When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Classic Mark 1 ST 2008 and the Zodiac Zoom 260 Aero 2013 are inflatable non 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Zodiac Classic Mark 1 ST 2008 at 11,0 ft versus Zodiac Zoom 260 Aero 2013 at 8,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac Classic Mark 1 ST 2008 tips the scales at 135 lbs — 129 lbs more than the Zodiac Zoom 260 Aero 2013 at 6 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 25 hp for the Zodiac Classic Mark 1 ST 2008 and 6 hp for the Zodiac Zoom 260 Aero 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 Classic Mark 1 ST 2008 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Zodiac Zoom 260 Aero 2013 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Classic Mark 1 ST 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Zodiac Zoom 260 Aero 2013 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 5 lbs per hp for the Zodiac Classic Mark 1 ST 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.
The Zodiac Classic Mark 1 ST 2008 has a documented top speed of 28 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
The Zodiac Zoom 260 Aero 2013 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Zodiac Classic Mark 1 ST 2008 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 Classic Mark 1 ST 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 11,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Zoom 260 Aero 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.