Both the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2011 and the Rinker Express Cruiser 340 2011 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Rinker Express Cruiser 340 2011 measures 35,7 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 6,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2011 at 28,8 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Rinker Express Cruiser 340 2011 tips the scales at 14 100 lbs - 7 350 lbs less than the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2011 at 6 750 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 320 hp, the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2011 has a 318-hp advantage over the Rinker Express Cruiser 340 2011's 2-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 340 2011 carries 168 gallons versus 75 gallons in the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 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 340 2011 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Rinker Express Cruiser 260 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Rinker Express Cruiser 340 2011 could be the deciding factor.