new boat purchase help needed

johne518

Recruit
Joined
Jul 13, 2008
Messages
1
Can anybody tell me what you think of Rinker boats and how they rate to other boats such as Sea Ray and/or Cobalt? Thanks!
 

Dakota47

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 22, 2007
Messages
722
Re: new boat purchase help needed

Very good boat,, AAA+++ as good as a sea ray or better.
 

shorts&chanclas

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 27, 2008
Messages
125
Re: new boat purchase help needed

I think Regal, Sea Ray, and Cobalt have always been the top 3 crowned royalty of of sport boats, cuddies, and cruisers. I'm sure Rinker makes a good product. I guess it just comes down to wants, features, dealer, and price. Best bet is to research, compare, demo drive until your wife says just do it already.:)
 

5150abf

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: new boat purchase help needed

Rinker is a very good company, one of the few family owned independants left.

They have been around for a long time and know what they are doing, if the boat was properly cared for I don't think you will disappointed.

They are a local company to me in Northern Indiana so I see a ton of them, I have actually met several of the Rinkers, nice people.
 

smclear

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
626
Re: new boat purchase help needed

Rinker Boats is located in Syracuse Indiana. My lake house is in Syracuse. The Rinkers lived two house down from me growing up. When they moved, they were still only two blocks away.

Rinker is no longer Family owned. They sold a couple of years ago. I think they're now involved some other boating venture. Can't remember the name of the boat.

They are also into boat racing.

I bought a 212 Captiva in 1996. It has been a great boat. I just sold it to purchase a 1974 Century Resorter. I love older inboards. I just wish I could afford a nice mahogany one.

IMO Sea-Rays and Cobalts are much nicer.
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: new boat purchase help needed

Can anybody tell me what you think of Rinker boats and how they rate to other boats such as Sea Ray and/or Cobalt? Thanks!

Below both of those. More a "value" brand than a "luxury" brand. At the boat show, I thought their deckboats had some very nice design features and seemed HUGE for their size. Also, their cruiser pricing is pretty attractive. I don't care for a few of their cockpit layouts/features in their 25 to 30' cruisers, but their prices are good.
 

INJUN

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
358
Re: new boat purchase help needed

I've only looked at them in Boat Shows. They looked well put together and the prices were below others of comparable styles.
 

dave11

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Dec 2, 2007
Messages
1,195
Re: new boat purchase help needed

Over the years a friend of mine bought three of them. The last one was pretty big & didn't get much use. I guess he thought they were prety nice boats.
 

Kev144

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
159
Re: new boat purchase help needed

I think Regal, Sea Ray, and Cobalt have always been the top 3 crowned royalty of of sport boats, cuddies, and cruisers. I'm sure Rinker makes a good product. I guess it just comes down to wants, features, dealer, and price. Best bet is to research, compare, demo drive until your wife says just do it already.:)

Actually in the sport section they are alright. Top dogs are Baja, Fountain, outerlimits etc. Though Baja has recently sold to Fountain and Fountain will continue to produce Baja boats. The islander molds are currently being made as we speak.
 
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