Top 4 Best Deck Boats for Value for Money (2022 Reviews)

Deck boats have become increasingly more popular as of recently.

The main reason for this steady increase in deck boat popularity is its profound ability to provide users with an enjoyable social experience whilst boating.

Deck boats are often large enough to accommodate for a family or collection of people. This means that you can now enjoy your water activities such as fishing and water skiing with other people.

Because of deck boats, boating can be enjoyed with your favorite group of people without compromisation of speed– only being limited by the size of your boat and max weight capacity. Hell, there may even be room for your pet!

There are so many great deck boats on the market. Every day, many brands and models of deck boats are introduced. This makes it difficult to distinguish which can be recognized as ‘The Best’. There are many factors which must be taken into consideration, which makes it highly dependent on the end user. A deck boat which may be the best for one person, may not be the best for another.

In this article, I’ll be highlighting the top 4 best desk boats which are available for purchase right now.

What’s a Deck Boat?

A deck boat differentiates itself from the several other types of boats, as the name suggests, with its seriously stretched deck area. This means that deck boats are often capable of accommodating an increased number of people. It also has significantly bloated storage which you will have no problem storing all your equipment into. Deck boats are built very wisely, using every inch of available space without much to waste. Another common feature in deck boats is the fact that they have more buried cockpits.

Deck boats are well-known as boats which can do it all. This includes recreational water sports such as water skiing and water tubing, fishing, and cruising. The term ‘Jack of all trades’ can accurately describe a deck boat. This means that if don’t have a one specific activity which you want to do on your boat, then a deck boat may be a good choice. Otherwise, a more specialized boat which better accommodates for your activity.

The length of the hull on a deck boat can vary vastly depending on the model. Mostly, deck boats will have a hull length of about 20-30 ft. You should ensure that you purchase a deck boat which best suits the types of activities which you’ll be participating in with your boat.

For example, if you plan to participate in water sports such as water skiing, you may want a deck boat on the smaller side. This will provide you with increased maneuverability and speed which will allow you to excel in your sport.

Whereas, if you’ll be fishing or boating then you may want a larger deck boat. This is because you don’t necessarily need your desk boat to be fast. This will allow you to have the most storage and room possible.

A deck boat has a unique type of shape which differentiates it from a wide range of other boats. Whilst most boats have a V-Shaped bow, deck boats tend to have a squared bow which creates more room and allows for a larger capacity of people.

The prices of deck boats, like any other boat – vary vastly. If you’re looking for a new one, you’ll be looking between the $15,000 and $60,000 range. This is just an average; more luxurious deck boats will cost significantly more. You may also be able to find a deck boat for cheaper if you purchase one second hand or from a private seller. Prices will vary depending on the size and model of the boat.

Which Deck Boats Are the Best?

With so many different deck boats on the market, it’s extremely difficult to find the best. Finding the best deck boat can take hours! However lucky for you, you’ve found this article.

Though the question of ‘What is the best deck ‘boat’ is subjective, therefore almost impossible to answer. A boat which is the best for someone, may not be the best for another person. This is because everyone has their own needs and preference.

With so many deck boats available to you, it’s important that you identify which will serve you best for their price. I can provide you with a small list of the best value deck boats. These boats are heavily under-priced and surely worth their price-tag.

The 4 Best Deck Boats

SunDeck Sport SS 188

The SunDeck Sport SS 188 manufactured by Hurricane is a leading model in the deck boat market. This is one of the best bang for your buck deck boats available. Not one cent spent on this outstanding boat could be spent better. There is a lot that can be said about this deck boat however I’ll summarise a few of its great specifications.

The SunDeck SS 188 really is an outstanding luxury deck boat. It is highly customizable with an on-going list of stereo options, perfect for all occasions. Nothing better than listening to your favourite song whilst you sit on the deck of your boat with a nice cold drink alongside all your favourite people. The seating and fish finders can also be customized – Hurricane provide a wide range of different upgrade options for their customers.

The SunDeck Sport SS 188 has a dry weight of 2308 pounds, fuel capacity of 29 gallons and a max seating capacity of 10 people. This is a fairly large seating capacity which should be more than enough for most activities. You can pick up a deck boat like this for around $20,000. That’s amazing value for money! There’s few deals like this on the market so I’d highly recommend that you look at it.

Stingray 212SC

This is an amazing deck boat, perfect for sociable boating and family activities. With a generous max seating capacity of 12, there’s room for plenty for guests. Just as the old saying goes ‘The more, the merrier’. You can never have too many friends around, limiting your guests is like limiting your fun.

The 212SC offers an ample amount of space and storage. You’ll always have room for your equipment. You’ll never have to budget the amount of equipment you can bring on your trips. This is especially important as the more guests you have on board, the more equipment you’ll need to store for everyone.

This is a devil of a speed boat, built for optimised speed and manoeuvrability.  Owners can either opt for a Mercury four-stroke or Yamaha engine. This boat has amazing performance, able to reach speeds of over 50mph in few seconds. This is great for adrenaline junkies and speed demons.

