Zodiac Open Pro 550 - any views?

[spartacus]

I'm considering upgrading my Zodiac Pro 7 to an Open Pro 550. It's quite a jump I know, and I'm only going on Zodiac's reputation, having never actually driven one. I've had Zodiacs for over 20 years, so maybe it's misplaced loyalty?

Any members here current owners? I've read mixed reviews about it's performance, but it seems like a capable boat, maybe more suited for the south of France than the Atlantic or Moray Firth. Could be more a 'pretty boat' than all out performance rib.

Examples I've looked at have been a damaged repairable (Devon) which eventually sold for £2,100 (minus trailer and engine) which did tempt me, and other models from 1998 to 2007, ranging from £9k-£14k.

Should I be widening my search?

We tend to use it in the Moray Firth and in the west coast (Atlantic), both fairly challenging environments if the wind gets up. I have a young family, so boat ride is important, and the ability to get from A to B quickly, without constantly watching the fuel gauge. Also comfort for fishing, and the chance to move about on deck is a consideration.

Performance-wise, a 90HP engine would suit me fine. Although the 550 will take a maximum of 120HP it would be wasted on me.

Lastly, I have a domestic garage, which the Pro 7 fits in quite comfortably. However saying that, I have a long trailer drawbar and the sponson cones touch the up and over door. Would you keep this sort of boat in a driveway covered over?

Decisions, decisions...

[giddyup]

Phil and Mark at PA Lynch, Morpeth (01670512291) would be able to give you advice on a 550 as they use one regularly. I bought a pro9 from them to replace a pro7 and before that a mark2c so i know what you mean by loyalty to the badge but they have always been helpful, fair and offered good advice and value for money. Could be worth a call if only for the advice. It may be a bit of a trip from where you live but they delivered my first boat to me (80 miles) and deonstrated how to inflate/pack away the mk2c.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by giddyup

Phil and Mark at PA Lynch, Morpeth (01670512291) would be able to give you advice on a 550 as they use one regularly. I bought a pro9 from them to replace a pro7 and before that a mark2c so i know what you mean by loyalty to the badge but they have always been helpful, fair and offered good advice and value for money. Could be worth a call if only for the advice. It may be a bit of a trip from where you live but they delivered my first boat to me (80 miles) and deonstrated how to inflate/pack away the mk2c.

Thank you for that. How have you found the Pro 9 Man? It's only 20" longer, but tubes are a little bit bigger. It's also mariginally wider and the maximum hp goes up to 70hp, although most examples I've seen are kitted out with 60hp.

[giddyup]

The pro 9 was bought to give the power to get my lads wakeboarding and with a 60hp it does well. We fish from it and though when four are aboard, the room is limited, we have used it to explore the coast around the Mull of Galloway. We will take it to Ireland one day when the sea conditions allow. It is a much more stable boat than the pro 7 and that extra length and tube size gives greater security and a better ride. There are limits of course and a 550 would handle a rougher sea better. The pro 9 can be launched off the beach with just my wife and I but a 550 would be too heavy to move about on sand/ unhitched and pushed deep enough to get the boat off. The pro 9 is easy to shove about. If I had access to a regular ramp though I would have gone for the bigger boat. We take ours on holiday and launch off two beaches, one soft sand/shingle and the other hard sand. I dont like getting the car wet so I wont drive into the sea but have seen some do just that with bigger boats! So the ability to launch where we holiday was the determining factor in my choice of boat and I have not been disappointed with the boat in any way (top speed 35mph). We have been half way to Ireland to join the rib raid on Portpatrick and riding their wake back in for 10 miles was great fun...yes I too want a Scorpion with a 300hp on the back but we would never be able to launch off the beach!! On a calm day, the 24 mile crossing would be perfectly possible and we were hoping to do it this year but this summer has never given us the window that we needed...roll on next year.

[davej]

Keeping it in a domestic garage would clearly be better than covered over outside, both my own RIB and my dive clubs RIB are keep inside and not only are they easier to work on but the tubes are like new and the engines are just left with dust sheets over them which allows everything to dry out and breath.

I built a custom A frame, which fits in just under the door and although I can remove the trailer drawbar just fits without.

I know someone with an 550 in Oz and he certainly likes his.

