Rinker 232 Captiva Cuddy: Performance Test
Rinker 232 Captiva Cuddy: has plenty of value and versatility to it.
March 26, 2002
Top speed for the Cuddy was a more-than-respectable 55.7 mph at 4,900 rpm. (All photos by Tom Newby)
Can you have too many choices when you're buying a boat? Sure — if you have no idea what you're looking for. But once you've narrowed down your wish list, choices only improve your chances of getting what you want.
The people at Rinker know that one size and type of runabout does not fit all, which is why there are six models in the company's Captiva line. But for buyers who want a mid-size runabout with a cabin, the 23'6"-long, 8'6"-wide 232 Captiva Cuddy could be the perfect fit. We tested the boat off Captiva Island, Fla., and were pleased with its solid performance and generous features.
Base price for the boat with a MerCruiser 5.0-liter V-8 engine is $29,295. Our test model came loaded with Rinker's "Special Edition" package, which features a long list of goodies from two-tone gelcoat to a Dino steering wheel. An optional MerCruiser MX 6.2 MPI engine also helped boost the price to $39,595.
Performance
The 232 Captiva Cuddy's 20-degree hull featured a delta-pad keel, afterplanes and six reversed strakes. Only the outer set of strakes ran full length. As for the slightly negative chines, they were approximately 6 inches wide.
The manufacturer outfitted the boat with the previously noted 320-hp small-block engine with a Bravo Three drive spinning 15" x 28" and 13 3/4" x 28" three-blade stainless-steel propellers through a 2.2:1 reduction.
Top speed for the Cuddy was a more-than-respectable 55.7 mph at 4,900 rpm. The boat also was fairly quick, hopping on plane in 4.5 seconds and coming just shy of 50 mph in 15 seconds. In running-start drills, our test model got straight down to business, going from 20 to 40 mph in 6.5 seconds and from 30 to 50 mph in 9.2 seconds.
Despite sloppy 1- to 3-foot conditions, the 232 Captiva Cuddy performed well in agility drills. The Bravo Three drive worked well with the boat's hull and enabled it to stay hooked up in slalom turns at 20, 30 and 40 mph. Testers found the same consistent, confidence-boosting performance during circle turns at cruising and full turns.
Tracking for the 232 Captiva Cuddy was first-rate at all speeds, even during sudden deceleration. Another plus was the boat's ability to knife through chop without excessively jarring its occupants. Passenger weight shift and strong wind gusts didn't seem to affect the boat's ride or handling.
Workmanship
Without question, the 232 Captiva Cuddy's gelcoat and mold work were well-above production-boat standards. Additional graphic accents were cleanly applied in vinyl tape, and an extruded plastic rubrail with a stainless-steel insert was competently installed for dockside protection.
Behind the 20-mil gelcoat (25 mils below the waterline) was a 2-ounce-chop skin coat, Coremat in the hullsides and chopped strand mat. Laminants also included three layers of 2415 Fabmat, which was also used to encapsulate seven-ply pressure-treated plywood.
To support the considerable engine hatch/sunpad when open, the manufacturer installed two gas struts. The engine itself was lag-bolted to the stringers and further secured by the standard transom assembly. Engine compartment wiring was generally well supported and protected, and the bilge was finished with gray gelcoat for easy cleaning.
Interior
The cabin included facing lounges and a V-berth.
Rinker did a fine job outfitting the cuddy cabin of the 232 Captiva without over-stuffing it. The space felt larger than it was, perhaps because of the light interior color and abundant natural illumination from the deck hatch and two portholes. Filler cushions completed the V-berth, which was just large enough for a 6-foot-tall member of our test team to use in comfort. Other cabin niceties included a galley with a stove, a Porta Potti, a hanging locker and a radiused locking door for privacy.
The cockpit featured bucket seats for the driver and co-pilot. On the port gunwale, a stainless-steel grab handle was supplied for the co-pilot. Snap-in sections of carpet covered the cockpit sole.
At the helm to starboard, our test drivers enjoyed an unobstructed view of all the Faria instruments in simulated woodgrain panels.
