Both the Rinker Captiva 296 BR 2012 and the Rinker Express Cruiser 360 EC 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 BR 2012 has a 50-hp advantage over the Rinker Express Cruiser 360 EC 2012's 380-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 Express Cruiser 360 EC 2012 carries 235 gallons versus 100 gallons in the Rinker Captiva 296 BR 2012. 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 360 EC 2012 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Rinker Captiva 296 BR 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 Express Cruiser 360 EC 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Rinker Express Cruiser 360 EC 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 11 passengers and at 37,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Rinker Captiva 296 BR 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.