Good luck

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by giddyup

The pro 9 was bought to give the power to get my lads wakeboarding and with a 60hp it does well. We fish from it and though when four are aboard, the room is limited, we have used it to explore the coast around the Mull of Galloway. We will take it to Ireland one day when the sea conditions allow. It is a much more stable boat than the pro 7 and that extra length and tube size gives greater security and a better ride. There are limits of course and a 550 would handle a rougher sea better. The pro 9 can be launched off the beach with just my wife and I but a 550 would be too heavy to move about on sand/ unhitched and pushed deep enough to get the boat off. The pro 9 is easy to shove about. If I had access to a regular ramp though I would have gone for the bigger boat. We take ours on holiday and launch off two beaches, one soft sand/shingle and the other hard sand. I dont like getting the car wet so I wont drive into the sea but have seen some do just that with bigger boats! So the ability to launch where we holiday was the determining factor in my choice of boat and I have not been disappointed with the boat in any way (top speed 35mph). We have been half way to Ireland to join the rib raid on Portpatrick and riding their wake back in for 10 miles was great fun...yes I too want a Scorpion with a 300hp on the back but we would never be able to launch off the beach!! On a calm day, the 24 mile crossing would be perfectly possible and we were hoping to do it this year but this summer has never given us the window that we needed...roll on next year.

Interesting. The more I think about an Open Pro 550, the more inclined I am to think about the extra work in launching. It's not exactly small, and at 400kg it's a bit of a heavy-weight. Add the engine (up to 190kg) and we're now talking over half a ton.

I launch from a number of slipways on the noth-east coast of Scotland, and for a couple of weeks on the west coast (Lewis) and the Pro 7 will float in a small amount of water. The long trailer drawbar allows the boat to simply shove off without getting the rear wheels wet. It's not particularly heavy and trailering is easy. The Pro 550 is 18' long (same length as my garage) so won't fit. My only other option would be to have it in the drive, but there's the security issue.

The Pro 12 looks like a nice boat, but for the same money I'd opt for a 550 any day. At just over 17 feet it's going to be too big too. The Pro 9 is 15' 5" and should fit on the Indespension Rollercoaster 1 trailer by moving the winch-post forward. This already fits in my garage, so I think this may now be my preferred choice.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by davej

Keeping it in a domestic garage would clearly be better than covered over outside, both my own RIB and my dive clubs RIB are keep inside and not only are they easier to work on but the tubes are like new and the engines are just left with dust sheets over them which allows everything to dry out and breath.

I built a custom A frame, which fits in just under the door and although I can remove the trailer drawbar just fits without.

I know someone with an 550 in Oz and he certainly likes his.

Good luck

Thanks. I agree regards keeping it in a garage. We can get hard winters (-15 last winter on one occasion) and loads of snow. Even with a boat cover - it would be out in all weathers, so my preferred choice is to get it under cover when not in use.

How much of the trailer drawbar can be removed (what's the make)?

[giddyup]

Forgot to add. the pro 9 stays in the garage...fits with the engine down and the garage is just an average one...No alteration to the trailer...only 6 inches to spare but at least it fits, snug as a bug, wheel clamp on and with the door locked.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by giddyup

Forgot to add. the pro 9 stays in the garage...fits with the engine down and the garage is just an average one...No alteration to the trailer...only 6 inches to spare but at least it fits, snug as a bug, wheel clamp on and with the door locked.

I'm the same, engine down and hard to port - fits with inches to spare. Also have wheel clamp, hitchlock, outboard motor lock and the door is on main Yale security house alarm. Call me paranoid!

[9D280]

I guess if you haven't bought it yet the other thing to remember about getitng it to fit a garage is that there's a good chance the engine will stick out further than the toobs. I managed to save about 3" by parking mine on the lowest trim pin for storage (Gearbox / cav plates stick out surprisingly far!), and swapping the long stroke 2 cyl Yam to the relatively short but taller Merc got another 3 or so inches room.

MY trialer is an old Snipe, and the way the winch post clamps onto the drawbar I have managed to be a bit creative with the packing. I got an Ifor Williams "pin" jockey and have to be absolutely certian the pin is in before I start winching, but having found their "lock points" I have set them up so I can winch either happily as long as the other is in the "stowed" position. I also turned my winch handle throug 180deg so it "parked" out the way of the jockey winder. Granted I also have about 1/2" clearance from the bow to the tailgate on a flat road, and I'm stuffed for getting into the boot if I forget to let the car roll forward 2" when stopped to release the trailer brakes & extend the hiitch......

Also a length of old carpet down the back wall protects the engine form scrapes.

[giddyup]

Try before you buy...PA Lynch have an open day some time with 550 (115hp) and pro 9 (60ho) on the water to try. Give them a call to see when and you should be able to get out in the North Sea in both!

[SJHooper]

I had a Zodiac pro open 550 I would not recomend it to anyone. I had the pro open my son had a medline then changed it for a pro 12. I sold my pro open and bought a new Avon 580.
Both the medline, Avon 580 and pro 12 are far better than the 550 pro open.

The 550 chine walks horribly. Test one and see. Just my experiance

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by SJHooper

I had a Zodiac pro open 550 I would not recomend it to anyone. I had the pro open my son had a medline then changed it for a pro 12. I sold my pro open and bought a new Avon 580.
Both the medline, Avon 580 and pro 12 are far better than the 550 pro open.

