When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Cadet Airlite 240 2011 and the Zodiac Zoom 380 S 2008 are inflatable non rigid designs with inflatable construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Zodiac Zoom 380 S 2008 measures 12,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 4,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Zodiac Cadet Airlite 240 2011 at 7,9 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac Zoom 380 S 2008 tips the scales at 121 lbs — 115 lbs less than the Zodiac Cadet Airlite 240 2011 at 6 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 4 hp for the Zodiac Cadet Airlite 240 2011 and 15 hp for the Zodiac Zoom 380 S 2008. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Zodiac Zoom 380 S 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Zodiac Cadet Airlite 240 2011 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Zoom 380 S 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Zodiac Cadet Airlite 240 2011 comes in at 2 lbs per hp versus 8 lbs per hp for the Zodiac Zoom 380 S 2008. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
The Zodiac Cadet Airlite 240 2011 has a documented top speed of 12 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac Zoom 380 S 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 12,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Cadet Airlite 240 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.