Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

[hibbert6]

After reading many posts here, it seems that a deck boat would be a good choice for me. However, they are few and far between here in California. LOTS of bowriders, wakeboard boats and competition ski boats, but few pontoon boats and almost never a deck boat for sale. Anyone know why this might be?

Dave

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

After reading many posts here, it seems that a deck boat would be a good choice for me. However, they are few and far between here in California. LOTS of bowriders, wakeboard boats and competition ski boats, but few pontoon boats and almost never a deck boat for sale. Anyone know why this might be?

Dave

Most guys that buy deck boats really do like them a lot, And do not want to sell them untill it gets old and run down in a lot of cases. The dealers do sale a lot of new deck boats all the time, But your right they are sometimes varry hard to find good used ones.Good luck on your search. What part of CA are looking in?

 

[SoTexGuero]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

It could be the intermittent shallow waters of Colorado River. Most of my friends in SoCal have jets and able to venture into some cool coves and other areas deeper hulls can't go.

 

[QC]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

Funny, but I think it is because the hulls are not deep enough. Most guys running anything over 22 ft. here are boating on the big Lakes (Mead, Mohave and Havasu) or the Ocean. 16 degree bottoms suck on that type of water, and I recommend 20 degrees for anybody that asks . . .

With that said, I see a lot of them for sale on Craig's list out here. Two neighbors have them and there are Toons all over the Colorado.

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

Ahhh. I'm beginning to understand. I'm in northern CA, boating in smaller lakes and the delta. 22' is a large boat on these lakes, (except maybe Tahoe) most are 18-21' , but you'd think on the Sacramento River Delta system a deck boat would be perfect.

Any idea why they don't make deck boats in the 18-20' sizes?

Dave

 

[Eddie P]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

When you say Deck Boat, do you mean Pontoon with a deck? Sport Deck, with a semi-deep V hull and an open bow?

We boat in Tahoe almost exclusively. We have a Stingray 220DS, a semi deep V hull bow rider, or "Sport Deck" as some call it. The 220 is 22.5 feet long, placarded to hold 11 people but we are very comfortable with two families of four for 8 total, four being kids. A Sport Deck has a lot of room with great seating and often enclosed lavs and sinks/showers/etc. The downside is the big topside usually results in only a semi-deep vee; I think ours is at 16 degrees. So 16 degrees compared to 20 starts to make a difference in the ride as you can imagine when the waves start to get big. But the freeboard is three feet on the 220DS! So while we aren't cutting the waves with a scalpel, we certainly aren't taking on water over the sides or front if we ever get caught out in the bigger stuff (and I avoid that but have found myself in pretty sporty conditions too). I've seen several deep V designs have issues with taking on water in the bigger chop because they don't have the freeboard to deal with the waves. Tahoe can get big for a lake, lots of chop and big rollers on the east side on the typically southwesterly winds in the afternoon. To be honest nobody has any business out on the lake when it gets big in anything under a 28 foot++ cruiser, but the 220DS does pretty well at Tahoe among the fellow deep V Cobalts, Searays, Four Winns, etc in a typical day. For the size we like up top, we'd have to have more than a 26 footer in a typical hull design. That's too much boat for what I want to deal with and pay for right now. The compromises on the semi deep V hull for me, IMHO, are worth it for the deck layout and functionality. Results vary, mileage may vary, just one man's opinion.

Any idea why they don't make deck boats in the 18-20' sizes?

Dave

I think they make 20 footers. The advantages of a deck design start to diminish the smaller you get. All the sudden it doesn't feel like a deck layout because it's too small to get around among people when you have to crawl and climb over things and people maybe?

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

Ahhh. I'm beginning to understand. I'm in northern CA, boating in smaller lakes and the delta. 22' is a large boat on these lakes, (except maybe Tahoe) most are 18-21' , but you'd think on the Sacramento River Delta system a deck boat would be perfect.

Any idea why they don't make deck boats in the 18-20' sizes?

