Rinker 230 Atlantic

[Boatsrule]

Good point Merwin  

[steveyacht]

Darn, I could have swore I included a pic of the engine access.  When I get  back to the office tomorrow, I will send one to Talon.  The center aft seat tilts forward on hinges to allow access to the engine compartment.  In addition, there is a removeable section to the floor in the trunk that allows additional access.  This engine compartment access is not the very best I have seen, but far from the  worst I have seen.

There is a flat section to the left of the steering wheel that is large enough for a combo GPS/Sonar Unit or a VHF, but not both.  If it were my boat, I would mount a remote VHF with handmike controls and  flush mount GPS/Chartplotter on that flat surface.  SInce it already comes with a digital sounder, I would not really be interested in a fishfinder, but, that is a personal choice.

Volvo-Penta power is available.  I have not run this boat yet, but with a 260-HP 5.0 Litre MPI V-8 I can imagine a top around 44 MPH and a solid cruise of around 32-33MPH.  When I run the boat, I will get those numbers posted here.

The cabin is pretty nice, for a 23 footer.  Much better than a comparable Cuddy Cabin boat.  I also like the way they have done the porta-potti in the cabinet vs the center of the cuddy as in some models.  The filler cushions do double duty as back rest cushions, they are held in place by veclro.  Nice touch.

We also have a full enclosure for this one.  This will enhance the "pocket cruiser" look and function.  

Over all, my impressions are pretty positive.  Like any boat, there are somethings I would change, and I have already made those known to the folks at Rinker.

Any other questions, just fire away!!!  Matter of fact, feel free to call any time at all!

Steve

[steveyacht]

Talon............Did you get the photo of the engine compartment I sent last week?

[Talon]

oops - thanks for reminding me

[steveyacht]

[merwin10]

Why do they do that? Seems most of the manufacturers seem to mount the bilge pump up off the lowest point of the bilge - This is not just a Rinker trait - on the 290 I relocated both pumps at the lowest points so that there is little water to slosh around - On my cousin's GW we installed a puppy pump with an electronic switch and a suction foot so that he could get the last 1-1/2 of water out of the bilge - why can they see thet the customer wants ALL the water gone - NOT sloshing about - Salt water under the engine just rusts out the oil pan and fittings quicker - On the GW we had a small oil leak we could not identify so one winter we pulled the engine - Once out and close examination of the bottom of the oil pan what we found was surprizing - the engine oil dip stick tube which ran to the bottom of the oil pan to aid in oil changing was rusted - How bad well while the engine was on the lift  I showed my cousin what I thought might be the problem - I flicked a piece of rust on the dip stick tube it fell to the ground as all the oil started pouring out of the engine   - get a bucket quick I said - As we stood there watching the engine bleed we talked about what would have happened if that piece of rust fell off while the engine was running - Oh Boy now there is trouble! A bilge full of oil and a ceized engine 10 miles from nowhere - Further investigation we found that most of all the tin to include the oil pan - timming cover and valve covers needed to be replaced - All this from sloshing salt water - now he keeps the bilge water free thanks to the puppy pump -

Mike -

[Boatsrule]

Could just be the angle of the pic, but geez hope nobody ever has to work on that motor. Heck even winterizing would be a job!

[Talon]

There's a review of the Atlantic in this months Motor Boating magazine. Overall they give it high marks.

[merwin10]

Boats rule - that is plenty of room - you should see the 290 can't even see the oil filter and you have to be triple jointed to get the plugs out - The drives for the lifts are so far back and on the bilge floor you can't reach them I made a special tool out of PVC to remove the cap and check the oil - will have to pull the engine to repair replace them - Once I had to use my 8 YO nephew to get a tool I droped between the engines - held him by the ankles and lowered him between the engines to reach the tool - could have used a magnet but the tools are Stainless Steel - Thank god for small children -

He has been by my side whenever we worked on the boat and does all the tight work when running wire and duct work - He is definately a future boater at 11 he already drives the boat and can back it into the slip and plots trips - has his eye on a 16' boston whaler for his next birthday - My little helper would rather be on a boat than doing anything else - Funny thing my brother buys all the toys he could possible want and all does when out on the boat is enjoy the ride, fish and swim -

Mike -  

[chesbay]

Aargh Talon!  You beat me to the post...again.  

Some info. from the 230 Atlantic write-up in the June 2006 issue of Motor Boating.

"Rinker's 230 Atlantic is one trailerable sportboat you can really sleep abooard-comfortably."

Base Price (w/test power): $36, 230
Test Power - Volvo Penta 5.0 (270 hp) OSXI XDP

[steveyacht]

There is another engine compartment access point in the bottom of the trunk.  The "floor" of the trunk is removeable, without tools, to allow access to the aft of the motor and risers.  

Base price on the one we have in stock is $41,017 with a 5.0 Litre MPI MerCruiser and Bravo III outdrive.  The Windlass ($2286), Extended Swim Platform ($728) and full Canvas package ($857) brings that total to $44,888.  The only other thing we have added is a Road King Tandem axle aluminum trailer with disc brakes on all four wheels which brings the total package price to just under $50,000.

I am waiting to get enough time so that I can get her in the water and do sme testing with that motor package to see what sort of speeds will result. I'm also interested to see how it will handle some wave action as well as the wakes we encounter here.  So far, I have been pretty happy witht he hull performance of the Rinkers I have run, including the 342 that I brought back from Charleston recently. They're Not off shore battlewagon material, but pretty darned decent overall.