When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Pro 12 Man 2012 and the Zodiac Pro 500 2011 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 Pro 12 Man 2012 at 17,2 ft versus Zodiac Pro 500 2011 at 15,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac Pro 12 Man 2012 tips the scales at 695 lbs — 188 lbs more than the Zodiac Pro 500 2011 at 507 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 — 90 hp for the Zodiac Pro 12 Man 2012 and 70 hp for the Zodiac Pro 500 2011. 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 Pro 12 Man 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Zodiac Pro 500 2011 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Pro 12 Man 2012 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Zodiac Pro 500 2011 comes in at 7 lbs per hp versus 8 lbs per hp for the Zodiac Pro 12 Man 2012. 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 42 mph for the Zodiac Pro 12 Man 2012 and 41 mph for the Zodiac Pro 500 2011.
The Zodiac Pro 12 Man 2012 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Zodiac Pro 500 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 Pro 12 Man 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 17,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Pro 500 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.