When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 and the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 are modified 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 at 28,0 ft versus Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 at 31,0 ft. At 675 lbs and 764 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 could be the deciding factor.