When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Medline IIC 2012 and the Zodiac N-ZO 700 Cabin 2013 are deep vee designs with fiberglass 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 N-ZO 700 Cabin 2013 measures 22,9 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 5,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Zodiac Medline IIC 2012 at 17,4 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac N-ZO 700 Cabin 2013 tips the scales at 3 283 lbs — 2 225 lbs less than the Zodiac Medline IIC 2012 at 1 058 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Zodiac N-ZO 700 Cabin 2013 has a 185-hp advantage over the Zodiac Medline IIC 2012's 115-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 N-ZO 700 Cabin 2013 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Zodiac Medline IIC 2012 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac N-ZO 700 Cabin 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Zodiac Medline IIC 2012 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 11 lbs per hp for the Zodiac N-ZO 700 Cabin 2013. 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 Medline IIC 2012 has a documented top speed of 43 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
Both are inflatable designs, which means they pack down for compact storage, can be carried in a bag, and are dramatically lighter than equivalent rigid hulls. The trade-off is setup time and the need to monitor tube pressure regularly. Tube diameter differs: 1 ft. 8 in. (0.52 m) on the Zodiac Medline IIC 2012 vs 2 ft. 2 in. (0.65 m) on the Zodiac N-ZO 700 Cabin 2013 — larger tubes generally mean more buoyancy and a drier, more stable ride.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac N-ZO 700 Cabin 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Medline IIC 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.