Rinker...Crownline...Monterey?

[dalman]

I am trying to compare these boats;
rinker 226 w/ 5.0 mpi (07/08) 25K
crownline 206 w/ mpi (a 210 ls as well) (04 and 07) 19-26K
monterey 196fs w/ 5.0 carb... 906) 19K
reinell 226lse w/5.7 mpi (23K)
I am looking for my "10yr" boat....for a growing family of 4 and friends.
granted these are all slightly different, my general question is around rougher water ride...my lake whips up pretty quick and making a dash in to shore as safe and smooth as possible is a factor...any ideas?

I currently have a larson sei 176 w/ 4.3 which we have outgrown....

cheers,
peter

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Rinker...Crownline...Monterey?

The bigger the boat the better the ride generally, so if the 226 is in your budget I would lean that way. I drive a crownline 200 BR which I love however my brother in law drives a larsen 230 lxi which I can tell you rides much better in the choppy stuff. They both have 350s in them and seemingly the same depth v hull but his is much smoother riding than mine. I do like the lines of the crownline which is part of the reason I went that route plus it has plenty of oomph under the hood. I have a fam. of four as well and for that reason I chose the more conventional type layout with back to backs and jumpers in the rear. I gives a lot more useable interior space, if it were just my wife and I probably would have gone with the sport seating captians chairs with rear bench/sunpad. A lot tighter looking but not as useable with kids, skiis, tube, etc.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Rinker...Crownline...Monterey?

Rinker is a really good smaller family owned company, they make a very solid boat.

The plant is about 10 miles from my house and there are a ton of them on the local lakes of all ages.

Whatever you chose it is smart money to have it surveyed, could save many times the cost of the survey itself.