Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Zodiac II C 2009 vs Zodiac Pro Open 850 2012 — Which Inflatable Rigid Fits Your Needs?
When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac II C 2009 and the Zodiac Pro Open 850 2012 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 350 hp, the Zodiac Pro Open 850 2012 has a 235-hp advantage over the Zodiac II C 2009's 115-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 II C 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Zodiac Pro Open 850 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac II C 2009 could be the deciding factor.
The Zodiac Pro Open 850 2012 has a documented top speed of 57 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
The Zodiac Pro Open 850 2012 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Zodiac II C 2009 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 II C 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 17,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Pro Open 850 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
ModelII C
ModelPro Open 85
Model Year2009
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Length - Feet17.42
Length - Feet27.92
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 5 in. (5.3 m)
Length overall - Detail27 ft. 11 in. (8.5 m)
Length overall - Meters5.31
Length overall - Meters8.51
Length overall - Inches209
Length overall - Inches335
Beamnot available
Beam9 ft. 10 in. (3 m)
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Meters3
Beam - Inchesnot available
Beam - Inches118
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail3,307 lbs. (1,500 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg1500.03
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.3307
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail6 ft. 1 in. (1.85 m) inside width
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]24 ft. 5 in. (7.45 m) inside length
Body / Hull
Hull materialInflatable
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max115 hp (86 kW)
Engine max350 hp (262 kW)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail106 gal. (400 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters401.25
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal106
Operational Info
Maximum capacity2,458 lbs. (1,115 kg)
Maximum capacity3,538 - 4,696 lbs. (1,605 - 2,130 kg)
Maximum people9
Maximum people8 / 15
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter2 ft. (0.6 m)
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubesAirtight Compartments: 7
Performance
Maximum speednot available
Maximum speed57 mph (91 km/h)