Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 vs Rinker 280 EC 2010 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 or the Rinker 280 EC 2010?

The Rinker 280 EC 2010 is the longer of the two at 31,7 feet overall. The Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 comes in at 26,0 feet, making it roughly 5,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 or the Rinker 280 EC 2010?

For trailering, the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 has the edge at 495 lbs dry weight versus 764 lbs for the Rinker 280 EC 2010. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Rinker 280 EC 2010 is certified for 9. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Rinker 280 EC 2010 measures 109" wide, compared to 102" for the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 or the Rinker 280 EC 2010?

The Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the Rinker 280 EC 2010. That 74-gallon difference translates to roughly 222–370 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 and Rinker 280 EC 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 and the Rinker 280 EC 2010 are built by Rinker. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 vs Rinker 280 EC 2010

Rinker

Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009

2009

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Rinker

Rinker 280 EC 2010

2010

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 vs Rinker 280 EC 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 against a modified vee Rinker 280 EC 2010 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Rinker 280 EC 2010 measures 31,7 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 5,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 at 26,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Rinker 280 EC 2010 tips the scales at 764 lbs — 269 lbs less than the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 at 495 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Rinker 280 EC 2010 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Rinker 280 EC 2010 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Rinker 280 EC 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 31,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeRinker

Model246 Captiva Bowrider

Model280 EC

Model Year2009

Model Year201

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam9 ft. 1 in. (2.77 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.77

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches109

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 m)

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 3 in. (2.21 m) With Arch: 9 ft. 11 in. (3.02 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters1.52

Bridge clearance - Meters3.02

Bridge clearance - Inches6

Bridge clearance - Inches119

Deadrise20℃

Deadrise18℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in. (55 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detail24 in. (61 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [drive up] inches24

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (91 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inches36

Weight - Detail4,950 lbs. (2,245 kg)

Weight - Detail7,640 lbs. (3,465 kg)

Weight - kg2245.28

Weight - kg3465.44

Weight - lbs.495

Weight - lbs.764

Length - Meters7.97

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet26

Length - Feet31.67

Length - Inches2

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail26 ft. 2 in. (7.97 m)

Length overall - Detail31 ft. 8 in. (9.65 m)

Length overall - Meters7.98

Length overall - Meters9.65

Length overall - Inches314

Length overall - Inches38

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo 5.0 GXI SX - 270 hp

Engine/s standardVolvo 5.7 Gi DP - 300 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Detail75 gal. (283.9 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail100 gal. (378.5 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters283.91

Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54

Fuel tank capacity - Gal75

Fuel tank capacity - Gal1

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

HeadYes

Headnot available

Water capacityFresh: 10 gal. (37.8 l)

Water capacityFresh: 33 gal. (124.9 l)

Maximum capacityYacht certified

Maximum peopleYacht certified

Headroomnot available

HeadroomCabin: 6 ft. 5 in. (1.96 m)

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity4

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - DetailWaste: 27 gal. (102.2 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters102.21

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal27

Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 vs Rinker 280 EC 2010 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 or the Rinker 280 EC 2010?

The Rinker 280 EC 2010 is the longer of the two at 31,7 feet overall. The Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 comes in at 26,0 feet, making it roughly 5,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 or the Rinker 280 EC 2010?

For trailering, the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 has the edge at 495 lbs dry weight versus 764 lbs for the Rinker 280 EC 2010. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Rinker 280 EC 2010 is certified for 9. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Rinker 280 EC 2010 measures 109" wide, compared to 102" for the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 or the Rinker 280 EC 2010?

The Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the Rinker 280 EC 2010. That 74-gallon difference translates to roughly 222–370 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 and Rinker 280 EC 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 and the Rinker 280 EC 2010 are built by Rinker. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 full specs ← Rinker 280 EC 2010 full specs