Zodiac 340 Cadet RIB Review

It’s the end of April 2013 in Sydney and we are enjoying the most amazing indian summer in years. A long scorching summer in Sydney (There were 2 days over 40 degrees) has mellowed in to long sunny days or super light cloud cover with little breeze and temperatures around 25 degrees.

Dino Tantaro (National Marine Manager – Zodiac) and I had been discussing for a long time regarding a suitable Zodiac to review and when I received a call from Dino and offered the chance to spend the day on Sydney Harbour I jumped at the opportunity.

The Zodiac Dino suggested we test was a Zodiac 340 Cadet RIB which at 3.40 meteres in length and weighing in at 32kg minus motor and gear was the perfect balance of trailerable family fun or tender to a larger vessel.

In our case the 340 Cadet was the pride and joy of a northern beaches local who loves to take out his young family boating around beautiful Middle Harbour.

Fitting easily in to their spare garage and fitted with a Mercury Sea Pro 25HP 2 Stroke it rolled out easily atop a Dunbier Roller Trailer.

The ultra lightweight of the rig means that hitching it to a towbar can be done by one person and when heading to the nearest waterway towed by pretty much any car.

Whilst on our way to the boat ramp I did check quite a few times behind our car with greater than normal interest checking that the Zodiac was still attached! 

Launching was a breeze and with the newly built pontoon at Roseveille Bridge Boat Ramp this task can easily be done by one person.

When underway at low speed in the 4 knot zone close to sure the 340 Cadet tracks well with minimal movement on the tiller steer required to keep in a straight line. 

With over 65 models in the Zodiac range the 340 Cadet RIB is the largest within the Zodiac Cadet “Tender” category.

Zodiac Cadet 340 specifications 

Zodiac 340 Cadet RangePrice list