I am considering buying either a 240LS or a Rinker 246. Any information from someone familiar with both would be helpfull.

Thanks

Look carefully at the vinyl and stitching quality on the Rinker.  I think that says it all.

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O'
"Little Mascara 3"
2003 266BR,496 MAG w/Bravo III

I think you will find the 240LS to be a much larger and roomier boat.  If you are concerned that the 240LS doesn't have a "sun deck/pad"... then consider this... with the 240LS you can install the rear filler pad.  With the rear filler you end up with a big sundeck to lay on as well as lean against the back and have your feet up... and the best part is that you don't have to tell everyone to "get in the boat" when it is time to start the motor and cuise up the lake... they are in the boat and so they are fine just soaking up the sun while you drive.   The lack of the rear sunpad was something we considered for a long time (we were trying to decide between the Crownline, a Cobalt 232, and a Chap 246.  We are so happy we went with the Crownline... the boat feels much larger than a typical 24ft boat because of the layout.  I don't know much about Rinker, but i can tell you we went back to the boat sho this year and still didn't find anything we would have picked over our 240LS (in the same size/price.)  There are some features i with our boat had (DTS, SmartTow, more SMALL storage spaces (they are all huge), and a nicer dash layout(SS vs. plastic trim.)... but at the end of the day none of those things define how we use the boat... and the 240LS is the right boat for us. Even with 10 adults on board you have plenty of room.  Good luck on your boat hunting.

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2007 Crownline 240LS Merc MAG350-BIII
-Corsa thruhull, Social Swim, Sport package, Factory Tower
- HeaterCraft heater
-Mercury Smartcraft SC1000 Tach and Speedo
... in need of a name. :(
Towed with a 2008 Nissan Armada LE 4x4
Redmond, Washington

Gene Whitted:

I am considering buying either a 240LS or a Rinker 246. Any information from someone familiar with both would be helpfull.

Thanks

To compare Rinker with Crownline is like compairing a cheese sandwich to prime rib. There is a reason they are "cheaper."

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Mark Buckwalter

Lancaster, PA

Hi Gene,

If you are shopping look closely at the details. Research the construction methods. Spend a long time with each boat to compare fit and finish. Open the hatch doors to see how solid they are. Are all the hardware pieces stainless steel? What quality are the mooring cleats? Upholstery material and construction are important. They need to be substantial to stand up to the uv rays and weather. Do they both have quality carpeting? Look at the warranty for each boat. One boat that set a high water mark for the industry is Cobalt. Look at one and decide which boat compares with Cobalt.

I have seen a lot of Rinkers from the 90s who gelcoat is faded making the boat yesterday's news. Try to find a Crownline that old with a gelcoat in the same faded condition.

We are not objective on this website, of course. We are Crownline owners, but at some point in time we all started with the same question; which brand should I go with? Our decisions all drove us to Crownline. You can find cheaper AND less expensive. You cannot find high quality and reasonable pricing like you find with Crownline.

Bill

'08 200LS 5.0L

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Bill Cook
Saratoga Springs, NY
Charleston Lake, On
'08 200LS 5.0L

Gene, go with the Crownline. When we bought our 225 we were leaning toward the Captiva 226. There is more room in the 225 because of the layout of the interior and it's just a better looking, better built boat. As for the price, the Crownline was about $2,000 more, but well worth it in our opinion.   

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I bit the bullet and ordered the Crownline 240LS today. It looks like an absolute fabulous boat. We are very excited, can't wait to get it on the water.

Congrats!  Now you have to provide us some details... color? motor? options? tower? etc:)

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2007 Crownline 240LS Merc MAG350-BIII
-Corsa thruhull, Social Swim, Sport package, Factory Tower
- HeaterCraft heater
-Mercury Smartcraft SC1000 Tach and Speedo
... in need of a name. :(
Towed with a 2008 Nissan Armada LE 4x4
Redmond, Washington

You made a great decision.  I have been researching boats in this size range for about two years now.  As of this winter, I have been to four boat shows and more delears than I can remember and I bought the same boat (240LS).  Even after signing the paperwork, I still check the internet and magazines to reassure myself that I made the right decision...Not a second of buyer's remorse.

Ryan Harris:

You made a great decision.  I have been researching boats in this size range for about two years now.  As of this winter, I have been to four boat shows and more delears than I can remember and I bought the same boat (240LS).  Even after signing the paperwork, I still check the internet and magazines to reassure myself that I made the right decision...Not a second of buyer's remorse.

Same here... i am very picky and when spending this much on a boat it wanted to make sure it was the right one.  Everyone around here has a Cobalt (basicly because the local dealer is huge and operates very much like a Lexus dealer.)  But at the end of the day nothing could really compare to the 240LS when it came to fun on the lake.  The seating in the 240LS is the best you will find for a 24 ft boat (well.. it's not a 24 ft. boat.. there is nothing on the 240LS that measures "24 feet".... the length from bow to transom is 23ft, the length from bow to the back of the swim platform (LOA) is 25ft.  So i guess they just split the differance and called it a 24ft.  Some boats measure length (meaning the model name) to the transom and some to the back of the platform (LOA)... we found we always had to compare LOA to keep things even.

Anyway.. congrats:)

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2007 Crownline 240LS Merc MAG350-BIII
-Corsa thruhull, Social Swim, Sport package, Factory Tower
- HeaterCraft heater
-Mercury Smartcraft SC1000 Tach and Speedo
... in need of a name. :(
Towed with a 2008 Nissan Armada LE 4x4
Redmond, Washington

Congrats on your new 240LS.  We too are excited seeing as we haven't used it yet.

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Glenn Jones
2007 - 240LS, Onyx/Moonstone ,6.2L/B3,
Razor Graphics,Xtreme Tower ,Corsa Exhaust.
Deluxe Social Swim Platform,

Calgary,Alberta,Canada

Congrats on your new 240LS.  We went through the same process as previously mentioned with boat shows, dealership visits, internet, and various boating magazines.  We absolutely love our 240LS.  As a family of five and most of our friends are families of either four or five, we always have plenty of room and power with nine or ten people.  It has performed flawlessly on all types of water and conditions from small in-land lakes of Minnesota to larger lakes and waves of Lake Kabetogama in Voyagers National Park and on Lake Superior around the Apostle Islands.  We will even overnight on it with the full enclosure.  We've never looked back, even with the new 300LS lurking at the boat show.

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Greg
"Seas the Day"
2007 240LS, 350 MAG - Bravo III
Onyx & Moonstone w/Razor Graphics

Gene Whitted:

I bit the bullet and ordered the Crownline 240LS today. It looks like an absolute fabulous boat. We are very excited, can't wait to get it on the water.

Congrats Gene and welcome! You'll absolutely love the 240LS, it's a great model.

Greg

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2008 240LS - "Lee'Sure Time"

The 240LS is a beautiful boat! I am sure you will really enjoy all the compliments you will receive.

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Gary
"Dream On"
2004 230BR Onyx & Moonstone

Congratulations Gene!  I can only reiterate what has been written here - We purchased our 1995 250cr a few years ago - After we decided to look for a used, trailerable cruiser, I researched for a couple months and then shopped for several more - The looks and overall quality of the Crownline really stood out amongst the wide variety of boats we looked at - I think you will be very pleased with your decision.

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Rory Malner
'95 250CR - 7.4L W/BIII
"Parents Gone Wild"