Deck Boats Vs. Bowriders

When it comes to choosing a boat, you’ve got plenty of options available on the market. Many boaters looking for small pleasure craft go with the runabout style of motorboat, which is reasonably small but comfortable and provides plenty of seating for an afternoon of cruising the lake. “Runabout” is a general term that can be further diversified into two styles of boat: the deck boat and the bowrider.

While there are similarities between these two boat styles, there are some differences worth addressing that will affect your purchasing decision. That’s why the people at Yankee Boating Center have provided this comparison between them. When you’re ready to look at our inventory, come to one of our convenient locations in Lake George or Haverstraw, New York.

Hull Shapes

The hull shapes of these two styles differ significantly, which means that they won’t handle the same on the water. Deck boats often come with flat bottom hulls and low rise in the bow, and they’re often wider, particularly towards the bow. Bowriders, on the other hand, have a more V-shaped hull and a bow that narrows to a point, which significantly decreases the available deck space, but improves speed and handling, particularly when it comes to taking sharp turns. The performance of both boats is similar on flat and calm waters.

Styling

Deck boats keep everyone behind the helm in an open floor plan that often provides a U-shaped seating arrangement. If you want more room to walk around in, a deck boat is great because of the space it offers. Deck boats also can have more features like a head or a food prep area owing to their increased width and the lack of separation between the bow and stern. They are generally 18’ to 33’ in length. 

Bowriders have their own separate seating compartment at the front of the bow, ahead of the helm. This area is small and has railings and sometimes seat belts to keep passengers safe. Sometimes it’s large enough for users to stretch out and lay down in the sun. Bow riders can be as small as 17’ in length and longer than 30’ in some models.

Watersports

Both styles of boat generally have a tow eye in the back to provide a place to attach a tow rope for a variety of watersports activities. If you’re looking to tow an experienced wakeboarder or waterskiier who craves high wakes and plenty of speed, a bowrider will be more capable of cutting through the water at higher speeds, particularly if the water is choppy or winds are high.

If you are towing children or novice users, the width and stability of a deck boat is worthy of your consideration. The deck boat won’t reach the higher speeds that a bowrider is capable of, but it will provide a safer ride for inexperienced water users. Deck boats often come with a swim platform of varying width to provide easy access to the water for swimmers and watersports users alike.

Capacity

Deck boats are the clear winner in this category, as they offer more capacious storage spaces as well as more seating owing to their larger layout and width. You’ll be able to take a dozen passengers easily on many deck boats, in addition to having plenty of space to store their personal items, all your safety gear and your watersports equipment below deck. If you’re taking a smaller group and have less stuff to store, you can get along fine in a bowrider, which still provides seating for several passengers, anywhere from six to ten people, and enough space to spread out a little.

Ready to make a decision on your next runabout? Visit one of our New York locations to see our wide selection of boats for sale, including deck boats and bowriders. Yankee Boating Center proudly serves the communities of Lake George, Haverstraw and Albany, New York.