When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Cadet RIB 220 2011 and the Zodiac Cadet RIB 290 NEO 2013 are inflatable rigid designs with fiberglass 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Zodiac Cadet RIB 220 2011 at 7,3 ft versus Zodiac Cadet RIB 290 NEO 2013 at 9,5 ft. At 68 lbs and 165 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 4 hp for the Zodiac Cadet RIB 220 2011 and 15 hp for the Zodiac Cadet RIB 290 NEO 2013. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Zodiac Cadet RIB 290 NEO 2013 is rated for 4 passengers, while the Zodiac Cadet RIB 220 2011 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Cadet RIB 290 NEO 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Zodiac Cadet RIB 290 NEO 2013 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 17 lbs per hp for the Zodiac Cadet RIB 220 2011. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
The Zodiac Cadet RIB 220 2011 has a documented top speed of 10 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
The Zodiac Cadet RIB 290 NEO 2013 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Zodiac Cadet RIB 220 2011 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 Cadet RIB 290 NEO 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 4 passengers and at 9,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Cadet RIB 220 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.