deckboats

[soxfan]

can anyone tell me if there is a big difference in the ride of a deck boat compared to bow rider

[KBoater]

Depending on the maker there is a major diffferent in ride in the broads.
A deck boat has a flatter hull and can be rough in seas.
A bow rider has a V hull and can cut through the waves better.

[jrc]

Some deckboats are just bowriders with wider bows, they were called deckboats to catch the deckboat fad a few years back. The Searay sundeck comes to mind.

Originally deckboats were like fiberglass version of a pontoon boat. Those would ride rough in any chop and probably be a poor choice for Winnipesaukee.

You really can't trust that name deckboat, ask about specific boat models.

[fpartri497]

can anyone tell me if there is a big difference in the ride of a deck boat compared to bow rider

I have owned both, and I will attest that the bow rider gives you a better ride In rough water.

:D

[upthesaukee]

In cool weather, a deck boat can be more difficult to shelter passengers from the breeze caused when underway than it would be with a bowrider. Top and side curtains are easy to put up and secure.

[SIKSUKR]

Most of the deckboats I've seen are flat bottom and not a good choice for the big lake unless you plan on staying in sheltered coves.

[soxfan]

The boat is a fourwinns 24'

[jrc]

You might checkout the forum at www.ifourwinns.com it's not run by the factory and the opinions tend to be honest, of course they do favor that brand.

[laddheath]

This past fall I looked really hard at upgrading my 20 ft glastron. I really liked the layout of the deckboats since I have a kids and we often entertain guests. I almost purchased a Four Winns F244. I had talked to a couple of owners of the F244 at my marina and they all seamed happy with there boats. In the end I purchased a Chapparral Sunest 244 because of its deep hull and 20 degree dedrise. My thought being this boat wouls handle well on the big lake. One person with a lot of experience told me 2 good brands of deckboats for lake winni are chaps and searays. I bought my boat at Fays and they were great to work with. I hope this helps.

[Rusty]

This past fall I looked really hard at upgrading my 20 ft glastron. I really liked the layout of the deckboats since I have a kids and we often entertain guests. I almost purchased a Four Winns F244. I had talked to a couple of owners of the F244 at my marina and they all seamed happy with there boats. In the end I purchased a Chapparral Sunest 244 because of its deep hull and 20 degree dedrise. My thought being this boat wouls handle well on the big lake. One person with a lot of experience told me 2 good brands of deckboats for lake winni are chaps and searays. I bought my boat at Fays and they were great to work with. I hope this helps.

You made a good decision by purchasing your boat at Fay's Boat Yard, IMHO they are number one in the Lakes Region.

[Rattlesnake Guy]

We have a four winns 214 deck boat. (Funship)

Pros:
When the kids were little they loved to ride up front.
Now the kids love to ride up front with the girl friends (same side)
If you get a door it is a great way to control the temperature in the back.
Easy for people to step off the dock and into the boat in front.
Holds a lot of crap when we load up. (Like the back of a pickup for us)
95% of the time the broader hull is not a problem with the rough water.

Cons:
5% of the time it can make the rough days hard hitting.
Some of the time when rough, I find it really tough to leave people up front due to splash and hard ride.
Sometimes the kids did not find it cool enough. (I encouraged them to buy whatever they would like and I would be happy to ride in their boat)
I don't like doing the proper 45 degrees into the wind because the splash and lift from the front corners can be a bummer.
Did I mention that it is hard hitting going into the wind on rough days?

Bottom line: We are on the Broads and I will always own a deck boat. The pure hauling capacity for people and stuff is a big plus for us. If I had to go 5 miles up the broads on rough days I might have a different opinion. I would not buy one without a door and full window as the ability to control the wind and spray is critical to my marriage. :D

[soxfan]

Rattlesnake guy, thanks for the input this is our first boat and Im sure the kids will love it 95% of the time

[Rattlesnake Gal]

The above boat is actually considered a 24' boat, but actually it is a 21' boat with a 3' swim platform. The swim platform size is great for lots of reasons.

When it is a rough trip, I always sit on the back seat - it is not so hard hitting there.

The kids love the bow fill in for fireworks and sunbathing.

Having a boat with a such a roomy head is great. :laugh:

Our oldest son has the most issue with it not being a very cool boat. As you can see, he solves that by putting down the bimini.

Our Four Winns has been pretty good in the wind and weather because of the door and glass. We also purchased the full vinyl, which is very much appreciated in October.

This boat is nice because it can handle a lot of people.

Good luck soxfan!

[fpartri497]

I have owned both, and I will attest that the bow rider gives you a better ride In rough water.

:D

I have since moved up to a four winns 258 Vista cruiser for the comforts of home. Luv this boat. Its my second home

:D

[meredith weekender]

We used to have a 214 funship. While it was a great boat, it was always a rough ride out of Meredith Bay, thru the broads or into the weirs. We switched back to a bow rider and upgraded to a 27 foot boat. The deck boat was fun when the kids were small and we were in a sheltered area of Moultonborough.

[VtSteve]

Take out a new Hurricane Sundeck 2400 and do it in rough water.

[robmac]

The best thing I can add is try it before you buy it. Finding out it doesn't suit your needs afterwards makes for a real bad experience.

[DBreskin]

If you're concerned about the ride, don't pay any attention to whether a boat is called a bowrider or a deckboat. The critical factor in determining ride comfort is deadrise.

Deadrise is the angle of the bottom of the hull from horizontal at the transom. There's a good description of deadrise at http://www.tropicalboating.com/powerboating/deadrise-hull-angle.html. In plain terms deadrise determines the ability of a hull to cut through a wave rather than bouncing off the top of it.

More deadrise (generally above 20 degrees) will give a more comfortable ride, especially in rough water, but require more power to attain a given speed.
Less deadrise (below 20 degrees) will give a rougher ride but requires less power (and speed) to get on plane. Low deadrise boats (18 degrees or less) also may have shallower draft which helps to avoid contact with underwater obstructions; Lake Winnipesaukee has a few of these.

Every boat manufacturer lists deadrise in their specifications.