Zodiac Cherokee 495 or Medline 1???

[ALEXSAILS]

Hi...My friend is debating between the Cherokee 495 or the Medline 1, both from Zodiac....

Has anyone had any experience with these or has seen them up close??

thanks!

[dctucker]

Don't know the Medline, but have spent too much time in a Cherokee, I think it was that size. Didn't love the Cherokee in any sort of chop or sea. Also, the boat is set up with the console too far aft, IMHO. Can be tough to get it planing if loaded, or (as happened all too often) if the inner hull filled with water from slopping over the transom. Weight too far aft makes it a bit flighty at high speed too, feeling like it would want to go airborne and do a back flip. Boat I ran was rigged with a 40hp Yamaha 4 stroke.

Bottom line, there are much better RIBs out there... but if you're just looking for a calm day, flat water ride, it would do.

[crusoe]

Hi Alexsails.

I had a Medline 1 which I used in the north Wales area for 3 years with a 75

Suzuki two stroke on the back.

We used it as a family boat stopping off at beaches with the kids etc.

We also had the sun deck cushions for the girls to sunbathe on while the lads

fished off the back

The only down side if the sea got a bit rough it did become a bit of a splashy trip.