When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2010 and the Zodiac Yachtline Deluxe 470 DL 2010 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 Open 550 2010 at 18,1 ft versus Zodiac Yachtline Deluxe 470 DL 2010 at 15,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2010 tips the scales at 882 lbs — 796 lbs more than the Zodiac Yachtline Deluxe 470 DL 2010 at 86 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 120 hp, the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2010 has a 30-hp advantage over the Zodiac Yachtline Deluxe 470 DL 2010's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 22 gal and 23 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Zodiac Pro Open 550 2010 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Zodiac Yachtline Deluxe 470 DL 2010 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 Open 550 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac Pro Open 550 2010 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 Yachtline Deluxe 470 DL 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.