2011 Zodiac Pro 420 Bayrunner

From our 2011 Test issue

By Matt Spencer

In an economy that has seen many jobs lost due to outsourcing of commodities, it’s refreshing news to find out a new product is being built right here in North America. Not only that, but the benefits are being passed on to the consumer.

I’m referring to the Zodiac Pro 420 Bayrunner RIB. Normally built overseas, this RIB is part of a wave of Zodiac Marine USA products the company has started manufacturing right on home soil in Annapolis, MD.

Part of Zodiac’s sport cruising lineup, the Bayrunner 420 is a peppy little boat with seating for four adults, plenty of storage and styling for days. I’m a sucker for any colour than the traditional white or grey when it comes to RIBs, so I was stoked the 420 I tested was a fire red that nearly scorched the water.

The performance wasn’t far off either! The factory-rigged Yamaha F40 certainly fulfills the “sport” in sport cruiser. During my on-water test on Lake Erie, I nearly became airborne on more than one occasion. Speed testing from Yamaha reported a top speed of 35 mph at 5800 rpm with this pairing.

Back to the styling, the bench seat for the captain and mate has built-in rocket launchers to aft and a rather large compartment below, ideal for a cooler. In the bow, the seat is practically a sun lounge and also lifts up for more storage.

And as for the consumer benefits of the Pro 420 Bayrunner I mentioned earlier, the 420 comes rigged with a Yamaha F40, digital gauges and a trailer for – get this – just under US$17,000. That’s Zodiac design and quality for a price that can’t be beat.

So some of us north of the border may not be fans of the big “buy American” push that has been happening, but in the case of the Zodiac Pro 420 Bayrunner, buying American sure does seem to have its benefits.

Full performance data and specs: Available at BoatTest.ca.