At the helm to starboard, our test drivers enjoyed an unobstructed view of all the Faria instruments in simulated woodgrain panels. The Dino tilt steering wheel made for comfortable driving ergonomics, as did the perfect placement of the throttle and shifter on the gunwale.
The cockpit featured bucket seats for the driver and co-pilot.
Just aft of the co-pilot's position was an entertainment console that included a sink and stowage compartment, complete with brackets for a pull-out trash receptacle. Aft of that was a walk-through that led to the swim platform. An L-shape lounge provided enough seating for four or five adults, and the sunpad was large enough to accommodate one person.
Skiing
Our test skier rated 232 Captiva Cuddy's wakes as "perfectly acceptable" for recreational slalom skiers. Because those wakes were relatively easy to slash through, he was able to crank hard during his cuts and test the boat's ability to stay on line as he pulled. To his delight, the boat tracked well at all times. About the only thing he'd didn't like about the entire experience was the time and energy required of him in deep-water starts.
Take-off punch for wakeboarding, on the other hand, was no problem. Our boarder described the wakes as gradual and non-threatening, ideal for beginners and even intermediates.
Overall
There's no lack of 23-foot cuddy-cabin boats on the market today — that's a fact. Here's another one: The Rinker 232 Captiva Cuddy boasts strong performance, easy drivability and an array of pleasant interior features. We're talking choice.
Test Results
Hull and Propulsion Information
| Deadrise at transom | 20 degrees |
| Centerline | 23'6" |
| Beam | 8'6" |
| Hull weight | 4,215 pounds |
| Engine | MerCruiser MX 6.2 MPI |
| Cylinder type | V-8 |
| Cubic-inch displacement/horsepower | 377/320 |
| Lower-unit gear ratio | 2.2:1 |
| Propeller | Mercury 15" x 28" and 13 3/4" x 28" |
Pricing
| Base retail | $29,295 |
| Price as tested | $39,595 |
Standard Equipment
NMMA certification, curved tinted-glass windshield with walk-through, acrylic Bimini top, integrated after-plane hull, one-piece fiberglass cockpit with snap-in carpet, integrated swim platform with recessed boarding ladder, transom shower, cockpit sink, walk-through transom, full instrumentation, depthfinder, compass, 12-volt power outlet, built-in removable trash container, cockpit lights, automatic bilge pump, rack-and-pinion steering, anchor stowage, ski stowage, Kenwood four-speaker AM/FM cassette stereo, stowable snack table, drink holders, removable 36-quart Igloo cooler, Porta Potti, halogen docking lights.
Options on Test Boat
Upgrade to MX 6.2 MPI engine with Bravo Three drive ($7,995), special edition package, which includes Corsa Quick & Quiet exhaust and an optional swim platform ($2,305).
Acceleration
| 3 seconds | 17 mph |
| 5 seconds | 23 mph |
| 10 seconds | 40 mph |
| 15 seconds | 49 mph |
Midrange Acceleration
| 20-40 mph | 6.5 seconds |
| 30-50 mph | 9.2 seconds |
| 30-60 mph | NA |
Rpm vs. Mph
| 1000 | 7 mph |
| 1500 | 9 mph |
| 2000 | 14 mph |
| 2500 | 26 mph |
| 3000 | 32 mph |
| 3500 | 42 mph |
| 4000 | 46 mph |
| 4500 | 52 mph |
| 5000 | NA |
Top Speed
| Speedometer | 61 mph at 4900 rpm |
| Radar | 55.7 mph at 4900 rpm |
| Nordskog Performance Products GPS | 54.5 mph at 4900 rpm |
Planing
| Time to plane | 4.5 seconds |
| Minimum planing speed | 16 mph |
Fuel Economy
| At 25 mph | 3.3 mpg |
| At 35 mph | 3.1 mpg |
| At 45 mph | 3.6 mpg |
| At 55 mph | 3.4 mpg |
| At WOT | 2.3 mpg |
| Fuel capacity | 75 gallons |
Manufacturer
Rinker Boats
Dept. PB
300 W. Chicago St.
Syracuse, IN 46567
(219) 457-5731
www.rinkerboats.com.
