When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Pro 20 Man 2008 and the Zodiac Pro Open 850 2011 are inflatable rigid designs with rigid 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 Pro 20 Man 2008 at 27,0 ft versus Zodiac Pro Open 850 2011 at 27,9 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac Pro Open 850 2011 tips the scales at 3 307 lbs — 331 lbs less than the Zodiac Pro 20 Man 2008 at 2 976 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 350 hp, the Zodiac Pro Open 850 2011 has a 50-hp advantage over the Zodiac Pro 20 Man 2008's 300-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 20 Man 2008 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Zodiac Pro Open 850 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Pro 20 Man 2008 could be the deciding factor.