290 Express Cruiser

The Rinker brand has long been idenjpgied with value and the company reputation for delivering a lot of boat for the money has held up well over the years. With the 290 Express, Rinker’s design team produced a sporty coastal and inland cruiser with accommodations for a family of four. The single-level cockpit is completely unobstructed and features an extended lounge to port that curves around to the transom door. A large wet bar with refrigerator is behind the rotating double-wide helm seat. Note that the aft lounge backrest drops to create a sun pad or lifts to form an aft-facing seat overlooking the swim platform. Below deck, the Rinker’s interior is similar to many mid-cabin boats her size with a V-berth/dinette forward, galley with Corian counter and microwave to port, and a standup head with marine toilet, sink and shower to starboard. The mid-cabin has a double berth, flat screen TV, and storage shelves. Most cruisers this size have twin engines, but the 290’s slender, easily driven hull (the beam is just 9 feet) performs very well with only a single engine. She’ll cruise at a respectable 26–28 knots with a 380hp MerCruiser Bravo 3 sterndrive (about 35 knots top).