Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Zodiac 550 2009 vs Zodiac Pro 7 Man 2008 — Which Inflatable Rigid Fits Your Needs?
When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac 550 2009 and the Zodiac Pro 7 Man 2008 are inflatable rigid designs with inflatable construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 120 hp, the Zodiac 550 2009 has a 70-hp advantage over the Zodiac Pro 7 Man 2008's 50-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 550 2009 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Zodiac Pro 7 Man 2008 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac 550 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac 550 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 18,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Pro 7 Man 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model Year2009
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Length - Feet18.08
Length - Feet13
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 1 in. (5.5 m)
Length overall - Detail13 ft. 9 in. (4.2 m) Inside Length: 10 ft. 1 in. (3.06 m)
Length overall - Meters5.51
Length overall - Meters4.19
Length overall - Inches217
Length overall - Inches165
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail399 lbs. (181 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg180.98
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.399
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail6 ft. 1 in. (1.86 m) Inside Width: 3 ft. 1 in. (.95 m)
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters4.2
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches9
Body / Hull
Hull materialInflatable
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max120 hp (90 kW)
Engine max50 hp (38 kW) Recommended Maximum: 40 hp (30 kW)
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standard15 hp (12 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity3,197 lbs. (1,450 kg)
Maximum capacity1,763 lbs. (800 kg)
Maximum people11
Maximum people7
Performance
Maximum speednot available
Maximum speed37 mph (59 km/h)