Zodiac X10CC - Preview - Powerboat and RIB

RIB or hard boat? Zodiac’s 60-knot flagship is a tough-looking tool.

Zodiac’s biggest boat to date is a vessel that intentionally sits between two popular and competing design concepts. The RIB and the centre console boat often appeal to similar skippers but intrinsically tend to serve separate needs. The X10CC seeks to close this gap, without an archetypal ‘jack-of-all-trades’ image. As well as Europe, Zodiac are aiming this boat at the US, an area where RIB sales occupy just 1% of the market, and given this boat’s emphasis on fishing as well as day boating, it should prove popular.

At a glance, you can easily mistake it for a hard boat as its D-shaped sponsons are not particularly prominent. However, they are more than just a big inflatable rubbing strake and provide enough buoyancy for this boat to be classified to carry 20 at its lower CE rating. Whether they do actually make it unsinkable is another matter, considering this boat displaces 3.5 tonnes dry. Ring have used the same hybrid hard boat/RIB design concept with their 1080, which we featured in the last issue – and it makes very good sense. You get more deck space while providing a safer environment for people to move about in, and you can accommodate plenty of rod holders on the high bulwarks.

The hull is a twin-step deep-vee design

The bulwark/half-sponson design makes a big galley possible.

Engine options are either twin 300hp V6 Mercury Verados or twin 400hp Mercury V8s, and the hull is a twin-step deep-vee design. This will give it a performance range of between 50 and 60 knots, though I suspect that most will be specified with the V10s, while its 760L fuel capacity will be able to feed the thirst.

Cup holders adorn the boat.

Deck options are varied. It can be ordered as an open boat or you can opt for the T-top. What is par for the course with every X10CC is the twin-berth cabin and heads. The double bed is a generous 2m in length with storage beneath, and the cabin has three portholes. The heads has a sink-toilet, though no shower; headroom appears to be full standing, and the holding tank has a 40L capacity.

A cosy cabin but effective nevertheless.

Sleeping space is not cramped.

The heads is basic but with good headroom.

A forepeak table is stored under the bed.

The foredeck has a double sunbed on the coachroof, and two bow recliners can be found in the forepeak. Alternatively, this sun spot can be turned into a dining area with a table that otherwise sits under the double bed in the cabin.

A sunbed is easily formed from the aft seating.

Spacious dining for six.

The aft section of the boat is where the X10CC excels. If you do not opt for an open-plan fishing boat, you can have twin facing bench seats with a table between – which quickly converts to a large sunbed. Forward of this is a large wet bar fitted with a fridge, ice box, sink and plenty of storage, which can be chosen with a different ‘fishing-orientated’ under-top design if required. Access to the bathing platform is on the port quarter, where you can access the shower fed by an 80L tank. The aft bench seat can be replaced with baitwells if need be, and the T-top can take a row of rod holders. The helm, in accordance with current design trends, packs in as much forward seating as possible – in this case, three seats. The T-top provides plenty of weather protection and is fitted with a roof-mounted board rack.

Aft baitwells are an option.

The X10CC is very much in the current vein of an all-purpose adventure craft, but with Zodiac character. I suspect it will mainly serve as an adventure day boat on this side of the Atlantic, and a middleweight fast fisher in the States. What will make this boat appeal is its £166,800 (inc. VAT) bare boat price. There is a multitude of options to add on, not least the engines, but even so, Zodiac make a good case for their hybrid RIB.