Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Zodiac 260 S 2009 vs Zodiac Pro Racing 550 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a inflatable rigid Zodiac 260 S 2009 against a deep vee Zodiac Pro Racing 550 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 90 hp, the Zodiac Pro Racing 550 2013 has a 82-hp advantage over the Zodiac 260 S 2009's 8-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Zodiac Pro Racing 550 2013 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Zodiac 260 S 2009 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Pro Racing 550 2013 could be the deciding factor.
The Zodiac Pro Racing 550 2013 has a documented top speed of 42 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
The Zodiac Pro Racing 550 2013 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Zodiac 260 S 2009 is a rigid hull, which typically offers a more confident ride in chop and easier maintenance over the long term.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac Pro Racing 550 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 17,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac 260 S 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model260 S
ModelPro Racing 55
Model Year2009
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Length - Feet8.5
Length - Feet17.08
Length overall - Detail8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m)
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 1 in. (5.2 m)
Length overall - Meters2.59
Length overall - Meters5.21
Length overall - Inches102
Length overall - Inches205
Beamnot available
Beam7 ft. 3 in. (2.2 m)
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Meters2.21
Beam - Inchesnot available
Beam - Inches87
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail694 lbs. (315 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg314.79
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.694
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail3 ft. 11 in. (1.2 m) inside
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]13 ft. 2 in. (4.02 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max8 hp (6 kW)
Engine max90 hp
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower40 - 70 hp recommended
Operational Info
Maximum capacity992 lbs. (450 kg)
Maximum capacity2,535 lbs. (1,150 kg)
Maximum people3
Maximum people12
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter1 ft. 8 in. (0.5 m)
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubes5 airtight compartments
Performance
Maximum speednot available
Maximum speed42 mph (68 km/h)