When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider 2009 and the Rinker Express Cruiser 290 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 Rinker Express Cruiser 290 2013 measures 31,8 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 5,8 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 Express Cruiser 290 2013 tips the scales at 8 875 lbs — 8 380 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 Express Cruiser 290 2013 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 Express Cruiser 290 2013 could be the deciding factor.