Deciding on a boat can sometimes be a conundrum for buyers as they find themselves torn between two seemingly opposite choices. Like the cartoon angel and devil perched on each shoulder, one voice is telling you, "You need to be practical and buy the cuddy because you promised the spousal unit we would be weekending," while the other voice says, "C'mon man, you know you want something sporty and fast; don't listen to that wimp."
Fortunately, Rinker has the solution with its 246 Cuddy Cabin - especially if you power it to the max with MerCruiser's 8.2 MAG H.O. sterndrive that cranks out 430 horsepower.
Unique Factor
Rinker proves you don't have to give up sporty styling to gain a cabin, using a sleek profile along with some clever graphics, gelcoat design and integrated swim platform that tapers toward the stern to make it look like a Rachael Ray Santoku knife. With its sleek profile, your only clue that this is a cuddy is the cat's-eye porthole and the bowrail, which accentuates the elegant shearline.
Cuddy cabins often eat up a disproportionate amount of space on a boat, but the 246 CC has a cockpit-forward design that preserves fun-in-the-sun space. Sure this cuts down on cabin space, but it's still roomy enough for what we typically use it for: crashing, getting in out of the rain or giving the kids a parent-free zone - especially if you get the optional flip-down DVD/flat-screen unit.
Performance
The technical term for the Captiva 246's performance with the new 430 hp MerCruiser 8.2 H.O. is "Holy Cow!" Well, that's if you want the PG version. Kim Slocum, president of Rinker, and I shoved off for an early morning romp at the Miami Boat Show to the sound of snapping flags in the 25 mph wind mixed with the burble of our Merc powerhouse.
Finding a wind-neutral side channel, Slocum advanced the drive-by-wire Digital Throttle and Shift, and we popped on plane in 3.8 seconds. The new 8.2L MerCruiser sports a catalytic converter for vastly reduced emissions, making it a 4-Star engine by California regulators' standards. While many thought these new green engines would have all the attitude of a neutered housecat, the 8.2 H.O. proves they've only gotten better - especially in regard to midrange acceleration.
Tiltable sunpad is ergonomically
friendly for sun worshipers
We quickly gathered speed, hit 30 mph in just 7.2 seconds and reached an eye-watering 60.2 mph top speed. Lest you think Rinker accomplished this by going light on hull materials, the Rinker 246 CC weighs 5,050 pounds, which falls squarely between similar models from Regal and Sea Ray. Pretty good company.
Handling
On the way to the calmer channel we first hit one that was rougher than The Who's Super Bowl performance. After an attempt at a top speed run that turned into a "let's see if we can break something" exercise (unsuccessful), we backed off to a body-friendly 34 mph cruise speed (3000 rpm) that had us burning 11.1 gallons per hour according to our SmartCraft gauge. Even without the optional trim tabs the 246 CC ran very level and the ride was good, thanks in part to the 20-degree deadrise of our deep-V hull.
Even at 60 mph, the Captiva 246 CC was easy to control and didn't dive off line or feel like it was teetering on a tiny pad. When we got into the slop of the main channel, the responsiveness of the MerCruiser 8.2L H.O. and electronic throttle made it very easy to react smoothly and decisively to larger waves, which yielded a comfortable ride. Cornering is more sportboat than cruiser and we were able to whip it about without snagging a chine, making it very predictable.
Best Uses
Looking at the cockpit layout reveals the 246 is designed with a sportboat mentality with a huge sunpad that has an optional tiltable section for greater tanning comfort and flips up to reveal the walk-through to the cockpit. If you want to bring the extended family along, going with the Captiva 246 bowrider would probably be a better call since the cuddy version can only realistically seat eight adults in comfort. Beverage needs are handled well with a tuck-away cooler under the stern bench, a wet bar and 13 cupholders scattered throughout. Under-seat storage features Rotocast interiors, but you must remove the entire seat bottom for access. A very useful innovation is the trashcan insert in the stern that can be easily removed and rinsed off - no trash bags needed.
The 246 CC is optimized for skiing with a giant stern trunk locker that's roomy enough for wakeboards, and its lid is curved to match the styling contour of the stern. There's a built-in rumble seat for sitting in the "backyard" at anchor or when booting up for a run. A standard ski tow eye resides on the transom for your towing pleasure, and there's a wet storage compartment to port that can double as a cooler along with a standard transom shower.
Preferred Setup
Rinker makes it pretty easy to up the bling factor with eye-catchers like the Versa-Teak swim platform and maple wood for the cabin, which sleeps two normal-sized adults. You'll probably want to up the standard Porta Potti to a pumpout unit to avoid bedpan duty. With an 8-foot, 6-inch beam, this 26-foot, 2-incher is trailer-sized for road trips; be sure to see your dealer for a trailer.
If you opt for the maximum power, you might as well spring for the Silent Choice through-hull exhaust, so you can flip the attitude switch once in a while to show you're packing some heat. The base price is $57,014 for the 300 hp MerCruiser MAG 350, the smallest engine we would recommend. MerCruiser's bad boy brings the bottom line up to $75,929 for the privilege of packing 430 Clydesdales. If your budget allows, having a cuddy cabin that will smoke most others on the lake will be well worth it.