Alistairr
Active member
has anyone got views on rinker boats?, i am concidering buying a new rinker 232 cuddy. I do not have any experience with them myself, all views welcome good or bad.
rinker 232
- Thread starter Alistairr
- Start date
DepSol
New member
Hi
As a little piece of advice it is best to introduce yourself to the members of the forum by filling in your profile first as you will prob get more replies. Its like asking for advice from someone you dont know without introducing yourself.
I thought about buying the Rinker 232 but when the dollar exchange rate was good back in 96/7 and the prices were low. A guy I knew had the agency for them so it would have been an easy deal but could afford to buy the boat but not run it.
When Iwas looking at them I thought they were the right boat at the right price, handled well and were great for skiing, loads of the lads had them and later on I even looked at the larger ones. Would def buy Rinker over Maxum.
Donrt know much about them today except that ou can get them with diesels in.
best of luck whatever you do.
Dom
2003 is going to be a good year for me
As a little piece of advice it is best to introduce yourself to the members of the forum by filling in your profile first as you will prob get more replies. Its like asking for advice from someone you dont know without introducing yourself.
I thought about buying the Rinker 232 but when the dollar exchange rate was good back in 96/7 and the prices were low. A guy I knew had the agency for them so it would have been an easy deal but could afford to buy the boat but not run it.
When Iwas looking at them I thought they were the right boat at the right price, handled well and were great for skiing, loads of the lads had them and later on I even looked at the larger ones. Would def buy Rinker over Maxum.
Donrt know much about them today except that ou can get them with diesels in.
best of luck whatever you do.
Dom
2003 is going to be a good year for me
tr7v8
Active member
Having done a tour of these size boats at the LIBS, our choice was definitely the Doral as it was head and shoulders above the rest.
Jim
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Jim
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Alistairr
Active member
thanks for the advise Dom, i shall fill in my profile right away and see if it helps with the replys.After going to Southampton and London boat shows my opinion is that rinker seems to offer the best package.
Alistairr
Active member
Was the doral not more of a cruiser than a cuddy though?
wakeup
Active member
I looked at the Doral and I thought the whole design concept was very dodgy...big lumps of plastic and perspex everywhere. Probably fine on one of those Canadian lakes, but sea worthy, I am not so sure..
Can be arsed...
Can be arsed...
DepSol
New member
You will find it a bit slower steering than your fletcher but not as lively in a chop.
Depending on power plant it will also be slower off the mark but produce a better wake for wakeboarding. Dont bother with the trim tabs unless you get the bigger 262.
Dom
2003 is going to be a good year for me
Depending on power plant it will also be slower off the mark but produce a better wake for wakeboarding. Dont bother with the trim tabs unless you get the bigger 262.
Dom
2003 is going to be a good year for me
tr7v8
Active member
Yes, the Doral is more of a cruiser, cuddies got the thumbs down from the wife.
As regards seaworthy most of these are very much out of the same mould anyway, but it certainly appeared better screwed together than others and since the sales place was based on the Welsh coast then I'd assume it's as rough their as anywhere?
Jim
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As regards seaworthy most of these are very much out of the same mould anyway, but it certainly appeared better screwed together than others and since the sales place was based on the Welsh coast then I'd assume it's as rough their as anywhere?
Jim
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SteveJ
New member
The rinker 232 is a good boat. i recently delivered one from poole to St peter port and found it handled the sea reasonably well. the seating around the helm is not brilliant but you get used to it. weather conditions on the day were F 3-4 sea state slight, dut definatly more moderate near CI!!!! around 3-3.5M. the doral is not as good a sea boat IMHO
terryw
New member
The dealer is based in Totnes which is on the river Dart, and I can personally vouch for its seaworthiness as it got us across Lyme Bay in a F5/6 with the wind on the nose last season, and did not complain once.
Alistairr
Active member
The power plant that i am thinking off putting in it would be a mercruiser5.0 mpi 260php with a bravo 3 instead of an alpha 1, is that a wise option?
We looked at cruisers like the Regal, Doral, jeanneau, and larger Rinkers, but still prefered the sporty feel of cuddies, and my wife agreed. Lucky me, eh?
