5 Most Popular Recreational Boat Types (With Examples)

Boats are fun for lots of reasons. A day off on the waters, fishing, or relaxing sounds pretty good after a long week or month. There’s plenty you can do, or not do, onboard your cabin cruiser or pontoon, and you can have a get-together with your friends or have some alone time with yourself.

We’ve come a long way since boats had a simple design and served only practical purposes like transportation, fishing, etc. Today, thanks to the advancement in boat design, you have several boat types ideal for different purposes, including recreational boats for a weekend off, or a month-off, or months-off, for example, on a Cruise Ship, enjoying the comfort and amenities onboard.

So, with so many great boats in various configurations to choose from, making a decision can be difficult, especially if you’re new to boating. You should find out about the different popular boat types, their use, and their specifics ( various models, varying specifications).

Here, we’ll look at some of the most popular recreational boat types (in no order) and features that make them unique. We’ll also try to list a few examples for each category. If you’re interested, you can look these options up. So, without further ado, let’s begin!

1.) Inflatable Boats

Inflatable boats are easy to transport as they’re lightweight compared to traditional wood and metal boats. They’re easy to inflate, deflate, and maintain, and along with the ease of use and storage, these are comfortable and provide a great overall experience to the users. You may not get the luxury of a mahogany wooden sailboat, but you’ll have fun doing whatever you want on an inflatable.

Inflatable boats also come in different types, depending on what they’re ideal for, and they are-

a.) Soft Inflatable Boats (SIB)

Soft Inflatable Boats or SIB lack the solid hull that RIBs have and are lighter in weight and easy to inflate and deflate, with a removable slatted floor. Here’s more about this type of Inflatables –

SIB’s usually have a low draft and are ideal across shallow waters and beaching in places with no landing facilities.
There are some SIB with rigid transom that can support an outboard engine. These also have an inflatable keel creating a slight V-bottom along the hull line to improve seakeeping and directional stability.
Available in a variety of floor choices, you can select between Roll up slat floor, Hard floor made of fiberglass, aluminum, or wood panels, Ribbed air floor (on inflatable rafts), High-pressure air floor, etc.

There are several options for you to choose from in SIB type-

Inflatable Raft

Inflatable rafts are soft, lightweight, and ideal for recreational activities such as fishing, beaching, etc. These can seat multiple people depending on the model.
These are available in all price ranges and, as the price rises, features such as multiple air chambers, grab ropes and handles, safety valves, oarlocks, fishing rod holders, motor mounts, and so on.

Top Inflatable Raft Models

INTEX EXPLORER 300
BESTWAY COOLERZ TROPICAL BREEZE
INTEX 58837EP RIVER RUN 2 SPORT LOUNGE

2. Inflatable kayak

Inflatable kayaks are popular due to their lightweight design, as compared to other types of kayaks.
Usually, these are slower than hardshell kayaks, but advanced models (made with material like Hypalon) give a much better performance.
These are ideal for several activities such as fishing, river running, river voyages, etc., and usually carry 1-2 people.

See also: 4 Best Inflatable Kayaks

Top Inflatable kayak Models

Intex Explorer K2 Inflatable Kayak
Intex Challenger Inflatable Kayak Series
Intex Excursion Pro Inflatable Kayak

3. Inflatable Pontoon Boats

Inflatable pontoon boats are recreational boats usually used for boating, fishing, etc.
These consist of abrasion-resistant PVC and nylon with aluminum, steel, and plastic frames for support.
These can be powered with paddles, oars, and often with electric trolling motors that use deep cycle lead batteries.
These usually have oarlocks, storage for fishing equipment, etc., and may support a platform, creating a raft.
Pontoons may support a platform, creating a raft. A raft supporting a house-like structure is a houseboat.

Top Inflatable Pontoon Boat Models

Outcast Fish Cat 9-IR Inflatable Pontoon
Classic Accessories Roanoke Inflatable Pontoon Boat

b.) Rigid inflatable boat (RIB)

A development of inflatable boats, a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) has a hard floor, and solid hull. These are heavier than Soft Inflatable Boats (SIB) and are more heavy-duty.

These are lightweight, high-performance, and high-capacity boats constructed with a rigid hull bottom joined to side-forming air tubes.
The exterior design of these boats allows for a comfortable ride, even in rough conditions. The inflated collar ensures that the vessel retains its buoyancy, even when taking water.
The side-forming air tubes are inflated with air to high pressure to give the sides resilient rigidity along the boat’s topsides.
The hull in RIBs can support a more powerful transom-mounted outboard engine or an inboard engine.
The maximum speed of the RIB depends on its gross weight, power, length and profile of hull, and sea conditions.

Top Rigid Inflatable Boat Models

Highfield OceanMaster 500
Skipper 10
Nautica CAT 24

2.) Trawlers

Trawlers, or more specifically, recreational Trawlers (as compared to Fishing Trawlers, or Naval Trawlers), are stylish and often sought after recreational boats. Also called a Trawler Yacht, or Cruising Trawler, here are some of the major distinguishing features of this recreational boat type –

Recreational Trawlers usually have a semi-displacement hull compared to Fishing Trawlers, which have a displacement hull.
In the newer models that feature the displacement hull, the fuel consumption is low (along with its speed), and these boats can go as fast as 7–9 knots (13–17 km/h), based on boat length.
These boats are usually 35 to 60 feet (11 to 18 m) or more in length. There’s only one engine in most boats but some manufacturers do offer twin-engine settings.
These boats are ideal for long, comfortable journeys, and with large fuel tanks, these can travel long distances without refueling. The Fuel range on smaller models is usually 1,500–3,000 miles on smaller vessels, and in models more than 45 ft (14 m) in length, it is even greater.
It can provide a comfortable living space for two to eight people, depending on the model.
These boats come with many stylish features such as raised pilothouse, offset deckhouse, Portuguese bridge, etc.

