Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Zodiac IV 2009 vs Zodiac Medline Sundream Zenith 2008 — Which Inflatable Rigid Fits Your Needs?
When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac IV 2009 and the Zodiac Medline Sundream Zenith 2008 are inflatable 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?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 350 hp, the Zodiac IV 2009 has a 270-hp advantage over the Zodiac Medline Sundream Zenith 2008'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 IV 2009 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Zodiac Medline Sundream Zenith 2008 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac IV 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac IV 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 27,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Medline Sundream Zenith 2008 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
ModelIV
ModelMedline Sundream Zenith
Model Year2009
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Length - Feet27.92
Length - Feet16
Length overall - Detail27 ft. 11 in. (8.5 m)
Length overall - Detail16 ft. 5 in. (5 m) Inside Length: 12 ft. 10 in. (3.9 m)
Length overall - Meters8.51
Length overall - Meters5
Length overall - Inches335
Length overall - Inches197
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] - Detail7 ft. 3 in (2.2 m) Inside Width: 3 ft. 11 in. (1.2 m)
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters5
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches5
Body / Hull
Hull materialInflatable
Hull materialRigid inflatable
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Hull typeInflatable Rigid
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max350 hp (262 kW)
Engine max80 hp (59 kW) Recommended Maximum: 60 hp (44 kW)
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standard40 hp (30 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity4,695 lbs. (2,130 kg)
Maximum capacity2,536 lbs. (1,150 kg)
Maximum people15
Maximum people1
Performance
Maximum speednot available
Maximum speed42 mph (68 km/h)