When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Zodiac Medline IV 2012 and the Zodiac Rec Pro 650 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 Medline IV 2012 measures 27,9 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 6,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Zodiac Rec Pro 650 2013 at 21,3 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Zodiac Medline IV 2012 tips the scales at 3 527 lbs — 1 439 lbs more than the Zodiac Rec Pro 650 2013 at 2 088 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 350 hp, the Zodiac Medline IV 2012 has a 200-hp advantage over the Zodiac Rec Pro 650 2013's 150-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 Rec Pro 650 2013 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Zodiac Medline IV 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Zodiac Rec Pro 650 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Zodiac Medline IV 2012 comes in at 10 lbs per hp versus 14 lbs per hp for the Zodiac Rec Pro 650 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.
Top speed is rated at 85 mph for the Zodiac Rec Pro 650 2013 and 57 mph for the Zodiac Medline IV 2012.
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: 2 ft. (0.6 m) on the Zodiac Medline IV 2012 vs 1 ft. 10 in. (0.57 m) on the Zodiac Rec Pro 650 2013 — larger tubes generally mean more buoyancy and a drier, more stable ride.
Bottom line: Choose the Zodiac Rec Pro 650 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 21,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Zodiac Medline IV 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.