Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Zodiac 9 Man 2009 vs Zodiac Pro Open 550 2008 — A Close Look at Two Inflatable Rigids
When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac 9 Man 2009 and the Zodiac Pro Open 550 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 Pro Open 550 2008 has a 50-hp advantage over the Zodiac 9 Man 2009's 70-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 Open 550 2008 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Zodiac 9 Man 2009 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2008 could be the deciding factor.
The Zodiac Pro Open 550 2008 has a documented top speed of 45 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac 9 Man 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model9 Man
ModelPro Open 55
Model Year2009
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Length - Feet15.42
Length - Feet18
Length overall - Detail15 ft. 5 in. (4.7 m)
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 1 in. (5.25 m) Inside Length: 11 in. (3.35 m)
Length overall - Meters4.7
Length overall - Meters5.51
Length overall - Inches185
Length overall - Inches217
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail970 lbs. (440 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg439.98
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.97
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail8 ft. 2 in. (2.5 m) Inside Width: 4 ft. 5 in. (1.35 m)
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters5.25
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches1
Body / Hull
Hull materialInflatable
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max70 hp (52 kW)
Engine max120 hp (90 kW) Recommended Maximum: 90 hp (68 kW)
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standard60 hp (45 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity2,336 lbs. (1,060 kg)
Maximum capacity3,218 lbs. (1,460 kg)
Maximum people9
Maximum people11
Performance
Maximum speednot available
Maximum speed45 mph (72 km/h)