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Rinker
226 Captiva Bowrider By
Craig Ritchie
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This
runabout is designed for boaters on the move.
 Rinker’s
226 Captiva might be one of the top picks among the
company’s extensive series of high performance
bowriders this year. By neatly blending plenty of big-boat
features into a nimble and maneuverable hull, the Syracuse,
Indiana-based builder has a real winner in this new-for-2006
redesign.
With its plush appointments and spacious layout, this
is clearly a boat targeted at families who want to make
the most of their time on the water. The swim platform
conceals a folding boarding ladder and directs you through
a walk-thru transom door. Snap-in carpeting provides
comfort over the full fiberglass cockpit liner, while
a plush U-shaped lounge invites you aboard. Prefer to
relax and bask in the sun? There’s a full aft
sunpad with a flip-up cushion so you can sprawl in comfort.
Built-in cooler storage houses a 25-quart Igloo removable
cooler and standard cockpit lighting lets you stay and
play just a little bit longer.
The helm features full instrumentation, including a
digital depth finder and hour meter. The driver and
co-pilot can enjoy luxuriously upholstered, twin bucket
seats with great flip-up bolsters. An AM/FM/CD stereo
is standard, while a Sirius satellite stereo is optional,
and a worthwhile upgrade. You may also want to opt for
the available Bimini top.
In the bow, you’ll find more comfy seating plus
a bow-mounted boarding ladder neatly concealed beneath
a small fibreglass lid. This is a great feature that
not only provides added convenience, but additional
comfort for those who may feel uncomfortable with stern-mounted
ladders and their proximity to the engine.
The 226 Captiva doesn’t just look good, it goes
like a rabbit. The boat we tested in Sarasota, Florida
last fall was powered by a 260 hp 5.0 L MerCruiser with
an Alpha 1 drive spinning a 21-inch aluminum three-blade
prop – perfect for this hull. Acceleration out
of the hole was lightning-quick; with three people aboard
and a full tank of fuel, a touch of negative trim had
us up on plane in just four seconds. Wide open, we managed
a hair over 40 mph at 4,500 rpm. That’s a bit
low for the MerCruiser, so with a more appropriate prop,
there’s no doubt that figure could be improved
upon. Considering the conditions of glass-calm water
on a day that was pushing 100 degrees with saturation
humidity, it’s an impressive performance.
But the 226 isn’t just quick, it handles solidly
as well. It negotiated tight turns with aplomb and handled
wide-open sprints without a hint of chine walking or
porpoising, regardless of how we distributed the weight
aboard. We tried to make it misbehave, with a spectacular
lack of success.
Specifications
LOA: 23’6”/7.16m
Beam: 8’6”/2.59m
Draft: (drive up): 22”/.55m
(drive down) 36”/ .91m
Dry Weight: 3,650 lbs/1,655 kg
Fuel Capacity: 42 gal/158 L
Power as tested: 260 hp 5.0 L MerCruiser w/ Alpha 1
drive
Base Price: NA
For More Information Contact
Rinker Boats, Syracuse, Indiana (574) 457-5731 www.rinkerboats.com |
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