Zodiac 260 S 2009 vs Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Zodiac 260 S 2009 or the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011?

The Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 is the longer of the two at 16,4 feet overall. The Zodiac 260 S 2009 comes in at 8,5 feet, making it roughly 7,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 is rated to a maximum of 80 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Zodiac 260 S 2009 tops out at 8 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Zodiac 260 S 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Are the Zodiac 260 S 2009 and Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Zodiac 260 S 2009 and the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 are built by Zodiac. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Zodiac 260 S 2009 vs Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011

Zodiac

Zodiac 260 S 2009

2009

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Zodiac

Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Zodiac 260 S 2009 vs Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a inflatable rigid Zodiac 260 S 2009 against a deep vee Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 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 80 hp, the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 has a 72-hp advantage over the Zodiac 260 S 2009's 8-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 S 2009 is rated for 3 passengers, while the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 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 S 2009 could be the deciding factor.

The Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 has a documented top speed of 42 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.

Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac 260 S 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 Sundream 2011 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

MakeZodiac

Model260 S

ModelMedline Sundream

Model Year2009

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Length - Feet8.5

Length - Feet16.42

Length overall - Detail8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m)

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 5 in. (5 m)

Length overall - Meters2.59

Length overall - Meters5

Length overall - Inches102

Length overall - Inches197

Beamnot available

Beam7 ft. 3 in. (2.2 m)

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.21

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches87

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail875 lbs. (397 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg396.89

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.875

Body / Hull

Hull materialRigid inflatable

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeInflatable Rigid

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max8 hp (6 kW)

Engine max80 hp (59 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail15.9 gal. (60 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters60.57

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal15.9

Operational Info

Maximum capacity992 lbs. (450 kg)

Maximum capacity2,535 lbs. (1,150 kg)

Maximum people3

Maximum people1

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter1 ft. 8 in. (0.5 m)

Performance

Maximum speednot available

Maximum speed42 mph (68 km/h)

Zodiac 260 S 2009 vs Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Zodiac 260 S 2009 or the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011?

The Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 is the longer of the two at 16,4 feet overall. The Zodiac 260 S 2009 comes in at 8,5 feet, making it roughly 7,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 is rated to a maximum of 80 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Zodiac 260 S 2009 tops out at 8 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Zodiac 260 S 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Are the Zodiac 260 S 2009 and Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Zodiac 260 S 2009 and the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 are built by Zodiac. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Zodiac 260 S 2009 full specs ← Zodiac Medline Sundream 2011 full specs