Your Guide to the Different Types of Boats

Did you know that 50% of Americans & Canadians don’t take all of their paid vacation time?

Though millions of vacation days are going unused each year, you don’t have to let your paid time off go to waste.

Owning a boat offers the freedom to get away without the stress of planning. You can take a vacation with endless possibilities when you own a boat. Best of all, you can go anytime you need it.

Vacations don’t have to be meticulously planned. Nor do they have to be two-weeks long. Your boat allows you to take an afternoon to explore nature, or set sail without a destination in mind.

There are many types of boats in Manitoba and other states and provinces available. In this article, we will show you the main types of boats that you can get.

To make it easier to understand, we’ve divided up the types of boats into three categories.

Engine-powered
Sailboats
human-powered boats

Read on for an explanation and the merits of each.

Powerboats

These types of boats are all motorized. Generally, a powerboat has a high power-to-weight ratio and a hull design that allows for higher speed and improved handling.

Also, the shape of the actual boat is usually streamlined. This minimizes air resistance and drag, therefore increasing speed.

Powerboats are used in yachting, waterskiing, and wakeboarding.

Powerboating is increasingly popular. The P1 Superstock is the world’s most popular powerboat race.

There are a wide variety of powerboats for various purposes.

For Fishing

If you want a boat to be able to go fishing, there are many choices.

The most common boats are either fibreglass or aluminum fishing boats.

Pontoon boats have large flat decks that make it easy to fit fishing poles and tackle equipment. These types of boats are excellent choices for families.

The massive decks can come with spacious lounge areas, sun pads, waterslides, and bars. These features are excellent for large parties or long days on the water.

If you are looking to do commercial fishing, there are boats for that as well.

For Overnight Stays

These are geared to those looking to spend time relaxing or entertaining on the water.

Cabin cruiser boats often have such amenities as a galley, bathroom, and a sleeping area. They range from 24-75 feet.

Depending on the size and engine type, cruisers are typically capable of handling choppy waters. Larger, inboard models require more skill to pilot.

Runabout

Lots of boats are called runabouts.

Runabouts are small powerboats somewhere in the 14- 24-foot range. These are usually powered by an outboard or stern-drive engine. They are multipurpose boats suitable for water sports, cruising and fishing.

Crossover Boats

These multi-purpose boats are a good bet for summer fun at your cottage.

Crossovers are more family and creature-comfort oriented than traditional ski boats. They can be ballasted for producing higher wakes for trick skiing and waterboarding. They are also great for pulling inflatable tubes.

Crossover boats are the newest breed of inboard and practically dominate the market. Why? Most people want a boat that can do everything.

Crossovers are more family and creature-comfort oriented than traditional ski boats.

Check out the 2018 Lund Crossover XS 1875 to see more of what they’re all about.

Sailboats

Sailboats, in many ways, are the opposite of powerboats. They harness the power of the wind, rather than an engine, to propel them through the water.

While the smallest sailing vessels rely purely on the wind, most sailboats beyond the 18′ range rely on small engines. These engines are used to move the boat through the water when the wind doesn’t cooperate or when tight confines prevent a sailboat from working with wind direction.

Small sailboats use a centreboard (a board on the bottom to reduce sideways motion). They also use a rudder to maintain a course and steer.

Larger sailboats opt for a fixed keel, though its depth may prevent the boat from accessing shallower waters.

Single-hull boats are the most common. Some catamarans (two hulls) and even trimarans (three hulls) can be found in various sizes.

Sailboats run the gamut in size, from the simplest dinghy to the most prestigious ship.

Sailing is an activity in and of itself. Plotting a course with changing wind speeds and directions is a science. Also, trimming the sails requires constant attention.

On a sailboat, you can cruise, anchor out, or spend the night aboard.

These are examples of sailboats:

Cutters

A cutter is a small or medium-sized watercraft designed for speed rather than for capacity.

Cutters have more than two sails between the mainsail and the headsail.

Traditionally a cutter sailing vessel is a small single-masted boat. The cutter’s mast may be set farther back than on a sloop (see below). Coast guard boats are also referred to as cutters.

Cutters are preferred to sloops when venturing far offshore. That’s because it’s easier to reef small sails as the wind increases while keeping the boat balanced.

Sloops

The simplest and most popular rig today is the sloop.

These types of boats have only two sails: the foresail and the mainsail. Sloops come in all sizes, from 8-foot dinghies to 100-feet long maxi boats.

Sloops tend to perform very well when sailing close-hauled to windward. Sloops offer a sound overall compromise of abilities on all points of sail.

This type of boat is almost always faster than other rigs in boats of comparable size, especially when sailing to windward.

They are chosen for one-design racing fleets and America’s Cup competitions.

One advantage of sloops is that you will have fewer sails to buy and maintain. A disadvantage is that the sails are generally larger and heavier. This means you’ll spend more strength when handling, hoisting, and trimming.

Ketch

A ketch is a common rig for cruising sailboats.

It has two masts: a traditional mainmast as on a sloop, plus a smaller mast in the rear of the boat, called the mizzenmast.

A ketch, therefore, uses three primary sails: the mainsail and headsail, as on a sloop, plus the mizzen sail aft.

The fact of three sails does not necessarily mean that the sail area is larger than on a sloop of the same size, however. The sail area is planned by boat designers based on the boat’s size, weight, and hull shape and configuration – not the number of masts or sails.

This means that the mainsail and headsail of a ketch are generally smaller than on a sloop, but the mizzen sail roughly makes up the difference.

An advantage of a ketch is the smaller sails. They are easier to manage and hoist on a larger boat. The downside is that ketch rigs generally do not sail as fast or as close to the wind as a sloop.

Human-Powered Types of Boats

As the name suggests, man-powered boats get their power from humans. These types of boats are generally the least expensive type we’ve covered in this post.

Overall, they are good for recreation, sports and competition, but not for travelling.

Here are the various kinds of human-powered boats:

Rowboats

Rowboats have been around since early history. Images of Phoenician, Greek and Roman Galleys with hundreds of oars are found on pottery and other artifacts.

Rowboats only have two oars. These oars are held in place at a pivot point attached to the boat.

The boat moves when the oars are pulled across the water. They are stable boats that can hold some weight and remain steady. Rowers typically face the stern of the boat.

Endurance rowing has many enthusiasts. The Route Saint-Pierre is a 350-mile ocean race between Canada and France. Festivals are held in both the starting and ending locations of the race.

Canoes

Thes boats are typically pointed at both ends and open on top. They are propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers. The paddlers use a single-bladed paddle to move through the water. These boats are sometimes referred to as kayaks.

Canoes are widely used for racing, whitewater canoeing, portage camping, and general recreation. The hull shape, length and construction material of a canoe determines what it will be used for.

Pedal Boats

These boats have pedals just like those of a bike. The boat moves through the water when humans pedal. They can be ridden on a lake and can be used for cruising.

These are sometimes called paddle boats.

You can seat 2-4 people in a pedal boat. The two people in the front face forward and pedal the boat. The two in the back face the rear and enjoy the ride.

Buying a Boat

We hope this post has been useful in helping you grasp the various categories of boats on the market.

By taking the time to consider what type of boating you will be doing, you will be able to select the best boat for your needs.

Once you’ve narrowed down the type of boat you want, schedule a test ride.

Buying a boat is an excellent investment for your future. You will have the freedom to take vacations and spend time on the water as often as you want.

At Westshore Marine and Leisure, we know how important and exciting this decision is. We are here to help you every step of the way.

We have a few exclusive financial institutions to help which include but aren’t limited to applying for Yamaha financing or

See you on the water!