Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 vs Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013?

The Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 is the longer of the two at 31,0 feet overall. The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 comes in at 26,2 feet, making it roughly 4,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013?

For trailering, the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 has the edge at 491 lbs dry weight versus 764 lbs for the Rinker 280 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 280 Express Cruiser 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 measures 109" wide, compared to 102" for the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013. 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 280 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 has the bigger tank at 68 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009. That 67-gallon difference translates to roughly 201–335 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 and Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 and the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 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 280 Express Cruiser 2009 vs Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013

Rinker

Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009

2009

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Rinker

Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 vs Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 against a deep vee Rinker Captiva 246 CC 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 measures 31,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 4,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 at 26,2 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 tips the scales at 764 lbs — 273 lbs more than the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 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 280 Express Cruiser 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 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 280 Express Cruiser 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 31,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 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

Model280 Express Cruiser

ModelCaptiva 246 CC

Model Year2009

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 1 in. (2.77 m)

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.77

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches109

Beam - Inches102

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

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters3.02

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches119

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise18℃

Deadrisenot available

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

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

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches24

Draft [drive up] inches22

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

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

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

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

Weight - kg3465.44

Weight - kg2227.14

Weight - lbs.764

Weight - lbs.491

Length - Meters9.65

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet31

Length - Feet26.17

Length - Inches8

Length - Inchesnot available

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

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

Length overall - Meters9.65

Length overall - Meters7.98

Length overall - Inches38

Length overall - Inches314

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardVolvo 5.7 GI DP - 300 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail100 gal. (378.5 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail68 gal. (258 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54

Fuel tank capacity - Liters257.41

Fuel tank capacity - Gal1

Fuel tank capacity - Gal68

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeInboard

Operational Info

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 280 Express Cruiser 2009 vs Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013?

The Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 is the longer of the two at 31,0 feet overall. The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 comes in at 26,2 feet, making it roughly 4,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013?

For trailering, the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 has the edge at 491 lbs dry weight versus 764 lbs for the Rinker 280 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 280 Express Cruiser 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 measures 109" wide, compared to 102" for the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013. 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 280 Express Cruiser 2009 or the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 has the bigger tank at 68 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009. That 67-gallon difference translates to roughly 201–335 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 and Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker 280 Express Cruiser 2009 and the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 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 280 Express Cruiser 2009 full specs ← Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2013 full specs