Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 vs Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 is the longer of the two at 26,2 feet overall. The Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 4,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011?

For trailering, the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 has the edge at 495 lbs dry weight versus 505 lbs for the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011. 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: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 tops out at 320 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 is certified for 6. 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 246 CC 2011 and Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 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 246 CC 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011. 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 Captiva 246 CC 2011 and Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 and the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 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 246 CC 2011 vs Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011

Rinker

Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011

2011

View full specs →

Rinker

Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 vs Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 against a modified vee Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 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 Captiva 246 CC 2011 measures 26,2 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 4,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 at 22,0 feet (2011). At 505 lbs and 495 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 430 hp, the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 has a 110-hp advantage over the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 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 246 CC 2011 carries 75 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 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 246 CC 2011 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 26,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeRinker

ModelCaptiva 246 CC

ModelExpress Cruiser 230 ECC

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

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

Bridge clearance - Meters1.52

Bridge clearance - Inches6

Deadrise20℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in. (55 cm)

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inches22

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inches36

Weight - Detail5,050 lbs. (2,291 kg)

Weight - Detail4,950 lbs. (2,245 kg)

Weight - kg2290.64

Weight - kg2245.28

Weight - lbs.505

Weight - lbs.495

Length - Feet26.17

Length - Feet22

Length overall - Detail26 ft. 2 in. (7.97 m)

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 0 in. (6.71 m)

Length overall - Meters7.98

Length overall - Meters6.71

Length overall - Inches314

Length overall - Inches264

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Max no of engines1

Engine makeVolvo Penta

Engine makeMercruiser

Engine model5.0 GXi SX

Engine model5.0 L MPI Alpha

Fuel tank capacity - Detail75 gal. (283.9 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters283.91

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal75

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Horsepower270 hp

Horsepower260 hp

Engine max430 hp

Engine max320 hp

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity2

Water capacityFresh: 10 gal. (37.8 l)

Maximum capacityYacht certified

Maximum peopleYacht certified

Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 vs Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 is the longer of the two at 26,2 feet overall. The Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 4,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011?

For trailering, the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 has the edge at 495 lbs dry weight versus 505 lbs for the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011. 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.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 tops out at 320 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 is certified for 6. 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 246 CC 2011 and Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 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 246 CC 2011 or the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011?

The Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011. 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 Captiva 246 CC 2011 and Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Rinker Captiva 246 CC 2011 and the Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 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 246 CC 2011 full specs ← Rinker Express Cruiser 230 ECC 2011 full specs