For most people, their first boat is a powerboat that is 14 to 16 feet long and powered by a two-cycle outboard motor of 50 to 90 horsepower. Powerboating takes less study and needs less physical work than sailing, so it’s an easy way to get started. Powerboat prices range from under $5000 to millions of dollars, and sizes range from slim 8-footers powered by 1 horse electric motors to majestic 150 footers powered by multiple diesels engine with thousand of horsepower. Powerboats can be broken into lots of subclasses. Below and the next posts is a glimpse of information about several types of powerboat that might be taken into consideration for those of you who will start to have a powerboat.
The Runabout. This range includes the ubiquitous runabout, which is what most of us think of when we think of a one-model-fits-all family boat. It has a closed bow, a windshield, back-to-backseats that fold down into a sun lounge, and space to store water skis and life jackets under the sole or main deck. A variation on the runabout is the bow-rider, which has the same hull and aft layout, but with seats replacing the closed bow and a walk-through door in the windshield to allow passage forward. An advantage of the bow-rider is that there’s more seating space—you can carry six or eight passengers, depending on the depth and beam of the boat and your tolerance for close company. The front section of a bow-rider creates a great “kiddie-pen” where you can keep little sailors under your watchful eye with just a bit of separation provided by the windshield. It’s no place for kids once the boat is underway, however—the ride is rough, and they’ll be safer back in the cockpit. Dedicated ski boats are a specialized form of runabout. They’re usually inboard-powered, 18 to 22 feet long, and have fairly flat bottoms so that they plane easily when pulling several skiers. Some feature special fins on the bottom that allow them to turn very sharply, a ski pylon or post near the center to attach the tow rope, and a rear-facing seat so that one passenger can keep an eye on the skier without turning around. Ski boats tend to be fairly expensive for their size, ranging from $20,000 to $50,000.
Performance Boats. Performance boats also share the general configuration of runabouts, but there’s a difference in the engine room. They’re also called “muscle boats” for their powerful engines relative to their weight, and they’re dedicated to white-knuckle speeds. While a runabout might be powered by as little as 70 horses, muscle boats sport engines of 225 to 500 horsepower. Performance boats usually have a deep vee bottom to provide a soft ride at speed, but the aft several feet of the keel may be flattened into a planing pad. (When a boat planes, it lifts near the surface, increasing speed and decreasing drag.) This pad functions like a slalom ski as speed increases, elevating the boat very high in the water and allowing it to reach speeds of 60 mph and higher. It’s not uncommon for performance boats only 20 feet long to wear outboard engines of 250 horses. Those in the 30- to 35-foot range may have twin 500-horsepower stern drives and run close to 100 mph in the hands of a highly skilled driver! Because of the cost of high-powered engines, these boats are also expensive, ranging from $30,000 to well over $250,000.
Personal Watercraft (PWCs). Personal watercraft, also known as PWCs, are the new comers in the boating world, but have rocketed to near the top of the fleet in sales since their introduction in the mid-1980s. They’re also the motorcycles of the boating world, designed for thrills and speed rather than comfort. They offer special appeal to the young and the young at heart who want excitement in their boating. Most PWCs are under 10 feet long. The seats are saddles, just as in a Harley-Davidson, and you steer via handlebars. The power for these boats is via a water-jet instead of the open-bladed propeller found on conventional boats—a safety measure that also makes the craft capable of spectacular end-for-end turns. The power ranges from 40 to 110 horsepower. Given the light weight of these boats, this results in speeds to 70 mph or more with some models. Prices begin at around $5,000 and go to a bit over $10,000. PWCs account for a disproportionate share of boating accidents nationwide. While PWCs are safe if driven carefully, inexperienced drivers pushing them to the limit frequently run into trouble. Use the same care as you would when skippering any watercraft, particularly in crowded waterways, and you can enjoy these sporty little boats safely.
The Runabout. This range includes the ubiquitous runabout, which is what most of us think of when we think of a one-model-fits-all family boat. It has a closed bow, a windshield, back-to-backseats that fold down into a sun lounge, and space to store water skis and life jackets under the sole or main deck. A variation on the runabout is the bow-rider, which has the same hull and aft layout, but with seats replacing the closed bow and a walk-through door in the windshield to allow passage forward. An advantage of the bow-rider is that there’s more seating space—you can carry six or eight passengers, depending on the depth and beam of the boat and your tolerance for close company. The front section of a bow-rider creates a great “kiddie-pen” where you can keep little sailors under your watchful eye with just a bit of separation provided by the windshield. It’s no place for kids once the boat is underway, however—the ride is rough, and they’ll be safer back in the cockpit. Dedicated ski boats are a specialized form of runabout. They’re usually inboard-powered, 18 to 22 feet long, and have fairly flat bottoms so that they plane easily when pulling several skiers. Some feature special fins on the bottom that allow them to turn very sharply, a ski pylon or post near the center to attach the tow rope, and a rear-facing seat so that one passenger can keep an eye on the skier without turning around. Ski boats tend to be fairly expensive for their size, ranging from $20,000 to $50,000.Performance Boats. Performance boats also share the general configuration of runabouts, but there’s a difference in the engine room. They’re also called “muscle boats” for their powerful engines relative to their weight, and they’re dedicated to white-knuckle speeds. While a runabout might be powered by as little as 70 horses, muscle boats sport engines of 225 to 500 horsepower. Performance boats usually have a deep vee bottom to provide a soft ride at speed, but the aft several feet of the keel may be flattened into a planing pad. (When a boat planes, it lifts near the surface, increasing speed and decreasing drag.) This pad functions like a slalom ski as speed increases, elevating the boat very high in the water and allowing it to reach speeds of 60 mph and higher. It’s not uncommon for performance boats only 20 feet long to wear outboard engines of 250 horses. Those in the 30- to 35-foot range may have twin 500-horsepower stern drives and run close to 100 mph in the hands of a highly skilled driver! Because of the cost of high-powered engines, these boats are also expensive, ranging from $30,000 to well over $250,000.Personal Watercraft (PWCs). Personal watercraft, also known as PWCs, are the new comers in the boating world, but have rocketed to near the top of the fleet in sales since their introduction in the mid-1980s. They’re also the motorcycles of the boating world, designed for thrills and speed rather than comfort. They offer special appeal to the young and the young at heart who want excitement in their boating. Most PWCs are under 10 feet long. The seats are saddles, just as in a Harley-Davidson, and you steer via handlebars. The power for these boats is via a water-jet instead of the open-bladed propeller found on conventional boats—a safety measure that also makes the craft capable of spectacular end-for-end turns. The power ranges from 40 to 110 horsepower. Given the light weight of these boats, this results in speeds to 70 mph or more with some models. Prices begin at around $5,000 and go to a bit over $10,000. PWCs account for a disproportionate share of boating accidents nationwide. While PWCs are safe if driven carefully, inexperienced drivers pushing them to the limit frequently run into trouble. Use the same care as you would when skippering any watercraft, particularly in crowded waterways, and you can enjoy these sporty little boats safely.
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