We looked at cruisers like the Regal, Doral, jeanneau, and larger Rinkers, but still prefered the sporty feel of cuddies, and my wife agreed. Lucky me, eh?
DepSol
New member
How about a Beneteau Flyer 701, I know where you can pick up a second hand one at a good price.
Dom
2003 is going to be a good year for me
Dom
2003 is going to be a good year for me
Alistairr
Active member
Not familiar with that boat, is it not a kind of fisher/cruiser type boat?
DepSol
New member
No its a sports cruiser, I was going to get one but went for a larger boat and budget instead.
Dom
2003 is going to be a good year for me
Dom
2003 is going to be a good year for me
spannerman
Well-known member
Alistairr, I am a Mercruiser mechanic and haved looked after 3 of these boats for the last 4 years, definitely go for the Bravo 3 drive as it makes good use of the power and gives better handling. The Rinkers I have driven all have the 350 MPI Magnum engine, which is a fuel injected 5.7l giving 350 hp. The boats easily do 50-52mph, and in a planing boat that goes that fast you must have trimtabs as in a crosswind there is so much of the hull out of the water you will get wind induced 'lean'. Also try and get the engine with fresh water cooling if it isn't included or you will be looking at changing the manifolds after about 6-7 years, the risers will have to be changed at some stage as they have to be sea water cooled.
They are great for skiing as they have a nice wide flatish wake and a good pull-up with Bravo 3, they are pretty good on fuel too being slightly overpowered you can throttle right back and stay on the plane at under 3,000prm. The handling is good with no nasty suprises, we have given them full lock at 35 mph and the boat carves round, if you push it hard then it just slides out, it doesn't hook a chine. Although a lot of people scoff at US built boats, you can't argue that they are good value for the money, as everything is included, just add gas and have fun. Good luck Steve
They are great for skiing as they have a nice wide flatish wake and a good pull-up with Bravo 3, they are pretty good on fuel too being slightly overpowered you can throttle right back and stay on the plane at under 3,000prm. The handling is good with no nasty suprises, we have given them full lock at 35 mph and the boat carves round, if you push it hard then it just slides out, it doesn't hook a chine. Although a lot of people scoff at US built boats, you can't argue that they are good value for the money, as everything is included, just add gas and have fun. Good luck Steve
Alistairr
Active member
Thanks Steve for you advise, do you think trim tabs would be required for the 5.0 mpi power plant? And is it powerful enough for the size of the boat?
As for cooling the boat is going to be kept in Loch water (Loch Lomond) does the same points still apply?
CHEERS.
As for cooling the boat is going to be kept in Loch water (Loch Lomond) does the same points still apply?
CHEERS.
spannerman
Well-known member
First let me say I was incorrect with the 350 MPI rating its only 310 hp not 350hp.Yes the 5.0l MPI will be powerful enough, but then I would forget the Bravo 3 drive as this will absorb too much horsepower. go for a Bravo 1 with a High Five 5 blade Steel prop, or a 4 blade steel prop, again once you have driven with a steel prop there is no going back. If you are using the boat for skiing then an aluminium prop will be worn out in 2 seasons anyway. I run a Bayliner 26 ft cruiser with a 5.0 LX which is 220 hp with a High 5 ( the prop has been in the sea since '96 and still looks like new!) and that manages 36 knots, and you have a much lighter boat. I would still opt for the trim tabs as once you have experienced them you won't have a high performance planing boat without them. If you are going to be on a fresh water lake then the basic raw water cooling system will suffice, but be aware that it can freeze up if it gets cold enough in winter, especially if you keep the boat on land then, so it will need flushing with an anti-freeze mix. Easy to do. Hope you get your boat, regards Steve
coombm
Member
Who is the dealer - the Doral guy I spoke to was based on the South Coast!
tr7v8
Active member
It was Cardiff Bay Boat sales, the importers are Simco Marine in Totnes.
Jim
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Jim
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wakeup
Active member
I'm not sure you're right. Cardiff Bay Boat Sales sell Maxums, I think you might mean Cambrian Boats Sales of Swansea, they sell Rinkers.
Can be arsed...
Can be arsed...
