Early 2000's Rinker

[Boaterdan278michigan]

I'd like honest opinion on the quality of early 2000's Rinker, good or bad. How to they compare in ride and durability with the other brands. We are looking at the 34 to 36 length.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Doesn't matter what to condition was 20+ years ago. What the condition is today is what matters

Rinker was similar to Bayliner, SeaRay or other entry level boats before being closed in 2020

 

[Boaterdan278michigan]

Doesn't matter what to condition was 20+ years ago. What the condition is today is what matters

Rinker was similar to Bayliner, SeaRay or other entry level boats before being closed in 2020

It's interesting you say that. Granted they're all 20-25 year old boats, but I'm sure some of the brands started out with better build quality and materials.

 

[Pmt133]

You would be amazed how horribly an owner can wreck something in a short period of time regardless of initial build quality. I agree, it's more important what it's current condition is.

 

[Scott Danforth]

It's interesting you say that. Granted they're all 20-25 year old boats, but I'm sure some of the brands started out with better build quality and materials.

You are correct

Riva and Hinkley boats are towards the top with respect to quality and materials
Regulator, Scout, MTI, Cigarette, Wellcraft, Viking, A2, Cruisers, in the upper middle category
Carver, Marquis, Chris Craft, Boston Whaler, Grady White in the lower middle category

Then there are the other 80% of the boats such as SeaRay, Rinker, etc all vying for a price point

The only difference between a SeaRay and Bayliner is the few basic things like quality of thru hull fittings, choice of vinyl, and the amount of plastic

Most boats are designed to look pretty to get the sale and be of just enough quality to make it past warranty while lasting about 15 years which is their design life

 

[airshot]

No matter how good the build quality is to start, poor maintenance will rot the wood skeleton after 15-20 years and things can get real expensive to fix when that happens. Motor replacement is cheap compared to fixing rotted transom and stringers.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Some light reading

Perspective of Fiberglass Boat design life

Having been a member on this wonderful forum for a few years, I thought I would share some perspectives Design Life..... that magic duration of time that your product is designed to survive until being replaced. Lawn and Garden equipment has a design life of about 7 years for the average...

forums.iboats.com

 

[KD4UPL]

As someone who owned a Bayliner, then a Larson, and now a 2004 Rinker 232 I can tell you the Rinker us WAY better than a Bayliner.
I've had this Rinker for 9 seasons. I like it. It hasn't needed much in the way of repairs, just normal maintenance. The hull is solid and rides better than n y previous boats but it's also larger and heavier (which is good). I'd buy another one. It's not high end but I don't need that.

 

[nola mike]

That other thread was fun. My problem is once you make repairs it becomes harder to get rid of it vs keep repairing. A list of some my stuff after re reading Scotts post:
1. Glastron. 40th birthday this year, finally got it on the water this weekend!
2. Skiff, 22 years. Rebuilt control box, new cables coming
3. Wife's car: 7 years old. Newest thing I own. Current needs: horns, oil pan gasket, brakes
4. My car: 12 years old. Took a rock to the windshield last weekend. I repaired it yesterday, came out pretty good. Persistent turbo fault that eventually I need to address
5. Truck: 29 years old. 4 new tires last month, now I'm committed to at least another 20k miles
6. House #1: 111 years old, everything failing constantly
7. House #2: 60 years old, new roof this year (ouch), jetty renovations as soon as I can get the guy out here (ouch again)...
8. Chainsaw: bought new 11 years ago. Have refurbed all wear parts
9. Other yard equipment: chainsaw and weed Wacker given to me by fil from the 70's. Needed extensive resto
10. Lawnmower #1. Given to me, no idea how old. Needed carb clean and new blade
11. Lawnmower #2: fiskars reel mower, bought new 17 years ago. Needs a new reel bearing, currently in pieces.

 

[Boaterdan278michigan]

You are correct

Riva and Hinkley boats are towards the top with respect to quality and materials
Regulator, Scout, MTI, Cigarette, Wellcraft, Viking, A2, Cruisers, in the upper middle category
Carver, Marquis, Chris Craft, Boston Whaler, Grady White in the lower middle category

Then there are the other 80% of the boats such as SeaRay, Rinker, etc all vying for a price point

The only difference between a SeaRay and Bayliner is the few basic things like quality of thru hull fittings, choice of vinyl, and the amount of plastic

Most boats are designed to look pretty to get the sale and be of just enough quality to make it past warranty while lasting about 15 years which is their design life

You're probably correct. My 1994 278 Four Winns Vista, a 32 year old boat with no major problems during the over 26 years I have owned it, was built right. Bullet proof.

 

[alldodge]

Sold my 1995 Rinker 232 a couple years ago and hull was as solid as the day I bought it. It lived 90% of it's life on a trailer which makes a big difference. Any boat can be good or bad, all depends on how it was taken care of

 

[muskyfins]

I will dissent here. There are significant differences between brands even though they can be class grouped together. We haven't mentioned Formula or Cobalt here for example. Anyway just to give some credibility, my brother and I flip approx 15 boats per year. I've seen them all. I kept my 2000 Rinker 270 for 10 years in a wet slip. Unbelievably dry bilge. Very good ride although slightly underpowered. Fit and finish were average for it's quality class. (Regal, Chapparal, Four Winns, etc) Much better than Bayliner or Crownline. Not quite on par with Sea ray, but close. Edited to add condition and care of previous owner are everything

 

[Stinnett21]

Are you still in Michigan? Has it always been a local boat? If so it's been hauled out every year I presume. Hire an inspector.