Budget boat choices
What floats your boat?
Buying considerations
There are many factors to consider when you start looking for a budget boat:-
- Do you want a speedboat, day boat, RIB, walkaround…?
- Outboard or inboard engine?
- What type of hull profile?
- How many passengers do you need to accommodate?
- Where will you store it and launch it?
- Will it be left unattended on the water?
Some of these topics are quite involved and are covered in separate posts:-
The hull truth
Hull shape is important as this can have a big effect on comfort and handling.
My boat (top image) has an older style V-profile with pronounced chines. This looks sleek and makes for exciting cornering but results in a hard ride - the concave shape is less effective at pushing water out of the way. Contrast this with a more modern “deep V” hull with a convex profile (bottom image). This pushes water out of the way making for softer landings.
Wet Wet Wet
Older speedboats like mine may have a carpeted interior. This looks nice but isn’t particularly practical as you need to keep it dry.
If you are leaving a boat unattended on the water it really must be self-bailing otherwise it could fill with rainwater. Self-bailing cockpits drain water from the interior out the side of the boat. RIBs are prone to taking on water and tend to have automatic float-operated pumps to discharge it out through the transom.
Style council
When it comes to shape and style of boat this is very much down to personal preference.
RIBs have a lot of fans - they are practically unsinkable and certainly more durable than a boat with a full fibreglass hull. However you sit (or stand) quite high up in a RIB so make sure you are happy with feeling this exposed.
I bought a speedboat as I wanted to sit in the boat rather than on it, and I liked the retro style. As it’s a bowrider there’s space for two passengers in the bow - the kids love it.
Walkarounds are also common - and very practical. As the name implies, you have good access to all areas of the deck
