Zodiac just launched its new Open 5.5 RIB, which it calls the SUV of the sea, at a big open house in Crouesty, France. The new Open is 17’ 7” long and can hold 12 passengers; it replaces Zodiac’s popular Pro Open 550 with a more modern design, a new V-shaped hull for cruising, and a T-top to provide protection from the weather.
The new Open 5.5 has a high tow bar for watersports, a Fusion stereo, a rear platform for diving, a 14-gallon cooler, a swim ladder, and stern seats with removable back rests for easy access to the water. The tilt-forward console has a large dash, a front hatch, a 12V/USB socket, cup holders, and a protective wind screen. The boat also has five airtight compartments, a self-bailing deck and a bilge pump. A large rubstrake protects the sides, while handrails on the bow provide safety for children.
“The Open 5.5 fully expresses Zodiac’s DNA,” says Dominique Heber-Suffrin, CEO of Zodiac Nautic Group. “Its versatility makes it a unique concept, matched nowhere else on the earth, in line with its new slogan: ‘Keep Exploring.’”
The new Zodiac will be launched in the U.S. at a three-day open house in Charleston, S.C., starting June 20.
Specs.: LOA: 17’7”; Beam: 8’4”; Disp.: 1,290 lbs.; Fuel: 26 gals. Power: 1×130-hp outboard.
