2005 Rinker Captiva 192 - should I stay away

[Bluemelj]

Of Rinker boats because they are not being manufactured any longer. I have found what looks like a nice one in my area for $12 k the details of the posting are below.

Lake ready 19ft Rinker Captiva 192 ski boat.
Only 164 hours. Clear title.
4.3L Volvo Penta motor
Walk through transom.
Large rear sun pad and extended swim platform with ladder.
New radio w/ bluetooth and remote.
Brand new bimini top.
Snap in carpet.
Snap on bow and cockpit cover and full storage cover.
Have several life jackets, 2 anchors, two man tube, youth wakeboard.

Just had full service done . Have all service receipts and service manual.

Tach gauge not working and the power steering ram leaks but works, common with volvo penta steering rams.
2005 trailer with new radial tires and chrome rims.

Thoughts?

 

[alldodge]

Unless you need body parts there is no reason to stay away from any boat. The motor is still made and that's what counts.

 

[Lou C]

The biggest issues due to age are wood rot in structural members and availability of certain engine parts for ignition and EFI if so equipped. If not built well to start (glassing structural members) and/or left out in the weather in a damp climate it could have lots of rot from 17 years of exposure. Of if built right & stored properly it could be fine. You have to REALLY check it carefully. Wood rot repairs on boats are no fun.

 

[Texasmark]

From the listings this doesn't appear to be a careless, neglectful owner. If the fiberglass isn't sun baked and you don't have standing water evidence inside the boat, that speaks volumes on condition. Also, this boat is new enough that Rinker used a lot of glass rather than wood in structural members as has become the norm.

Engine may be sludged up but a can of Sea Foam in the oil and half an hours running at 1k RPM at the dock then drain and refill with filter should fix that. Way to tell is that if a fresh oil change gets dirty (the current servicing) with an hour or two some of the sludge has been dislodged.....this sludge accumulation if present is not a game changer. Cleans up easily. Otherwise replace rubber parts (bellows and impeller in the water pump} to name a couple. Trailer wheel bearings should be investigated.

Since it has just been serviced, you probably don't have fuel problems from sitting.

I would certainly seriously consider this if I were in pursuit of such a boat.

 

[harringtondav]

Ditto to @alldodge. That 4.3 is about at it's limit for that size boat. But it should perform fine with a lighter passenger load. At rated load it probably will take more time to plane.
The price seems fair considering the shortage of new and good used boats. But it wouldn't hurt to test the seller's ask and see if he included a bit of haggle in his price.
VP has a good online parts catalogue. If you get tired of topping off the steering pump or the bilge mess you can find your steering cylinder here: https://www.volvopenta.com/shop/999...mber=&product=&serialOrProductNumber=&size=10

 

[tpenfield]

The actual condition of the boat is the most important factor. I'm not a Rinker fan, but they do have some nice layouts.

Since the boat is 17 years old, check for structural issues - transom and stringers which usually can be viewed to a great extent in the engine bay.

When you go look at it, see if the in-person view enhances or retracts from your current impression of the boat.

 

[Lou C]

That P/S ram is about a grand but that’s not the worst of it….some boats you can change it with the engine in place some you have to pull the engine. I did the one in my Cobra last year and it was no fun. Removed rear seats and both exhaust manifolds. Then got to deal with the 4 cotter pins from Hell! These don’t want to come out especially the big ones on the mounting bolts. You need a cotter pin extractor to get them out
If it’s leaking you are going to have to fix it sooner or later and if you let the fluid level get too low you’ll burn up the pump.
Why such low hrs in all that time?

 

[Lou C]

 

[KD4UPL]

I've got a 2004 Rinker Captiva 232. I really like the boat. It hasn't given me any problems. I bent the rear telescopic ladder and needed a new one. I called whoever it is that bought Rinker and they were able to ship me a new one. I wouldn't stay away from a boat because it isn't made anymore. It's not like it's under warranty or something.

 

[QBhoy]

Sounds all good to me. 2005 boat is considered quite a new boat to me at least.
As for a 4.3 not being capable or struggling to push a 20ft boat…not a bother at all. 4.3’s have been doing a good job of that for nearly half a century now. I had a 2000kgs 4 berth 23ft cruiser with a VP205 4.3. Could ski and wake board off her if you wanted and topped out at a genuine 35/36 mph. Never struggled I found.

