Both the Rinker Captiva 226 2011 and the Rinker Captiva 296 CC 2012 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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?

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 430 hp, the Rinker Captiva 296 CC 2012 has a 110-hp advantage over the Rinker Captiva 226 2011's 320-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Rinker Captiva 296 CC 2012 carries 100 gallons versus 42 gallons in the Rinker Captiva 226 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Rinker Captiva 226 2011 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Rinker Captiva 296 CC 2012 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Rinker Captiva 226 2011 could be the deciding factor.