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Say goodbye to deckboat bowlounges that aren't long enough for your legs. Just a couple of years ago, these open bow designs would leave my legs hanging to the side if I tried to recline. Not a problem aboard Rinker's 26'8"-by-8'6" 268 Captiva. Its bowlounge is a behemoth. What's more, all the angles, armrests, and cupholders are placed where they should be -- even for my 6'2" frame. Because a deck is all about kicking back with your mates and taking things easy, Rinker offers the boat with a windless ($2,739). Now, I've never worked with a windlass that didn't snag a line. Fortunately, Rinker's engineers used some trickle-down theory and adapted designs from their bigger boats. As we all know, windlasses need access, so forward of the underseat cooler, there's a pie plate. And yes, the diameter of the opening is big enough for two hands to reach in and untangle the inevitable nest.
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All this is nice, but let's face it: You also need to get where you're going. To that end, my test boat's power package -- a 320-hp Volvo 5.7 GXi with a DuoProp stern drive -- is well matched. The 268 Captiva topped out at 48.5 mph. Electronic Vessel Control (EVC) on my tester made handling silky smooth, with excellent response and none of the herky-jerky feel of switching between forward, neutral, and reverse. The only downside I experienced was a slight lag when I jammed the throttles for a quick getaway. On-water maneuvers were sure-footed and bowrise was negligable. Kudos to Rinker for the standard, integrated trim tab setup, which helps keep things on the level.
The helm seating is a shoulder-high bucket that swivels and has a bolster for better sightlines. On the companion side, you have another high back bucket seat and a U-lounge aft. The head compartment is hidden here in the port console. To starboard is the wetbar, a perfect place to mix your drinks, another way in which this deckboat makes it easy to say hello to the good times.
MSRP: Standard power - $57,897 Test power - $63,913
Contact: 954.525.7430 www.rinkerboats.com
