Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 vs Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 or the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003?

For trailering, the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 has the edge at 1 236 lbs dry weight versus 1 428 lbs for the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006. 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 342 Express Cruiser 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 is certified for 10. 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 342 Express Cruiser 2006 measures 144" wide, compared to 136" for the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003. 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 342 Express Cruiser 2006 or the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003?

The Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 has the bigger tank at 235 gallons, versus 165 gallons on the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003. That 70-gallon difference translates to roughly 210–350 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 and Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 and the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 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 342 Express Cruiser 2006 vs Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003

Rinker

Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006

2006

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Rinker

Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003

2003

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 vs Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 vs Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 37,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeRinker

Model342 Express Cruiser

ModelFiesta Vee 312

Model Year2006

Model Year2003

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam12 ft. 0 in. (3.65 m)

Beam11 ft. 4 in

Beam - Meters3.66

Beam - Meters3.45

Beam - Inches144

Beam - Inches136

Bridge clearance - Detail9 ft. 8 in. (2.08 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.95

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches116

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise18℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail24 in. (60.9 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.61

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches24

Draft [drive up] inches22

Weight - Detail14,280 lbs. (6,477 kg)

Weight - Detail12,360 lbs

Weight - kg6477.29

Weight - kg5606.4

Weight - lbs.1428

Weight - lbs.1236

Length - Feet37

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail37 ft. 0 in. (11.27 m)

Length overall - Detail33 ft. 10 in

Length overall - Meters11.28

Length overall - Meters10.31

Length overall - Inches444

Length overall - Inches406

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail36 in

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches36

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailBridge Clearance: 9 ft. 06 in

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.9

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches114

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail235 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail165 gallons

Fuel tank capacity - Liters889.57

Fuel tank capacity - Liters624.59

Fuel tank capacity - Gal235

Fuel tank capacity - Gal165

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standard260 PHP

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity6

Sleeping capacitynot available

Headroomnot available

HeadroomCabin Headroom: 6 ft. 5 in

Water capacitynot available

Water capacityFresh: 51 gallons Waste: 45 gallons

Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 vs Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 or the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003?

For trailering, the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 has the edge at 1 236 lbs dry weight versus 1 428 lbs for the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006. 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 342 Express Cruiser 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 is certified for 10. 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 342 Express Cruiser 2006 measures 144" wide, compared to 136" for the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003. 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 342 Express Cruiser 2006 or the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003?

The Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 has the bigger tank at 235 gallons, versus 165 gallons on the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003. That 70-gallon difference translates to roughly 210–350 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 and Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker 342 Express Cruiser 2006 and the Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 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 342 Express Cruiser 2006 full specs ← Rinker Fiesta Vee 312 2003 full specs