In the world of boating, Rinker is the equivalent of Sears. Nothing too flashy, nothing too out there, just solid, dependable products at a reasonable price. It's been building boats for more than 35 years, and in the process, has built up a following. My family's first boat back in '69 was a Rinker, an 18-foot runabout with a 50-hp Johnson that never missed a beat. If you're in the market for a family boat today, you owe it to yourself to consider a Rinker ' even over some of the more popular brands ' and the best place to start is the well-designed Flotilla 26 deck boat.

Although it's technically one of the current pontoon/runabout hybrids, the Flotilla kind of creates its own category, since it's one of the few with a trimaran hull, and it's certainly the only one on the water with a wading pool. That's right, a wading pool in the cockpit. Measuring 26 inches by 35 inches by 6 inches, it has its own pump and a fiberglass cover for when it's not in use. At first glance, it looks like more of a gimmick than a strong selling point. It just seems silly. Besides, who would want to sit in only six inches of water? It would barely cover your knees.

Turns out that's plenty of space for a toddler, according to parents who recently bought one of the new Flotillas, and say their kids love the pool. They just pull up to a sandbar, turn on the pump and let the kids splash their hearts out. And they love the space of their own, says the mom. Okay, maybe. But what about older folks, who tend to buy these kind of boats? They'd have no use for a pool, which is a standard feature on the boat. Most of them have grandkids, counters the mom, and if they don't, they could use it as a livewell for fishing. Whether or not you think the pool is a great addition will probably depend on your family dynamic.

The trimaran hull is almost a throwback to the 1970s, when brands such as Glastron had nothing but triple hulls. The setup handles exceptionally well, as we find during a run across Sarasota Bay. That stretch of water tends to get sloppy, and the day we run the Flotilla 26 is no exception. There is a 30-mph wind with a two-foot chop running ' enough to make most of the other boats out there throttle back. The 26 feels like it's running on rails. It comes on plane in seconds (because it's a semiplaning hull, it doesn't have to dig its way out of the hole) and plows through the chop, or rather rides just above it. In other words, it isn't a wet ride, even in a hard turn. We try to find the Achilles heel of the hull by going upwind and down, but it just soldiers on, like a tank moving through rough terrain. There's a little bouncing, but not the bucking-bronco effect you'd get on many planing hulls. It's a boat you'll feel safe bringing kids on, although the downside is that it's not as speed-efficient as a planing hull.

But that doesn't make it a slow boat to China, either. The test boat is powered by a 240-hp, 5.0L EFI MerCruiser with a twin-propped Bravo III drive. The EFI is an upgrade from the 5.0L base engine and adds an extra $1,200 to the base price of $33,795. It also adds an extra two mph to the top end, says Rinker. Actually, we get a slightly higher top end than Rinker, which measured the boat at 40 mph. With three people and three-quarters of a tank of fuel, our radar gun clocks the Flotilla at 41.1 mph. The 26 also comes with five other engine options, from the 250-hp, 5.7L EFI ($37,195) to the 320-hp, 6.2L MX B3 ($42,095). The 6.2L MerCruiser gives it a top end of 46 mph, according to the company.

The layout of the Flotilla 26 is typical deck boat. There's an L-shaped lounge on the portside that runs along the transom, convenience center (which includes a sink connected to a 10-gallon freshwater system), pull-out trash can, large cubby hole for food or ice, and starboard-side changing area in front of the helm station (including a portable head and a bunk that slides in over it).

There are many nice touches in the cockpit, and some things that could be improved. The deep starboard-side entryway into the boat from the swim platform at the transom gives a secure feeling when entering ' as does the beefy stainless-steel bolt that holds the door shut. The aft end feels very protected against wandering kids, but the front section is wide open. A safety chain should be standard up front, especially with the wading pool just inches away from the open bow.

There is excellent storage space throughout the entire boat, including in-floor lockers at the transom, and in the mid-section, as well as good storage under the seats. The storage is also evident in the changing area in front of the Flotilla's helm station.

The changing area features a portable head down in the back and a shelf-like system with covering fiberglass pieces that turn the whole area into a berth. Theoretically, it's a good idea, but the ledges that hold the fiberglass pieces seem too narrow, and passengers only 5 feet 9 inches and taller will find it tough to fit into the space without bending their knees. It'd be a good napping place for kids, however.

The convenience center is well-designed, with a sink, removable trash can, and large plastic well for storing food or ice. There's storage inside this console, as well.

There are a lot of quality details on this boat ' triple-stitched vinyl upholstery, stainless-steel sink, a half-dozen drinkholders all around the cockpit (though the two front ones are outside the rails, so if you hit a bump the drink could go overboard), built-in space for the standard 25-quart Igloo cooler, docking lights, snap-in carpet, three-step telescoping ladders, bow filler cushions, transom shower, Bimini top, Kenwood radio/cassette player with four speakers (with remote control at the transom) and dual battery system. Most of these features would be options on other lines. You won't really need any other options on this boat, and in fact, there are only four others: cockpit cover, Silent Choice exhaust, extended swim platform and CD player.

The helm station is unusual for a deck boat. The seat has a flip-up bolster ' something you'd find on a quality cruiser or go-fast boat ' so you can sit up during tight docking situations. Better yet, it has VDO's marine instrument module. The VDO gauges have been around for several years, but they're new to the Rinker line this year. It's modern-looking, with an easy-to-read computer-controlled display. Besides the usual instrumentation, it has extras like a coolant temperature gauge, voltage level, depth sounder, clock, odometer, engine hours and seawater temperature. With all its upscale features, the 26 Flotilla is a winner. The hull is super-stable, the amenities are good, and the quality is there.