New and Used Bay Boats for Sale

Bay boats are small, practical, and fun fishing or family boats with flattish bottoms designed for the shallow fishing grounds around bays and inland waters. New and used bay boats are packed with features such as livewells and casting decks. Search for bay boats for sale on Rightboat by using the filters to select age, size, specific features and more.

Main characteristics

Bay boats are characterized by their shallow draft and wide, mostly flat bottoms. This allows them to access the shallow waters found in coastal bays, marshes, and estuaries with ease. They differ from other types of small, flat-bottomed fishing boat by their slightly V-shaped hull, which allows them to cross bays in good conditions making them more versatile than bass boats or Jon boats.

Bay boats are often between 18 to 26 feet long and can be made from fiberglass but more commonly from aluminum. They include features such as fore- and aft-casting decks, a center console, livewells, and lots of storage. They also make fun family boats thanks to their space and ease of handling.

Types of bay boat

Center console boats

There is a distinct similarity and cross-over between small center console bay boats, bass boats, skiffs, and Jon boats. But the bay boat differs in its versatility, and it’s also more robust and able to tackle heavier bay conditions. Center console models allow for walkaround fishing capabilities and ease of maneuverability.

Aluminum boats

Aluminum is a popular construction material for bay boats for several reasons; it’s lightweight and therefore makes boats easy to trailer, it’s inexpensive compared to fiberglass, and if it inevitably gets dented in shallow waters it’s easily repairable. Fiberglass bay boats are also common as their extra weight allows for better handling across the bigger waters in bays.

Hybrid boats

The hybrid bay boat can tackle both inshore and offshore fishing, and as such tends to be bigger than the traditional bay boat. In order to withstand choppier seas, these vessels are often 26 to 30 feet long, and while they still have a distinctly shallower draft than normal V-hull offshore fishing and sports boats, the hull is less flat than other bay boats. Hybrid boats tend to be designed with less elevated decking areas, which makes them better for blue water fishing, and they will be equipped with more powerful engines.

Family bay boats

Bay boats are primarily designed for fishing but manufacturers are producing models that focus on other activities too. Those aimed at family days on the water will have an emphasis on more seating, as well as features such as stereos, heads, showers, and watersports accessories such as tow bits.

Best bay boat brands

Many of the industry’s top small fishing boat brands such as Grady-White, Boston Whaler, and Scout offer bay boats whose characteristics, as we’ve seen above, are conducive to shallow water fishing, yet sturdy enough to cross bays. These versatile boats are gaining popularity, and you can find brands who specialize in bay boats that put emphasis on particular activities, whether that’s fishing, family days out, or even watersports.

Ranger are big names in the category, offering pure fishing machines, while Pathfinder is renowned for their speed and high-performance bay boats. Contender, usually known for their offshore deep-V boats, offers models primed for shallow-water fishing, yet equipped with the impressive selection of accessories of their larger boats.

When it comes to aluminum bay boats, Lowe and G3 are big players in the sector with their tough yet affordable models, while brands such as Yellowfin, Sportsman Boats, and Bulls Bay Boats specialize in pocket bay boats as small as 20 feet.

Looking towards the fast-emerging hybrid bay boats and brands such as Caymas, with their twin engines, makes some suitable for offshore as well as shallow-water fishing. Everglades are meatier than your average bay boat, too, offering high performance, while Regulator has more transom deadrise than most bay boats.

Why Choose a Bay Boat?

Bay boats offer a versatility not seen in other shallow draft fishing boats, allowing them to traverse the choppier waters of open bays. They offer full fishing capabilities but are fun family boats too, and the hybrid models allow for more activities such as offshore fishing.

Why are Bay Boats Popular?

Bay boats are popular for their ability to function in many different ways. Different than the highly specialized bass boats, for example, bay boats appeal to fishing enthusiasts, families, and those simply looking to get out on the water in an easy to handle and trailer sturdy boat.