Rinker Captiva 228 2011 vs Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013?

The Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 is the longer of the two at 28,8 feet overall. The Rinker Captiva 228 2011 comes in at 22,7 feet, making it roughly 6,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013?

For trailering, the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 has the edge at 5 031 lbs dry weight versus 7 085 lbs for the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013. 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Rinker Captiva 228 2011 has a documented max rating of 320 hp. Engine specifications for the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Rinker Captiva 228 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 is certified for 8. 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 Captiva 228 2011 and Rinker Express Cruiser 260 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 Captiva 228 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013?

The Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 has the bigger tank at 73 gallons, versus 59 gallons on the Rinker Captiva 228 2011. That 14-gallon difference translates to roughly 42–70 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 and Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 and the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 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 Captiva 228 2011 vs Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013

Rinker

Rinker Captiva 228 2011

2011

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Rinker

Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013

2013

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Rinker Captiva 228 2011 vs Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Rinker Captiva 228 2011 against a deep vee Rinker Express Cruiser 260 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 Express Cruiser 260 2013 measures 28,8 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 6,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 at 22,7 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 tips the scales at 7 085 lbs — 2 054 lbs less than the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 at 5 031 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.

The Rinker Captiva 228 2011 carries a rated maximum of 320 hp. Engine data for the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 carries 73 gallons versus 59 gallons in the Rinker Captiva 228 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 Express Cruiser 260 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Rinker Captiva 228 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeRinker

ModelCaptiva 228

ModelExpress Cruiser 26

Model Year2011

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters1.52

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches6

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise16℃

Deadrisenot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in. (56 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detail26 in. (0.66 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] meters0.66

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [drive up] inches26

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 - Detail5,031 lbs. (2,282 kg)

Weight - Detail7,085 lbs. (3,217 kg) dry 8,835 lbs. (4,011 kg) wet

Weight - kg2282.02

Weight - kg3213.7

Weight - lbs.5031

Weight - lbs.7085

Length - Feet22.67

Length - Feet28.83

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 8 in. (6.9 m)

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 9 in. (8.79 m)

Length overall - Meters6.91

Length overall - Meters8.76

Length overall - Inches272

Length overall - Inches345

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Max no of engines1

Max no of enginesnot available

Engine makeVolvo Penta

Engine makenot available

Engine model5.0 GXi SX

Engine modelnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail59 gal. (223.3 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail73 gal. (277 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters223.34

Fuel tank capacity - Liters276.33

Fuel tank capacity - Gal59

Fuel tank capacity - Gal73

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeInboard

Horsepower270 hp

Horsepowernot available

Engine max320 hp

Engine maxnot available

Operational Info

Water capacityFresh: 10 gal. (37.8 l)

Water capacitynot available

Maximum people1

Maximum peopleYacht certified

Rinker Captiva 228 2011 vs Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013?

The Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 is the longer of the two at 28,8 feet overall. The Rinker Captiva 228 2011 comes in at 22,7 feet, making it roughly 6,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013?

For trailering, the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 has the edge at 5 031 lbs dry weight versus 7 085 lbs for the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013. 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Rinker Captiva 228 2011 has a documented max rating of 320 hp. Engine specifications for the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Rinker Captiva 228 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 is certified for 8. 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 Captiva 228 2011 and Rinker Express Cruiser 260 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 Captiva 228 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013?

The Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 has the bigger tank at 73 gallons, versus 59 gallons on the Rinker Captiva 228 2011. That 14-gallon difference translates to roughly 42–70 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 and Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker Captiva 228 2011 and the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 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 Captiva 228 2011 full specs ← Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2013 full specs