Your recommendation on a Zodiac please

[ColdToWarm]

Hi. New guy here up in Washington state.

I'm looking to purchase a new Zodiac Open 5.5 or 6.5. Typical usage would be for exploring, diving, and fishing around Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, and Hawaiian Islands in a couple years. 2-4 people aboard.

Needs to be seaworthy enough to handle crossing Strait of Juan de Fuca, and also from Oahu to Molokai (in decent weather).

Price is $20,000 more for the 6.5. Is it worth it for the slightly larger boat?

[Randall]

I haven't been aboard a 5.5, but I do have a 6.5. I would think that comfortably fitting dive gear and 4 people would pretty much max out the comfort capacity (in volume) of a 6.5, so the 5.5 might feel a bit cramped.

As an aside...why a new boat vs pre-owned? You can get some pretty good deals on used--you could buy mine, for example, for that $20,000 difference between a new 5.5 and 6.5. That would leave a lot of money on the table for upgrades and customization. I'm in Port Angeles, so if you'd like to crawl over a 6.5 drop me a line. I also have dive tanks, etc. that I can lay on deck so you get a feel for how that could work.

Randall

[ColdToWarm]

Thanks Randall. Do you have an ad up anywhere for it?

[Randall]

I haven't put up an ad. I'm still mid-job replacing the bilge pump. It got too cold in my barn over the winter, so work just stopped. I haven't wanted to advertise until I finish the job.

My boat is a Zodiac 650 Pro Open, Serie 214251. It has a Yamaha 115 4 stroke with 1547 hours, and 5 or 6 props, both stainless and aluminum. It's got a Standard Horizon Eclipse+ VHF, Garmin Striker 5CV depth/fish finder, Sony Marine CDX-H570MW stereo system, Scotty powered downrigger and two pole holders, a new Johnson Pumps 500 gph auto bilge pump. It sits on a Pacific Trailers galvanized trailer. It has the original tubes, used in both fresh and salt water. They are obviously used, but still lots of life in them.

I'll get some photos up soon.

[Randall]

update--that didn't work. Let me figure this out....

[Randall]

Here are a few photos.

[ColdToWarm]

Nice!

[jonp]

Had a 550 (2014 model) that I used for fishing, diving and spearing mostly with 4 people onboard which was squishy!!!!....in saying that my daughter has the 500 pro and takes 5 big lads out spearing with hers. Both handle very well and I had considered the 650 but went back to a fibreglass centre console simply because I chase bigger game using braid line, which will easily slice into tubes when a shark grabs a tuna under the boat etc.

[ColdToWarm]

Thanks for the info Jon! I appreciate it.