Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Zodiac III 2009 vs Zodiac Medline Sundream 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a inflatable rigid Zodiac III 2009 against a deep vee Zodiac Medline Sundream 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 III 2009 has a 170-hp advantage over the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2012's 80-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 III 2009 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Zodiac Medline Sundream 2012 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac III 2009 could be the deciding factor.
The Zodiac Medline Sundream 2012 has a documented top speed of 42 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
The Zodiac Medline Sundream 2012 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Zodiac III 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 III 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 23,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Medline Sundream 2012 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
ModelIII
ModelMedline Sundream
Model Year2009
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Length - Feet23.75
Length - Feet16.42
Length overall - Detail23 ft. 9 in. (7.3 m)
Length overall - Detail16 ft. 5 in. (5 m)
Length overall - Meters7.24
Length overall - Meters5
Length overall - Inches285
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
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail3 ft. 11 in. (1.2 m) inside width
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]12 ft. 10 in. (3.9 m) inside length
Body / Hull
Hull materialInflatable
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max250 hp (186 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 capacity3,858 lbs. (1,750 kg)
Maximum capacity2,535 lbs. (1,150 kg)
Maximum people15
Maximum people1
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter1 ft. 8 in. (0.5 m)
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubesAirtight Compartments: 5
Performance
Maximum speednot available
Maximum speed42 mph (68 km/h)