So we wanted a boat, and we wanted it to be roomy enough to bring family and friends on board. We wanted to be able to enjoy water activities like tubing, wakeboarding, cruise around, hang out at the sandbar, or just relax on the water. We were looking for a boat that the whole family would be able to enjoy.
After countless hours of research, we narrowed down to two options. Bowrider versus deck boat, both models, would be an excellent option for a family/recreational boat. In this article, I want to explain to you the differences between these boats.
What Is A Bowrider?
A bowrider can be defined as the ultimate family boat. It offers a great combination of style and versatility. Bowriders are great for watersports like tubing and wakeboarding, cruising on waterways, fishing, hanging out in the sand bar or just a fun day on the water.
Bowriders get their name from the open seating area on the bow of the boat. They are offered in the 16 feet to 35 feet range. The smaller ones can accommodate 8 to 10 people, are affordable and can be towed with most light trucks and SUV’s. Bigger models offer more features and luxuries as well as more engine power.
The V hull design on bowriders allows them to cut choppy waters and small waves with ease. This boats can be used in lakes, rivers, bays and open waters. Power options include Sterndrive, Outboard, and Jet Drive.
What Is A Deck Boat?
A deck boat is a result of combining a bowrider with a pontoon boat. Often described as the minivan of boats, they offer an open layout perfect for accommodating lots of friends and family comfortably.
They are designed with versatility in mind to accommodate multiple boating activities. Deck boats are available in the 18 feet to 30 feet range and can accommodate 8 to 20 people. They are usually as wide on the bow as on the stern.
This hull design is proven to be very stable and is usually powered by either a sterndrive or an outboard engine. Because of the wide hull design, this boat performs best on calm waters like lakes, rivers, and bays.
What’s the difference?
Although these boats have a lot of similarities, they are definitely not the same. There is a lot to take in consideration before making your decision getting one of them.
There are some key differences that you need to evaluate to be able to determine which boat is better for you.
We finally decided that the bowrider fulfilled our family needs better. It might not be the same for your family, and that’s ok. the important thing is to get out there and have fun. I want to share with you the extensive research I did to help you make an informed decision. Let’s dive in!!
Price
Brand new deck boats range from $15,000 to $60,000 on average. You can spend more money on a new bowrider. They range from $17,000 to $150,000 on average. Mainly the big difference in price is because you can get bigger bowriders than you can deck boats.
Size and space comparison
Deck boat has a little advantage on size and space because of the wider hull design. This allows for more seating and storage space. The seating area is almost like a floating living room. You can bring more guests on a deck boat the same size as a bowrider.
On the other hand, bowriders will give you a greater variety of sizes. You can get them for as long as 35 feet. This boats also have a very good seating layout. Seating on the bow area is good but not as big and open as it is on a deck boat.
There is usually plenty of space for storage on both boats, but deck boats will give you greater space on the bow area.
Activities And Versatility
Both bowriders and deck boats offer great versatility and are suitable for multiple activities on the water. This is why they make great family boats.
They are suitable for tubing, skiing, cruising, hanging out in the sandbar, entertaining and many others.
The advantage of versatility will go to the bowrider, because of its hull’s deep V design this type of boats can handle more waves than the deck boats can. The ability to take on some waves is not something Deck boats are good for.
Deck boats are almost exclusively for calm waters while bowriders do a better job of handling calm waters as well as rougher waters.
Handling And Performance
The differences are evident in this category. Both handling and performance are better on a bowrider due to its deep V hull design. Faster plane time, better ability to cut through wake and waves, and more agile and responsive handling, are some of the features that make a bowrider the better option for you. If handling and performance are among your top priorities.
Deck boats trade all this handling and performance to allow for a more onboard room and functionality. This doesn’t mean that these boats handle horrible on the water. It just means that they are meant to be rode on calm waters such as lakes, rivers, and bays.
Ease Of Operation
Deck boats and bowriders are very easy to operate. If you are new to boating, they are an excellent first boat. Visibility is usually excellent on both boats. You can usually see very well through the windshield. Some models offer a seat booster in case you need to sit higher. Controls and throttle are generally very accessible in the console.