The 550 chine walks horribly. Test one and see. Just my experiance

I have heard that. Strange isn't it. The Medline and Pro 12-man have a hull angle of 24.5°, (550 is 24°) although they must have different hull designs. I've also heard the 550 sits on it's tubes at the stern even on the plane, where as some other boats, will sit a little higher in the water.

Found an interesting review. http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=c...ew&hl=en&gl=uk

[navigate_us]

I am also thinking about the Pro Open 550, has anyone got any views on this boat for a similar use to spartacus. Excuse my ignorance but what is chine walking?

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by navigate_us

I am also thinking about the Pro Open 550, has anyone got any views on this boat for a similar use to spartacus. Excuse my ignorance but what is chine walking?

I've opted against the 550, not so much because of the reviews, but because I will have a potential storage problem. My next boat has to fit in a domestic garage, which is 18' long. The 550 is just over 18', but once you've added the trailer drawbar and the engine, you're probably looking at closer to 21'. Also the console will sit quite high once it's on the trailer. The console can hinge forward - which is a nice touch.

Chine walk is the tendency for a boat to oscillate back and forth between its port and starboard chines or lifting strakes on the hull. This will only be evident under speed or certain sea conditions.

Personally If I was purchasing a 550 I'd want a sea trial. If you're prepared to spend the best part of £20k on a new boat, I'd want the reassurance that can only come with testing it yourself, or speak with a dealer that you trust.

I still like the look of the boat, but would opt for one with a bolster seat, and not one with the swivel captain's chairs, which probably are more cosmetic than practical, especially in anything other than a calm sea.

There's a second-hand one for sale at Wills Marine in Devon.
http://www.willsmarine.co.uk/product...ndex_1166.html

[navigate_us]

Thanks for the reply, what did you buy instead? I do plan trialing the options and aim to buy in Spring 2010....but I was tempted at the boat show. The bolster seat, tipping center console +2 rod positions looks a good set up. Engines is a whole new question though.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by navigate_us

Thanks for the reply, what did you buy instead? I do plan trialing the options and aim to buy in Spring 2010....but I was tempted at the boat show. The bolster seat, tipping center console +2 rod positions looks a good set up. Engines is a whole new question though.

Currently awaiting prices and specification on a Seaquest 4.8m commercial. The finish looks superb. Absolutely no idea how much though - so it might be back to the drawing board. Looks a bit like a Delta with a deep V hull, oversized console screen, wing-back jockey seats, etc.

Picture copyright (Ribquest).

[jonp]

After much searching for a rib in the 5-6m range I finally bit the bullet and just bought a 2014 zodiac 550 pro tour, the price was just too good to not give one a try.

I must admit that finding reviews on the boat had been very few and far between and frankly the comments on here were greatly putting me off even trying one.

Ive owned boats for 38 years and tend to go with performance offshore boats as I game fish 40-50km offshore on the south east coast of Australia. Often fishing in winds of 25-35 knots was starting to become not so much fun anymore with neck and back problems.

Over the years Ive always been very anti rib (partly due to the harsh sun and the fact that mako sharks always take a liking to my boats).

My first test in the 550 was in 15-20 kn SE wind with 1.5m sea on a 2m swell. I must admit as I headed out through our local bar crossing I was feeling quite doubtful that this boat would be a keeper and I was already picturing it back on the market. Wrong Wrong Wrong, this boat can handle the sea in all directions far better than any glass boat Ive ever owned, I even prefer its sporty fun handling over many of the bigger cats and tri hulls Ive been in over the years.

As for chine walking etc, back on inclosed sheltered waters where I was able to test at flat chat, there was no chine walk what so ever. All I can think is that those who experience it may of had a badly set up outboard (maybe 1 or 2 holes to low) or that the latest boats perform better. Saying that I do only have quite a small engine (Yam 70 4 stroke) which tops out at 64km (might be able to squeeze a little more with some prop testing). By the way the tour is lighter at 315kg which is why it only has the 70.

The 550 will be used 50km offshore targeting yellowfin and bluefin from this weekend as well as a dive and research boat.

jonp

[office888]

Why not just get a Pro 12 Man (Pro 550) if you only want a 90?

Perks of the Pro Open:
More factory installed seating
Large console molded in to the floor
Flashier tube
Bow pulpit w/ anchor roller on tube
Bigger rating (120 hp instead of 90 hp)

[cornishcoote]

I have a 2003 Zodiac Pro 550 with a Honda 75hp and experienced no issues around chine walking either. It's a good solid family boat always feeling comfortable and stable.
As for weight. We launch and recover on a beach using a Volvo Awd no problems.

It's a good family fun / fishing boat.