Sea Ray vs. Rinker
 

Opinion on Sea Ray vs. Rinker Cruisers

no comparison. sea ray is best.:)

Sea Ray is has made its way from the top of the list since they became a Brunswick company. The only reason they sell so many boats is because of the name that the Ray family made synomous with quality. Dollar for dollar, the Rinker would be a better buy now. Down the road, the Sea Ray will hold its value better because of the name. As long as you are looking at Brubswick boats, check out Maxum. Same as a Sea Ray, less money. Check out Chaparral as well, more $ then Rinker, but better boat then Rinker, Sea Ray, or Maxum.

I was looking at a 2001 SEA RAY 280 with twin 4.3's with a friend who isn't on here.

I think between the two, you get more for the money with Rinker. I do not see a lot of difference in the construction, detail and quality of components on either boat. But Searay will have way better resale. Both companies build nice boats.

The maxum is in no way the same quality as the Searay. Just get on one and look at the attention to detail and the quality of the componentry. We have been on a couple of new Maxum's and saw delaminating cabin componentry (cheap particle board laminate), no access ladder into the engine compartment and no planking to stand on while performing engine maintenance, and a vinyl strap hold open for the forward stateroom door. There is more, but you get the idea.

We have looked at a couple of Regal cruisers (3860) and they are also very nicely put together with a lot of attention to detail and high quality components.

Sea Rays really hold their value. Decent Quality also.
Can't comment on the Rinker,but I always thought
they were more a value product.

On the phone with him now. 4.3 vs 5.0's? how do the 4.3 hold up ?


http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/6/2/54645462.htm

dude,

you've got issues. quit wasting people's time.

you know your not buying a boat. :rolleyes: stick to post whoring.

Settle Down Pea Nut :D and crawl back under that bar stool :p


Get back in the Hood Ya pimp :crazy:

hee hee :D :D

Cap:

I have a 2003 Rinker for sale that offers a good comparison for you.

Tom

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/2/4/68557424.htm

Chaparral and Maxum can not be compared to Sea Ray. Maxum is just a notch above a Bayliner. Sea Ray is a very nicely finished boat. I have sold Chaparrals and worked on them, they lack quality control out of the factory, and are not a very high quality boat to begin with, more like a Maxum.

I worked at a marina that sold both brands. Rinker is an excellent quality boat and so is Sea Ray. Sea Ray has better brand recoginition and therefore they have a better resale value. The quality difference between the two boats do not become apparent until no get into the larger models. The Sea Ray models 177, 186 etc are no better than bayliners, very poor fit and finish. As for Maxum being the quality of Sea Ray, yeah right, try more like Bayliner!

Rinker????? How can you ride around in something called a "Rinker". I just can't even get past the name.

Rinker, Clinker, Tinker, Stinker, Binker. What a goofy name. Especially the "Fiesta Vee"!! Jeesh, who's in charge of naming things at that company anyway??

We looked at some of the Rinker cruisers a while back and there is nothing wrong with them. They are on the up and up. They are making a 41 now that looks very sharp. I have not been on the 41, but it sure looks good. I know that unless you have a 50+ ft Sea Ray at LOTO, you aren't going to get any custmer service.

But the Rinker family has been buiding boats since something like 1947 plus they are a very active family in boat racing!!

I had a Rinker aft cabin. Nothing wrong with the boat, it just didn't suit my needs. You can get a lot more boat for the money with a Rinker. If they plan to keep it, don't worry about the resale. If buying used, someone else has already taken the hit.

Hello Mr. Capo...

I had a 23' Rinker Captiva with a 454 in it..60mph boat. It was well built using mat and resin...I was really new to boating...didn't know triaxials from a hole in the ground...but for 20 grand it was fun and good...the Rinker cruisers are nice boats for the price point...I would say though not a competitor to Sea Ray but a notch above BL and Maxim....check out the layup first..I like the Formula cruisers personally and would buy one over a Sea Ray.

I would definitely agree on the Formula line. Built very well, un-matched attention to detail and top notch components. The drawer fronts in the galley are dove tailed to the drawer. Find that in another "production" cruiser.

They however are priced in line with their production standards and quality.....which is way above anyone but maybe Cobalt.

Rinkers are one of the last manufacturers to use a solid hull (no coring). If you dont know what this means, do some research on any of the good surveyors sites or search boatered.com.

If i were to buy another used boat, it would be an un-cored boat.

I would consider a Rinker in a second, but then, I would remove any names in a flash because I also think Rinker is a crappy name for anything

Rinker is great bang for the buck on the used market.

A 280 Sea Ray is on the larger side of their "small boats". It will cost more than a used Rinker and in a few years it will resale for more than a used Rinker.

A Rinker is fine if you get in it right. For example, a friend got a 1992 Fiesta Vee 276 (or 278 or 274 or 277 or something) with a single big block. 300 hours on it. He bought it summer before last and paid $14,500.

Another friend sold a 1995 280 Sea Ray Sundancer with a single big block a month earlier (with 400 hours on it) for $47,000.

At the time, NADA on the Sea Ray was $50,000.
NADA on the Rinker was $22,000.

The Rinker has been a good boat for his purposes.

Twin 4.3's? How do they hold up? They hold up fine.
Depends on whether he is satisfied with the planing performance coming out of the hole, and cruise speed.

Twin 4.3's sound harsh to me, versus V8's, but a good rubber backed carpet in the back of the cockpit will take care of that.

when sea ray sold out to new brunswick, i thought they should change name of sea ray to sea liner..as they cheapen up everything on the rays, no more interior wood walls, put shower curtains instead. sorry , i like searays , when they were sea rays!! i have owned several 26, 277 ,now a old 340sda. good old boat , loves gas thou. oh, and my 1987 340 sda is for sale. having 2 boats is two much. need to spend more time on my 38 scarab!!! happy boating, lake st.clair.