 

[alldodge]

2000kgs 4 berth 23ft cruiser

I call BS

 

[QBhoy]

I call BS

Really ? It was a Sealine 218 1989. 23ft overall. VP AQ205 and 290dp variant. B5 props. Never struggled at all.
Have a wee google at them. They are proper built uk heavy rough water hulls too. About 1700-1800kgs dry. About 2000kgs with fuel, gear and passengers. Honestly had plenty of power. Have a look online at them. Factory quoted about 32-34 knots. Best I saw was about 35/36 mph…but a early 30’s machine all day any day at its worst

 

[alldodge]

Ya know, G Dad all ways said first lair never stands a chance. You said "4 berth" , that's one big boat to have 4 berths

 

[QBhoy]

Ya know, G Dad all ways said first lair never stands a chance. You said "4 berth" , that's one big boat to have 4 berths

Have a look at the Sealine 218 or 220. V berth double up the bow and a small 2 berth fixed cabin mid ships. Full on pocket 4 berth cruiser. Toilet and shower heads too. With hot water etc. proper wee thing. Very well known and respected boat here in Europe. This was my one. Lovely old thing.

 

[alldodge]

Still don't believe you can ski behind it easy, V6 and 4400 lb

 

[Lou C]

Have a look at the Sealine 218 or 220. V berth double up the bow and a small 2 berth fixed cabin mid ships. Full on pocket 4 berth cruiser. Toilet and shower heads too. With hot water etc. proper wee thing. Very well known and respected boat here in Europe. This was my one. Lovely old thing.

I actually really like that style of boat and wish US manufacturers would build boats like that in that size. All we get here are bowriders (poor in rough water, not really safe) dual consoles (better but still not what I want) or center consoles (only good in warm weather regions, not North East USA where I am).
The V6 I/O in a boat that size may not be a powerhouse but if properly propped they can perform OK. Tried water skiing with my brother's Chapparal 21' with the Merc 4.5 200 HP and it has plenty of power. Not sure if my old F/W with the 4.3 would do as well even though it was rated at 205 hp I suspect some of them have gone out to pasture. I've got a 15.5x15 prop on mine so it pulls up on plane fast but top speed is obviously limited because of it.

 

[airshot]

When I was a kid, I skied behind my Dads 14' mirrocraft with an 18 hp Evinrude with no problem. Then moved up to pulling two people up in his 16' Lyman with a 35 hp Johnson....cant believe that a 185 hp I/O would have a problem pulling up a skier.
As with any older glass boat, serious investigation into the structure is required, the current owner might not appreciate digging into the transom and stringers but would not touch an older boat without a thorough survey!! I learned my lesson nany years back, nothing but aluminum hulls for the past 40 years!!

 

[QBhoy]

Still don't believe you can ski behind it easy, V6 and 4400 lb

No bother at all. Was DP drive sure. If you’ve got drop box or iCloud, I have a video of it planing from a standstill. Likely doing 20 mph in just a few seconds.

 

[hostage]

Of Rinker boats because they are not being manufactured any longer. I have found what looks like a nice one in my area for $12 k the details of the posting are below.

Lake ready 19ft Rinker Captiva 192 ski boat.
Only 164 hours. Clear title.
4.3L Volvo Penta motor
Walk through transom.
Large rear sun pad and extended swim platform with ladder.
New radio w/ bluetooth and remote.
Brand new bimini top.
Snap in carpet.
Snap on bow and cockpit cover and full storage cover.
Have several life jackets, 2 anchors, two man tube, youth wakeboard.

Just had full service done . Have all service receipts and service manual.

Tach gauge not working and the power steering ram leaks but works, common with volvo penta steering rams.
2005 trailer with new radial tires and chrome rims.

Thoughts?

Photos help a lot. It all comes down to how well the boat is kept for a boat that age. I would say the manufacturer going out of business or not is irrivilant for a boat that old. Most of the components are off the shelf items. Anything specific to that boat like decals or customized parts would no longer be produced by a company that is still in business. Things like Canvas, Carpet, vinyl, and etc. can be easily repaired or replaced locally in most cases.

My primary concerns would be:
1) Transom, Deck, & Stringers. Get a hammer with a plastic tip and from about an inch away let it hit the deck, transom, and stringers. See it bounces and makes a th-th-th-th-thing noise, instead of a dull hollow thump. Also is the deck solid or is it bouncy/soft in places?
2) Engine - Does it run well, get up to speed? Does it struggle hesitate to get on plane? A tach can be replaced/fixed and I would get the leak fixed.