Zodiac’s X9CC brings the design themes introduced by the larger X10CC into a more compact centre-console package. Current official specifications list an overall length of 8.72 metres and a beam of 3.37 metres, keeping the boat manageable while retaining the inflatable-tube security and broad deck space associated with the brand.

The Cannes exhibitor release was prepared before the current production specification was finalised and contains slightly different early dimensions, so Luxury Yacht Guide is using Zodiac’s present model page for measurements. The core concept remains unchanged: a rigid stepped hull, inflatable tubes, social deck areas and a small cabin for longer days on the water.

Rigid hull and inflatable tubes share the work

The X9CC combines a deep rigid running surface with large inflatable collars around the perimeter. Zodiac says the arrangement provides the precise handling and performance of a rigid boat while the tubes add reserve buoyancy, stability and reassurance during low-speed manoeuvring or when passengers move around the deck.

That hybrid architecture is the reason large RIBs remain popular as both private boats and superyacht tenders. The tubes can absorb minor contact and provide an obvious physical edge to the deck, while the centre-console layout leaves clear routes from bow to stern.

Twin 250 hp engines are supported

The current X9CC specification allows twin outboards up to 250 hp each. Zodiac pairs that power with a stepped hull intended to balance speed and fuel use, giving the boat enough performance for watersports and rapid coastal transfers without moving into the very high-output engine packages seen on larger maxi-RIBs.

A substantial fuel tank supports the same all-day role. The boat is not being marketed as an offshore passagemaker, but its range and propulsion allow owners to plan trips between harbours rather than remaining tied to one local bay.

A small cabin extends the day

Beneath the console, Zodiac provides a berth, a separate toilet area, storage and opening windows. The accommodation is modest compared with a motor cruiser, but it gives a couple somewhere to rest, change or stay aboard when a day trip stretches into an overnight stop.

The cabin also improves privacy for family use and makes the X9CC more versatile as a chase boat. Guests can move between a larger yacht and shore without every personal need having to be handled in the open cockpit.

Social zones sit at both ends

The deck includes relaxation areas forward and aft, with high freeboards and inflatable tubes creating a defined boundary around passengers. A central helm preserves visibility and keeps movement open on both sides, while swim platforms and a deck shower support water access.

This arrangement makes the X9CC easy to understand on first use, an important quality for a boat that may be driven by different family members or professional crew. The controls remain central and the primary walking routes do not depend on converting furniture each time someone moves through.

A more accessible member of the X family

The X10CC established Zodiac’s larger luxury centre-console direction, but its size and cost put it beyond many owners who simply wanted the same design thinking in a smaller berth. The X9CC addresses that gap without stripping away the key cabin and social features.

At under nine metres, the model is also realistic as a tender for much larger yachts. That dual market—independent private ownership and support-vessel use—gives Zodiac a broader customer base than a conventional day boat aimed only at one style of operation.

The X9CC sits between day boat and serious tender

The X9CC's combination of centre-console circulation, inflatable collars and a small cabin gives it two credible roles. A private owner can use it as an independent coastal boat with enough privacy for an overnight stop, while a larger-yacht programme can treat the same platform as a fast tender capable of carrying guests and equipment without feeling purely utilitarian.

That dual use also explains why straightforward deck movement matters. Professional crew need a boat that can be boarded and unloaded quickly, while family owners want intuitive controls and secure freeboards. The X9CC does not need the accommodation of a cruiser to be useful; it needs enough comfort to extend the day while preserving the simplicity and stability that make a large RIB attractive in the first place.