Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Zodiac 260 AERO 2009 vs Zodiac Medline 540 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a inflatable rigid Zodiac 260 AERO 2009 against a deep vee Zodiac Medline 540 2013 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 60 hp, the Zodiac Medline 540 2013 has a 54-hp advantage over the Zodiac 260 AERO 2009's 6-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 260 AERO 2009 is rated for 3 passengers, while the Zodiac Medline 540 2013 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac 260 AERO 2009 could be the deciding factor.
The Zodiac Medline 540 2013 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Zodiac 260 AERO 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 260 AERO 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 3 passengers and at 8,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Medline 540 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model260 AERO
ModelMedline 54
Model Year2009
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Length - Feet8.5
Length - Feet17.75
Length overall - Detail8 ft. 5 in. (2.6 m)
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 9 in. (5.4 m)
Length overall - Meters2.57
Length overall - Meters5.41
Length overall - Inches101
Length overall - Inches213
Beamnot available
Beam7 ft. 6 in. (2.28 m)
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Meters2.29
Beam - Inchesnot available
Beam - Inches9
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail891 lbs. (404 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg404.15
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.891
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail4 ft. 1 in. (1.25 m) inside width
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]14 ft. 9 in. (4.5 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max6 hp (4.5 kW)
Engine maxnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (90 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal23
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower60 - 100 hp
Operational Info
Maximum capacity882 lbs. (400 kg)
Maximum capacity2,839 lbs. (1,288 kg)
Maximum people3
Maximum people1
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter1 ft. 8 in. (0.5 m)
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubes5 airtight compartments