Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Zodiac 230 2009 vs Zodiac Medline III 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a inflatable rigid Zodiac 230 2009 against a deep vee Zodiac Medline III 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 250 hp, the Zodiac Medline III 2012 has a 246-hp advantage over the Zodiac 230 2009's 4-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Zodiac Medline III 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Zodiac 230 2009 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Medline III 2012 could be the deciding factor.
The Zodiac Medline III 2012 has a documented top speed of 53 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
The Zodiac Medline III 2012 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Zodiac 230 2009 is a rigid hull, which typically offers a more confident ride in chop and easier maintenance over the long term.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac Medline III 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac 230 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model Year2009
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Length - Feet7.58
Length - Feet24
Length overall - Detail7 ft. 7 in. (2.3 m)
Length overall - Detail24 ft. (7.3 m)
Length overall - Meters2.31
Length overall - Meters7.32
Length overall - Inches91
Length overall - Inches288
Beamnot available
Beam9 ft. 10 in. (3 m)
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Meters3
Beam - Inchesnot available
Beam - Inches118
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail3,087 lbs. (1,400 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg1400.24
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.3087
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail6 ft. 1 in. (1.85 m) inside width
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]16 ft. 6 in. (5.02 m) inside length
Body / Hull
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max4 hp (3 kW)
Engine max250 hp (186 kW)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - DetailRear: 46.5 gal. (176 l) Bow: 44.4 gal. (168 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters177.91
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal46.5
Operational Info
Maximum capacity595 lbs. (270 kg)
Maximum capacity2,866 - 3,858 lbs. (1,300 - 1,750 kg)
Maximum people2 + 1
Maximum people8 / 15
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter1 ft. 11 in. (0.575 m)
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubesAirtight Compartments: 7
Performance
Maximum speednot available
Maximum speed53 mph (85 km/h)