When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Pro Classic 420 2013 and the Zodiac Pro Touring 550 2013 are deep vee 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Zodiac Pro Touring 550 2013 measures 17,1 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 3,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Zodiac Pro Classic 420 2013 at 13,8 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac Pro Touring 550 2013 tips the scales at 694 lbs — 295 lbs less than the Zodiac Pro Classic 420 2013 at 399 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 90 hp, the Zodiac Pro Touring 550 2013 has a 40-hp advantage over the Zodiac Pro Classic 420 2013's 50-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 Touring 550 2013 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Zodiac Pro Classic 420 2013 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Pro Touring 550 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Zodiac Pro Touring 550 2013 comes in at 8 lbs per hp versus 8 lbs per hp for the Zodiac Pro Classic 420 2013. 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 Touring 550 2013 and 37 mph for the Zodiac Pro Classic 420 2013.
Both are inflatable designs, which means they pack down for compact storage, can be carried in a bag, and are dramatically lighter than equivalent rigid hulls. The trade-off is setup time and the need to monitor tube pressure regularly. Tube diameter differs: 1 ft. 6 in. (0.46 m) on the Zodiac Pro Classic 420 2013 vs 1 ft. 8 in. (0.5 m) on the Zodiac Pro Touring 550 2013 — larger tubes generally mean more buoyancy and a drier, more stable ride.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac Pro Touring 550 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 17,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Pro Classic 420 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.