-L CE-compliant fuel tank
Stainless-steel fuel system
Large aft storage
Aft side storage compartments
Gas-assisted locker lids

The 400-L tank is a major advantage for the 85 SL given its 300–500 hp engine options.

2. Cabin / WC

One of the biggest differences between the 85 SL and the 79 SL is that the 85 has a much more developed internal accommodation arrangement.

Standard cabin equipment
Internal compartment with washbasin
WC compartment
Two LED lights
Cabin cushions
Console/cabin arrangement capable of being converted into a double bed
Space underneath the bed for toilet equipment

The factory describes the 85 SL's console as being transformable into a double bed, making the boat considerably more suitable for overnight use.

Important distinction

The WC compartment itself is standard, but the actual electric marine toilet is an option:

Electric WC with direct discharge
Electric WC with waste/black-water tank

So you can order an 85 SL with the cabin/WC space but specify the actual toilet system separately.

3. Galley — standard

The 85 SL comes with a proper compact galley as standard:

2- or 3-burner stove
Galley work area
Sink/washbasin
Gas installation not included
64-L refrigerator
Storage

The optional upgrade is a 90-L stainless-steel refrigerator, replacing the standard 64-L unit.

4. Freshwater and shower — standard

This is another important feature.

Standard equipment includes:

Pressurized freshwater system
Integrated freshwater tank
Approximately 100 L freshwater capacity
Shower
Water pump/pressure system

This makes the 85 SL much more self-contained than the smaller Sport Luxury models.

5. Seating and upholstery

Standard equipment includes:

Complete exterior cushion set
Cabin cushions
Bow backrest cushions
Aft backrest cushions
Aft seating/sun-lounge cushions
Helm-seat upholstery

The cabin cushions are supplied except for the infill pieces; those infill panels/cushions are an option to create the complete double-bed surface.

6. Sun protection

The 85 SL has a particularly clever standard arrangement:

Standard

Retractable Bimini concealed inside the aft cockpit locker.

This means the boat can retain its sleek Sport Luxury appearance when the Bimini isn't being used.

Optional

For more substantial weather protection, ZAR offers:

Fiberglass hardtop/T-top
White/light-grey hardtop
Medium-grey/dark-grey/black hardtop
6 LED spotlights
360° masthead light
Stainless-steel rod holders
Electric aft awning
Manual aft awning
Stainless-steel folding aft canopy
Removable awning with two stainless-steel supports
Forward extension for the aft Bimini
Port/starboard canopy curtains

The hardtop is therefore a major upgrade rather than standard equipment.

7. Deck & swimming platforms

Standard equipment includes:

Port bathing platform
Stainless-steel folding boarding ladder
Starboard bathing platform
Stainless-steel passenger grab handles
4 stainless-steel cleats
3 stainless-steel lifting eyes
Double heavy-duty rubber rubbing strake
Integrated cockpit handrail
Anchor locker
Stainless-steel anchor roller/plate

The anchor system is prepared for an electric windlass.

8. Anchor and bilge system
Standard
9-kg stainless-steel anchor
Stainless-steel anchor roller
Anchor locker
Electric bilge pump