Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 vs Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013?

The Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 comes in at 26,2 feet, making it roughly 1,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013?

For trailering, the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 has the edge at 491 lbs dry weight versus 675 lbs for the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009. 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 260 Express Cruiser 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 is certified for 7. 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 and Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013?

The Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 68 gallons on the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013. That 7-gallon difference translates to roughly 21–35 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 and Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 and the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 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 260 Express Cruiser 2009 vs Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013

Rinker

Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009

2009

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Rinker

Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 vs Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 against a deep vee Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 at 28,0 ft versus Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 at 26,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 tips the scales at 675 lbs — 184 lbs more than the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 at 491 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 260 Express Cruiser 2009 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 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

Model260 Express Cruiser

ModelCaptiva 246 BR

Model Year2009

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 0 in. (2.13 m) With Arch: 9 ft. 6 in. (2.9 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.9

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches114

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise18℃

Deadrisenot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail26 in. (66 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in. (0.56 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.66

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches26

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (97 cm)

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches38

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail6,750 lbs. (3,062 kg)

Weight - Detail4,910 lbs. (2,229 kg) dry 5,810 lbs. (2,638 kg) wet

Weight - kg3061.75

Weight - kg2227.14

Weight - lbs.675

Weight - lbs.491

Length - Meters8.79

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet28

Length - Feet26.17

Length - Inches1

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 10 in. (8.79 m)

Length overall - Detail26 ft. 2 in. (7.98 m)

Length overall - Meters8.79

Length overall - Meters7.98

Length overall - Inches346

Length overall - Inches314

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardMercruiser 5.0 MPI B2 - 260 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail75 gal. (283.9 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail68 gal. (258 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters283.91

Fuel tank capacity - Liters257.41

Fuel tank capacity - Gal75

Fuel tank capacity - Gal68

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

HeadYes

Headnot available

Water capacityFresh: 33 gal. (124.9 l)

Water capacitynot available

Maximum capacityYacht certified

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum peopleYacht certified

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

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters102.21

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal27

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 vs Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013?

The Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 comes in at 26,2 feet, making it roughly 1,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013?

For trailering, the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 has the edge at 491 lbs dry weight versus 675 lbs for the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009. 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 260 Express Cruiser 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 is certified for 7. 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 and Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013?

The Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 68 gallons on the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013. That 7-gallon difference translates to roughly 21–35 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 and Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker 260 Express Cruiser 2009 and the Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 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 260 Express Cruiser 2009 full specs ← Rinker Captiva 246 BR 2013 full specs