Do I want a Motorboat?
Do I want a Motorboat?
Do I want a Motorboat? The simple answer to this blog is YES! This article will discuss a few different options available to the prospective motorboat buyer. Wanting a motorboat and actually buying a boat are 2 completely different things though, there are quite a few choices out there and before you can start you need to consider which boat is going to be best suited to your needs.
What sort of Motorboat do I need?
Like cars, there are enough boats on the market to suit everybody’s needs. However, what is the difference between boats?
We will look at Rib boats, Motorboats, speed boats, and cabin cruisers. We’ll go over some of the key selling points
Rib Boats (Ribs)
A rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) or rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) is a lightweight but high-performance and high-capacity boat. Constructed with a solid, shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The design is stable and seaworthy. The inflatable collar allows the vessel to maintain buoyancy if a large quantity of water is shipped aboard due to bad sea conditions. The RIB is a development of the inflatable boat.
Uses include work boats (supporting shore facilities or larger ships) in trades that operate on the water. Military craft, where they are used in patrol roles and to transport troops between vessels or ashore, and lifeboats.
These are usually the cheaper of the motorboat choices but are great fun. Ribs come in a variety of shapes and sizes from small 3.6M boats for pootling around lakes and the cost to 7m RIBs with 200hp engines perfect for Waterskiing, Wakeboarding and tubing.
Motorboats / Speedboats
A motorboat, speedboat, or powerboat is a boat which is powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gearbox and the propeller in one portable unit.
An inboard-outboard contains a hybrid of a power plant and an outboard, where the internal combustion engine is installed inside the boat, and the gearbox and propeller are outside.
There are two configurations of an inboard. V-drive and direct drive. A direct drive has the powerplant mounted near the middle of the boat with the propeller shaft straight out the back. Whereas a V-drive has the powerplant mounted in the back of the boat facing backwards having the shaft go towards the front of the boat then making a V towards the rear. The V-drive has become increasingly popular due to wakeboarding and wake surfing.
Motorboats vary greatly in size and configuration. From the four-meter, open centre console type to the luxury mega-yachts capable of crossing an ocean.
Cabin Cruiser
A cabin cruiser is a type of powerboat that provides accommodation for its crew and passengers inside the structure of the craft.
A cabin cruiser usually ranges in size from 7.6 to 13.7 m (25 to 45 ft) in length. With larger pleasure craft usually considered yachts. Many cabin cruisers can be recovered and towed with a trailer and thus easily stored on land, which reduces maintenance and expense. These crafts are generally equipped with a head (toilet), a galley (Kitchen), and at least one berth (bedroom). Most cabin cruisers usually have a small dining area and some have an aft cabin (a cabin to the rear of the cockpit, with a double bed). Cabin cruisers are equipped with heating, air conditioning, and power generators. Most also have water heaters and shore power electric systems.
The cabin cruiser provides many of the amenities of larger yachts while costing much less and normally being fully operable by the owner. Whereas larger yachts often require a professional crew.
Most newer cabin cruisers are faster than older models because of improved aerodynamic and hydrodynamic designs. Cabin cruisers are generally able to handle the water well because of their size and give a stable ride. Generally spacious in the cockpit (open seating area towards at aft or centre). Today, these boats are more commonly found on the navigable rivers rather than canals.
Which motorboat should I go for?
Well, this is a hard question because the type of boat you want is down to your needs. However, if you don’t want to do any water sports then you could have a day tripper cabin boat.
If you want a boat which allows you to do watersports you want a rib or a speedboat which has a decent sized engine. The other thing with doing watersports on a Rib or speedboat is that you want a high tow point to make waterskiing/wakeboarding easier. With a motorboat, getting a higher tow point is easy as all you need is a wakeboard tower.
With a RIB you would need either a towing Aframe or a Ski Pylon. If you need any more help deciding which boat would be best for your needs, please get in contact with us.
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