Co.Ltd of Godalming, Surrey, a company founded by engineer Reginald Foster Dagnall.

Increasing numbers of leisure craft in waters around Britain and Ireland in the late 1950s caused the RNLI to consider using inflatable boats as Inshore Lifeboats (ILBs).

A boat was purchased for trials and the work of the lifesaving society in Brittany was studied.

[3] Once in service, the main problems came from the boats deflating and from the outboard motors failing.

Only a few Avon S650 were built but the Zodiac III proved more successful and series production of these started in 1975 and continued until 1987.