Dave

If you are looking for around a 18-21ft fiberglass type deck boat that works and runs good in most cases then you might want to check out a boat style kind of like this hurricane or something like this made by other manufacturer's as well, This link is only an exampel.http://www.godfreymarine.com/

 

[mike343]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

Well, I'm in California and have a 21 1/2 Glastron deckboat (DX 235) and use it in all the places listed above. Very dry ride.

 

[QC]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

I am sure she is dry, but the reason she pounds sometimes is the 15 degree bottom, but that also makes her faster and more stable at rest. Nice ride!!

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

If you are looking for around a 18-21ft fiberglass type deck boat that works and runs good in most cases then you might want to check out a boat style kind of like this hurricane or something like this made by other manufacturer's as well, This link is only an exampel.http://www.godfreymarine.com/

Thanks, Boat Teck. That Hurricane is pretty, but what's the purpose of the 2' of fiberglass at the bow? Seems like wasted space to me.

And I just don't see many of this type of boat in NorCal. Especially not for sale used (probably for reasons other posters have mentioned).

Do these boats ride better than an old Tri Hull? The trihull can pound you to death in moderate wake, but creates a huge, rectangular interior. Is the deck boat a design update to the old trihulls?

Dave

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

I own a LARSON 204 Escape. It measures 20'-1"

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

Thanks, Boat Teck. That Hurricane is pretty, but what's the purpose of the 2' of fiberglass at the bow? Seems like wasted space to me.

And I just don't see many of this type of boat in NorCal. Especially not for sale used (probably for reasons other posters have mentioned).

Do these boats ride better than an old Tri Hull? The trihull can pound you to death in moderate wake, but creates a huge, rectangular interior. Is the deck boat a design update to the old trihulls?

Dave

No not really a lot of guys love the plat form you feel a lot safer out their when needed to do things or just playing in the water more room for every one to walk or jump to a dock things like that and their is a anchor door their also. Those style boats are V bottoms and ride varry smoth and stable and fast. That is what deck boats are now a days mostly with lots or room in side, That is what the builders are going after to get more people on a friends boat in hopes some one eles will want to get a boat of their own some day.

 

[Eddie P]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

Do these boats ride better than an old Tri Hull? The trihull can pound you to death in moderate wake, but creates a huge, rectangular interior. Is the deck boat a design update to the old trihulls?

Dave

It depends on the water condition and the driver technique of course as to what sort of ride you will feel. It takes many days on water in each to really know for certain. But based on my experience with each, it seems the "Sport Deck" layout in a modern semi-deep V hull rides much better in a variety of conditions than a wide tri-hull, the performance is clearly better IMHO, and the looks are dependent on your tastes but they are a hands down winner for me with the sport deck, no questions.

However you will still feel more pounding in a shallower V hull than a heavy deep V hull boat (cruiser, some others). For one you are likely to move faster with more ease in a Sport Deck, the hull is efficient and fast, where as in a deep V it takes a lot of power to get moving - and in a tri hull, they aren't typically equipped with a lot of HP compared to many Sport Decks these days and aren't built for sport handling and speeds. I tend to back off on the throttle and cruise at about 25 mph, in big chop. It saves lots of gas and the ride is very nice compared to 35 or higher in that big chop. In smaller chop it's as wide open as you like to spend and butter smooth. The modern sport deck configuration is really the best compromise of many worlds - not necessarily the best of any one single thing, except for versatility, where it is superior. However, where I boat, the conditions change all day long and the sport deck layout works very well, all day long; no worries on my passenger load (within limits!) and my goals (tubing, wake boarding, beach combing, cruising or restaurant hopping).

 

[sharps45]

Re: Why no Deck Boats in Calif?

I think it's mostly a geographical thing. They've been more popular in the south and east, and are just now making their way west. I live in Utah, and when I got mine four years ago, I had to drive to Colo for it. Now you can find them here. But the new ones are way pricey, and you might have to travel a bit (like Ariz) to find a good used one. But beware, make sure you get the right gearing for the elevation you'll be at.