The 212SC deck boat has a fuel capacity of 57 gallons and an average dry weight of 3,100 pounds. You can pick up one of these deck boats for around $40,000. This may seem like a high price however for a boat of this calibre, that’s a great price for such a well manufactured vessel. A deck boat like this should cost a lot more so you’re getting a bargain.

Tahoe 195

This deck boat manufactured by Tahoe deserves a place on the top 3 best deck boats list. This deck boat is known for it’s all around the board satisfactory. Whether you’re planning on fishing on gentle waters or participating in heart racing water sports, the Tahoe 195 will serve you exceptionally well.

This boat just like the others on this list comes with a wide range of different customization opportunities. With many sound packages, depending on your tastes and preferences you can decide on the quality of your music. There are also many fishing options such as trolling motors and water sports options such as a wakeboard tower.

This is a spacious deck boat with a maximum seating capacity of 8 people. This is plenty of space for all your favorite people. The cockpit consists of very comfortable seating in a room layout. The bow seating is just as great with the standard storage underneath.

The Tahoe 195 truly is a beast in the water, with a 220 horsepower V6 MerCruiser motor, capable of speeds up to 50 mph. This deck boat is perfect for those speed demons who love nothing more but to leave nothing but a hail of water behind as they zoom across water.

The Tahoe 195 has a fuel capacity of 36 gallons, an average dry weight of 3005 pounds, and a max seating capacity of 8 people. You can pick up one of these deck boats for around $33,000. This is amazing value for money. It’s without doubt, one of the best boats for it’s price tag. You’ll have to do a lot of digging to find anything which comes close to this level of ‘bang for your buck’.

NauticStar 223 DC

Don’t let the price shy you away from this boat. There’s many reasons why this boat has such a high price tag. This boat has many great features which all contribute to a great boat such as fiberglass flooring which makes cleaning up easy. Beautiful LED lighting. Panoramic walk-through windshield and much more.

The NauticStar 223 DC is notoriously known for having one of the most family friendly cockpits. With flip-down aft seats, passengers don’t have to climb over lounge cushions when boarding. This contributes to the safety and convenience of this deck boat.

This boat by far has the largest fuel capacity – being 66 gallons. This is great as it allows for an abundance of duel to be stored. This means that you’ll always have more than enough gas no matter what gas burning activity you’re participating in. This will provide you with ultimate peace of mind whilst boating.

This boat has many great features which all contribute to a great boat. With a fiberglass floor, cleaning up is made easy. Beautiful LED lighting. Panoramic walk-through windshield.

The NauticStar 223 DC has a fuel capacity of 66 gallons, an average dry weight of 2873 pounds and a max seating capacity of 10 people. You can pick up one of these deck boats for around $50,000. Though pricey, it’s worth it. In-fact, I’d personally estimate such a boat to cost around the $55,000 mark.

Considerations When Buying A Deck Boat

A deck boat is a big investment. You want to make sure you spend your money wisely and buy the right one. Here is our guide to buying a deck boat.

Step 1 – Choose Your Budget

If you simply cannot afford to spend $20,000, then don’t buy a deck boat! The bottom line is that you need to determine how much cash you’ll have to invest. Some people can easily finance a purchase with their credit cards, while others need to take a loan. You should figure out how much money you would be comfortable investing and stick to your budget. Check out our guide on the cost of owning a boat for more information on what you can expect to pay. You also have to mindful of the costs of maintaining that boat and the licenses you’ll require to use it legally.

Step 2 – Consider Your Needs

Do you need room for a couple of guests? Or, do you just want a relaxing oasis for yourself and your family? Make sure you consider your needs. For example, if you are looking for a quiet retreat when you’re alone, then you might not need space for passengers. But if you regularly entertain large groups, then you might need a larger boat.

Step 3 – New or Used

Next, you need to decide whether you want to purchase a new or used deck boat.

Now when we’re talking about something be ‘used’ that often pertains negative connotations however that shouldn’t be the case. Buying a used boat is completely fine, used just means that it was previously owned by someone else, now whether that’s a bad thing or not depends on who previously owned it.

Buying a used boat can be an amazing opportunity to grab a bargain. But you do have to be diligent with what you buy and who you buy from. There’s a lot of junk on the market, but there’s also a few gems waiting to be picked up.

If you don’t have the time to do your research and you have the budget for it, buying a new deck boat is a good idea. You’ll get a completely brand new boat, with all the perks that come with buying new such as warranty, so if anything goes wrong then you can send that straight back for repairs.

Conclusion

Finding the ‘Best Deck Boat’ is not an easy question to find an answer for as everybody has their own preferences and tastes. Therefore, it’s easier to provide a list of the best valued deck boats. These are boats which provide you with the best features and specifications for the price you’re paying.

I’d highly recommend that you do some shopping around before you decide to buy a deck boat. You don’t want to purchase a boat only to find a better deal the following week.

If you have any questions or anything you want me to comment on – feel free to leave a comment below.