Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Zodiac Medline II 2008 vs Zodiac Pro Open 550 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a inflatable rigid Zodiac Medline II 2008 against a deep vee Zodiac Pro Open 550 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Zodiac Medline II 2008 at 19,0 ft versus Zodiac Pro Open 550 2013 at 18,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac Medline II 2008 tips the scales at 1 432 lbs — 1 335 lbs more than the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2013 at 97 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 150 hp, the Zodiac Medline II 2008 has a 30-hp advantage over the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2013's 120-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 2013 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Zodiac Medline II 2008 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Zodiac Pro Open 550 2013 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 10 lbs per hp for the Zodiac Medline II 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 46 mph for the Zodiac Medline II 2008 and 45 mph for the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2013.
The Zodiac Pro Open 550 2013 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Zodiac Medline II 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 Pro Open 550 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 18,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Medline II 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
ModelMedline II
ModelPro Open 55
Model Year2008
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Weight - Detail1,432 lbs. (650 kg)
Weight - Detail970 lbs. (440 kg)
Weight - kg649.54
Weight - kg439.98
Weight - lbs.1432
Weight - lbs.97
Width [transom] - Detail8 ft. 2 in. (2.5 m) Inside Width: 4 ft. 5 in. (1.35 m)
Width [transom] - Detail4 ft. 5 in. (1.35 m) inside
Length - Meters6
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet19
Length - Feet18.08
Length - Inches8
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail19 ft. 8 in. (6 m) Inside Length: 16 ft. 3 in. (4.95)
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 1 in. (5.5 m)
Length overall - Meters5.99
Length overall - Meters5.51
Length overall - Inches236
Length overall - Inches217
Beamnot available
Beam8 ft. 2 in. (2.5 m)
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Meters2.49
Beam - Inchesnot available
Beam - Inches98
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]11 ft. (3.35 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard115 hp (87 kW)
Engine/s standardnot available
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max150 hp (113 kW)
Engine max120 hp
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (75 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal2
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower60 - 90 hp recommended
Performance
Maximum speed46 mph (74 km/h)
Maximum speed45 mph (72 km/h)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity2,425 lbs. (cat B), 3,417 lbs. (cat C), 1,100 lbs. (Cat B), 1,550 lbs. (Cat C)
Maximum capacity3,197 lbs. (1,450 kg)
Maximum people5 (Cat B), 11 (Cat C)
Maximum people11
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter1 ft. 10 in. (0.57 m)
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubes5 airtight compartments