When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Cadet RIB 260 2011 and the Zodiac ProJet 350 2008 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 260 2011 at 8,5 ft versus Zodiac ProJet 350 2008 at 11,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac ProJet 350 2008 tips the scales at 661 lbs — 650 lbs less than the Zodiac Cadet RIB 260 2011 at 11 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 98 hp, the Zodiac ProJet 350 2008 has a 90-hp advantage over the Zodiac Cadet RIB 260 2011'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 ProJet 350 2008 is rated for 4 passengers, while the Zodiac Cadet RIB 260 2011 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac ProJet 350 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Zodiac Cadet RIB 260 2011 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 7 lbs per hp for the Zodiac ProJet 350 2008. 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.
Top speed is rated at 45 mph for the Zodiac ProJet 350 2008 and 19 mph for the Zodiac Cadet RIB 260 2011.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac ProJet 350 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 4 passengers and at 11,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Cadet RIB 260 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.