There's an old saying that you can't turn a dog into a racehorse. That may be true ' but you can still train it to run a pretty fast quarter-mile. Same thing holds for the growing fleet of sterndrive sportboats carrying wakeboard towers. They'll never approach the razor-sharp control of speed and handling you expect from, say, a MasterCraft, Malibu, Correct Craft or another inboard manufacturer. But a sterndrive can still do a pretty decent job of towing ' especially if you're more interested in spending time with the kids than competing on the pro wakeboard tour.

Rinker's new RX2 fits into that fast-dog category, with 'X' standing for 'Extreme.' Sure enough, Rinker dressed it up in a yellow gel coat with custom graphics, and tricked it out with the wakeboard tower, in-your-face stereo system and a super-sized MerCruiser. But under the wolf's clothing is a true family boat. The RX2 is based on Rinker's Captiva 232, a deep-V bowrider with comforts you'll never find on the more austere, weight-obsessive wakeboard boats. But they're the same comforts ' enclosed head, transom shower and rear walkthrough ' that most families would love in a 23-foot bowrider.

During a lengthy test on a lake near Mt. Dora, Florida, Boating World discovers that you don't have to have a $60,000 wakeboard boat to have a lot of fun. The RX2 comes courtesy of the Mt. Dora Boating Center and Marina. Unfortunately, the dealer has no control over the weather. It's cold and choppy ' lousy conditions for boarding ' so the board is left on the tower. But you can still get a good sense of how a boat performs by driving it around in circles at various speeds for a few hours, and that's what happens.

The RX2 package ($3,995 extra) includes the tower and two speakers, coaxial cockpit speakers, audio power amplifiers, CD changer, transom stereo remote control, large mirror, custom graphics and Mercury's High-Five stainless-steel propeller. The Mt. Dora boat also has the options package that includes the swim-platform extension ($800) and Perfect Pass speed control ($1,095). The engine is a 300-hp MerCruiser MAG 350 MPI with a Bravo 3 drive. The engine options range from the 220-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser with Alpha drive, to a 320-hp, 6.2L MX with Bravo 3.

Rinker named the Captiva right, if the secure feeling you get in the rear cockpit is anything to go by. The gunwales are tall (minimum cockpit depth is 36 inches, but it's much higher most places), and there's a sense of riding inside the boat, rather than on it. The RX2 seems a lot different than the 21-foot RX1, which has more of a traditional bowrider ride-on feel. There's something to be said for a deep cockpit, especially with kids on board ' though it doesn't feel as sporty as some of the other bowriders out there. Still, you can't argue with the speed figures it turns in. It comes on plane in 5.5 seconds and hits a top end of 52.3 mph. At 3000 rpm, sipping fuel at 8 gallons-per-hour, it runs at 27.7 mph.

Of course, the real test is how well it handles at towing speeds around 19 to 21 mph. As mentioned, this RX2 is fitted with the Perfect Pass towing system (wakeboard version), essentially an autopilot for boats. The Perfect Pass speed control has been used on a lot of direct-drive towboats, but Rinker is one of the first sterndrive builders to use it.

How does it do? Pretty good. It dials in at 21 mph and holds the speed well during straight runs and sweeping turns, but wanders for a few seconds after sharp turns before finding its stride again. The prime wakeboarding speed is at a point where the boat wants to come on plane and there's a big jump in the power curve, so Perfect Pass has to find its groove again. Is it worth the extra grand? That's your call. Let's just say that it'll get the boat back to optimum wakeboarding speed faster than most drivers, and you don't have to mess with the throttle, or hear the complaints behind you while towing. Plus, if you're going to spend the money for the tower, you may as well have the electronic brains to turn the RX2 into a real wakeboarding boat.

Speaking of the tower, it's one of the RX2's finest features ' and comparable with towers on the better wakeboard boats. The heavy-duty tubing has a 2-inch diameter, and there are dual claw-like racks on either side (with bungee cords) to hold the boards in place. Two Kenwood stereo speakers on the tower make sure that everyone in the vicinity can hear what's playing. They're also housed in aluminum for corrosion resistance. The 7-inch-by-14-inch mirror lets you keep an eye on the boarder. The tower has a height of 96 inches from the cockpit floor, but it's hinged to fold down to 62 inches to fit under bridges or into your garage. Another nice touch: It loosens with knobs rather than Allen keys. It's really a great piece of craftsmanship.

The other big option on the RX2 is the bolted-on swim platform, measuring 24 inches by 76 inches ' which is just a step down from the standard swim platform (14 inches by 81 inches). That much space is a real asset for getting equipment on. The transom also has another feature for saltwater users ' a transom shower connected to the boat's 10-gallon freshwater supply. The 15-inch-wide ladder on the extended platform lies flush in the platform. (The starboard cover over where the ladder was in the standard swim platform looks a bit haphazard and cheapens the overall effect of this big space.)

Another plus for families is the walkthrough space at the transom, measuring one foot wide. It steps down into the cockpit, so you don't really need a gate to keep kids on board. That cockpit area seating is decent, with an L-shaped lounge (44-inch length on each section, though the 16-inch depth feels a little narrow), a small jump seat behind the companion seat (which would work well for a kid, but too small for an adult), and swiveling helm and companion seats with bolsters. A 36-quart Igloo cooler fits under a dedicated space in the lounge, and there's an open shelf under the other half. The padded engine hatch lifts up to reveal the sterndrive, and a big black box beside the engine can be used for storage. Working space is good, though it looks like it'd take a big effort to pull the batteries out since they're stuffed under the cockpit sole on the port side.

The RX2's a fun boat to drive, with its deep-V hull and 20 degrees of deadrise at the transom. Visibility is good at the helm, and the backlit instruments are easy to read. It turns nicely and handles well in the chop, and with the 350 MAG, it's fast. The hull feels stable, responds instantly, and the wraparound windshield keeps the cold wind at bay. Two quibbles: The throttle could use an armrest for long spells of towing, and there seems to be a lot of glare off the top of the console.

This Rinker, either as an RX2 or Captiva, comes with two extras you don't usually find as standard features: a compass and depth finder ' and there are six stereo speakers besides the two up on the tower. A remote control is positioned on the swim platform. The enclosed head compartment has good standing room, with space for a portable head. It also holds the cockpit table when it's not being used. The cockpit has a removable trash can that's in a compartment behind the aft jump seat. The bow area offers decent storage, with piano-hinged seats that fold outwards for quick access. Narrow mesh-netted storage spaces for small items like sunscreen are built along the gunwales, beneath the grabrails. The RX2 also has six 6-inch stainless-steel cleats.

Another nice detail ' and one you don't see enough on 20-something bowriders ' is the anchor locker up front, with two rubber anchor chocks to keep it from banging around. The RX2's big enough for day-cruising, so an anchor should be standard equipment ' and always brought along as safety equipment ' for sitting on the hook.

And that detail really shows what kind of machine the RX2 is, despite the tower and yellow exterior. Sure, it's a decent wakeboard boat and is bound to turn heads, especially with the tower speakers at full blast, but it's really a boat a family will love.