Top Recreational Trawler Models

Nordic Tugs 54 Trawler
Swift Trawler 50
Kadey-Krogen 50 Open

2.) Runabouts

Runabout is a small motorboat, about 20′ to 35′ in length, famous for pleasure activities like boating, fishing, water skiing, etc. Runabout boats come in many types, some significant ones being bow rider, center console, cuddy boat and walkaround. These date back to the 1920s and were initially small, fast, powerful, varnished, wooden boats.

Here are some of the distinguishing features of a Runabout, as of now-

Since the 1960s, wooden power boats have become rare, although some companies like J-craft. Boesch, Hacker Boat Company, Graf, etc., continue to manufacture wooden Runabouts. Most of the newer models use lightweight materials such as fiberglass, fiber-reinforced plastic materials, etc., for reducing weight and maximizing speed.
Runabouts use inboard engines, outboards, jet drives, or inboard-outboard (I/O) drives for power. Engines used in the Runabouts can be Gasoline or Diesel systems.
These aren’t ideal for big seas or heavy weather and have a lightweight design and limited fuel capacity.
These boats can accommodate accessories such as Stereo, Bimini tops, etc., or you can customize or buy a model that already offers those options.

Top Runabout Boat models

Yamaha SX210
BRYANT 210
CHAPARRAL 21 H2O OB SPORT
Bayliner VR6

3.) Speed Boats

A SpeedBoat, also known as Power Boat, or Motor Boat, is a boat powered by an engine, compared to wind-driven Sail Boats. Speed boats are ideal for recreation, racing, fishing, water sports, etc., and also have Military applications.

Here are some of the distinguishing features of Speed Boats –

The Speed Boats may have an inboard engine, which comes in two configurations; V-Drive, and Direct Drive. In a V-Drive, the houseplant goes in the rear of the ship facing backward, causing the shaft to go towards the front and then making a V towards the back. In a Direct Drive, the Powerplant goes at the center of the boat and the propeller shaft goes directly back.
Speed Boats may also have an Outboard motor installed on the rear, encompassing the internal combustion engine, the propeller, and the GearBox.
The hybrid of an inboard outboard is Inboard-Outboard, in which the internal combustion engine goes inside the ship, and the gearbox and the propeller are outside.
These boats may range anywhere from 25-60 feet (or more) in length and are ideal for 2-6 people.
Hull used in the boat depends upon the water body it is being used in and for what. Various hull types include vee-bottom hulls, modified vee-bottom hulls, deep-vee hulls, and trim tabs for displacement hulls.
With hull technology and a powerful engine, high-performance speed boats go up to high speeds (50 knots and more), Eg., Yachts, HSIC, Racing Boats, etc.

Top Speed Boat models-

Baja 36 Outlaw
Chaparral 300 OSX
Bayliner VR6 Bowrider
Nor-Tech 452 Superfish

4.) Yachts

A modern yacht is a powerboat with an aesthetic design, its primary purpose being leisure and sport. But it wasn’t always so.

The name originated from the Dutch word Jacht, which means Hunt, and was given to the light, fast sailing boats that the Dutch Republic navy used to pursue and capture any transgressors such as pirates. Since then, the name has changed in what it represents.

Here’s more about these boats –

A private pleasure vessel is usually 33 feet (10 meters) in length, whereas a commercial Yacht may be 79 feet (24 meters) or more. Any yacht that’s bigger than 131 feet (40 meters) may be called a megayacht.
Personal yachts are solely for the owner’s pleasure, while commercial models may carry up to (but not more than) 12 passengers.
All of the yachts initially used only wood and later, with the steam yachts, were supplanted with metals like iron or steel. Since the 1960s, fiberglass has been in use (along with others) as a material for construction, along with steel, aluminum, or composite fiber-reinforced plastic for larger yachts.
Systems on board a yacht are mainly Electric power, Water, Sanitation, and Refrigeration. Communication, Instrumentation, and Navigation systems are also there in contemporary yachts to give the owners ease of control and convenience.
Sailing yachts are ideal for comfort and designed to emphasize that, whereas motor yachts (classified into Cruising and Racing yachts) emphasize performance.

Top Yacht Models –

ASPEN ALTERNATIVE
LADY SURA
SILVER LINING
Sea Ray SLX 350

5.) Cabin Cruiser

Cabin Cruiser is a powerboat designed with accommodations for its passengers, offering many of the amenities of larger yachts. Unlike bigger models, Cabin Cruisers don’t require a big crew for operation and maintenance. These are ideal for overnight cruising and provide an enjoyable outing on the waters.

Here’s more about Cabin Cruisers –

Usually, a Cabin cruiser may range anywhere from 7.6 to 13.7 m (25 to 45 ft) in length. When the dimensions exceed a limit, they’re considered yachts. These vessels are somewhere in the middle of sports boats and full yachts categories.
Most Cabin Cruisers are easy to tow and store on land, and hence, the maintenance and expenses are less for the owners. Like a big pontoon, these come with a cockpit area and a flat deck for seating people.
Most cabin cruisers have a dining area (usually small), a head( a toilet), a galley, and at least one berth. Some cruisers have an aft cabin at the rear of the cockpit, and these cruisers may (or may not) have Heating, Air Conditioning, and Power Generators. Most Cabin cruisers have Water Heaters and Shore Power Electric Systems.
With recent advancements, the newer cabin Cruisers are much faster than older models because of improvedaerodynamic and hydrodynamic designs.

Top Cabin Cruiser Models –

Chris-Craft 34 Corsair
Four Winns Vista 255 OB
The Grand Banks Eastbay 44
270 Express Cruiser

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