Fishing
Even though this is not their main purpose, both bowriders and deck boats are good enough for the occasional fishing. Both deck boat and bowrider manufacturers are working hard on making these boats versatile enough to accommodate for all of your boating needs.
If you are more into fishing but want a family boat, some manufacturers offer these boats in what they call “fish and sky”. Fish and sky variation of these boats usually comes equipped with fishing rod holder, livewell, fish box and trolling motor. Removable couching seats to walk around the boat with ease and chartplotter with fish finder are usually standard on fish and ski models.
Deck boats can be used to fish on calmer waters like lakes, inlets, bays, and rivers. Because of their hull design, they are not recommended for open water fishing. If you have saltwater fishing in mind, a bowrider might better suitable for the rougher waters.
Maintenance
Just like with any other boat, maintenance depends on how and where you use your boat. Even though bowriders and deck boats have many differences, they are still boats and share the same engines and a lot of different components.
Proper service must be done, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations
Inspection of boat components, especially fluids and moving parts, should be done as part of your pre-trip inspection.
Entertaining
Both of these boats are good for entertaining family and friends, but in this category, deck boats have the advantage.
Although bowriders can accommodate your guests very good, deck boats are designed to be more like a pontoon boat with the family room floating on the water feel.
The wide design of the front of the deck boat allows for a more comfortable bow seating area, and there is usually room for cooler and snacks.
If you like the layout of the typical pontoon boat but don’t like the look of it, you should look at a deck boat.
Trailering And Weight
Most bowriders and deck boats can be towed with a light truck or SUV. In my opinion, the one that can tow a boat is a good thing because you don’t have to spend money on a marina if you don’t want to or be confined to the same body of water all the time.
If you plan on tow your boat, you need to know if you can tow it with your vehicle safely. You need to know the wet weight of your boat and trailer. Manufacturers usually list only the dry weight of the boats. Dry weight only refers to the weight of the boat and the engine without any fluids or fuel.
To calculate the wet weight of a boat, take into consideration any added equipment like batteries, wake tower, and electronics. Gear you are bringing, like fishing rods, extra clothes, and life vests. How big is your fuel tank and how much fuel is in it (a gallon of fuel weighs 6 lbs or 2.7 kilos). Food, drinks, and supplies for the day. Don’t forget the trailer, depending on your boat size add 500 to 1000 lbs.
I usually add 1500 to 2000 lbs to the dry weight when towing my boat to be on the safe side. Here are some examples of bowrider and deck boat weight.
Deck boats
- Hurricane SunDeck 187 OB Dry weight 2,450 lbs 36 gallons fuel capacity
- Bayliner Element E21 Dry weight 2,645 lbs 44 gallons fuel capacity
- Sea Ray SDX 250 Dry weight 5,557 lbs 63 gallons fuel capacity
- Regal 22 FasDeck Dry weight 3,850 lbs 40 gallons fuel capacity
Bowrider boats
- Chaparral 21 H2O Dry weight 3,100 lbs 35 gallons fuel capacity
- Regal 2500 Dry weight 4,600 lbs 74 gallons fuel capacity
- Bayliner VR6 Dry weight 1,722 lbs 33 gallons fuel capacity
- Crownline 285 SS Dry weight 6,100 lbs 84 gallons fuel capacity
Popular Trucks And Suv’s Towing Capacity
- Ford F-150 5,000 to 13,200 lbs towing capacity
- Toyota Tundra 8,800 to 10,200 lbs towing capacity
- GMC Sierra 1500 6,600 to 9,800 lbs towing capacity
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6,600 to 9,800 lbs towing capacity
- Ram 1500 7,500 to 11,610 lbs towing capacity
- Ford Explorer 5,600 lbs towing capacity
- Dodge Durango 6,200 to 8,700 lbs towing capacity
- Jeep Cherokee 3,500 to 7,200 lbs towing capacity
- Toyota Highlander 1,500 to 5000 lbs towing capacity
- Nissan Armada 8,500 lbs towing capacity