Bowrider Boats for Sale

Bowrider boats are small, fun, and speedy pleasure boats characterized by the seating in their bows allowing for more passengers than other boats of a similar size. Search for new and used bowrider boats on Rightboat and fine-tune your search by selecting the age, length, and price to find the perfect bowrider boat for sale. 

Main characteristics of bowrider boats

The bowrider has long been one of the most popular boats in the United States and is identified by its distinctive V-shaped bow complete with seating for several people. Most bowriders are easy to handle, smaller bowriders are easy to put on a trailer, and perhaps most importantly, bowriders can accommodate between six and 10 people making them fun, sociable, and versatile boats.

Bowriders typically have sterndrive or outboard engines and range in size from around 17 to 35 feet long. The amount of models and variations on the market is endless, but if it has that iconic seating in the bow then it's classified as bowrider. Offering day cruising for the whole family, as well as watersports and sun lounging they are the quintessential recreational boat. 

See the Best Bowrider Boat Brands

Types of bowrider boat

Traditional Bowrider Boats

The traditional bowrider offers the characteristic V-shaped bow and seating area, with a cockpit enclosed by a windshield. These are the ultimate recreational boat, offering watersports and cruising, and they're well-loved for being relatively easy on the pocketbook, too. The evolution of mid-cabin bowriders has built off this basic concept for bigger bowriders that are able to offer a cabin, as well.  

Jet Boat Bowriders

This fast-growing segment has brought several advantages to the traditional bowriders of 20 to 24 feet in length. The addition of a jet drive engine (as opposed to the usual sterndive) allows for a more spacious cockpit, and enlarged aft sunbathing areas. Performance-wise they're capable for watersports, and they can navigate shallower waters without a propeller, which is ideal for certain types of fishing. 

Luxury Bowrider Boats

A whole new breed of bowrider has emerged in recent years that has taken the relatively humble bowrider into the luxury boat realm. They often measure up to 35 feet in length and have features such as expansive aft-facing sun-pads and loungers in the stern, integrated fishing and watersports accessories, and high-end finishings. 

Fish and Ski Bowriders

These more specialist bowriders are often referred to as crossover bowriders, which offer increased fishing and skiing capabilities, yet retain that traditional bow seating area of the bowrider. They'll include features such as a trolling motor, livewell, rod holders, a Fishfinder, and swivel fishing chairs, as well as watersports towers or fixtures. Crossover bowriders combine the features and styles of different styles of boats to create a bowrider with specific capabilities.

Best bowrider boat brands

Unsurprisingly given the huge popularity of bowriders, there are plenty of excellent brands from which to choose. Sea Ray, for example, has been making bowriders for decades, and while they've made their fair share of smaller models, today they're renowned for their luxury models measuring up to 40 feet. Chris Craft, too, offers some beautiful and seriously luxurious models, as do Cobalt, which also has a dedicated surfing range.

At the other end of the price spectrum, there are several brands producing high quality yet affordable bowrider models such as Stingray and Tahoe. Lowe's aluminum bowriders are less expensive than some fiberglass models, and you get a lot for your money with their well-equipped Fish and Ski models. 

Mention must be made of Grady-White and Pursuit and their ranges of well-equipped dual console bowriders with outboard engines, as well as Glastron, which offers a range of sleek sterndrive and outboard-powered bowriders. When it comes to jet boat bowriders, Yamaha is the biggest player in this sector, with a lineup of crossover bowriders including dedicated wake sport models, as well as Scarab and their impressive line-up of high-performance jet drive bowriders. 

Why Choose a Bowrider Boat?

Bowrider boats are fun and fast power boats that offer additional seating for families or groups to enjoy time on the water together. There are nearly unlimited choices of style, size, and functionality, from fishing and watersports, to swimming and cruising, as well as choices of outboard, sterndrive, or jet power, center or dual console, and a wide range of sizes from 22 feet up to luxury 40 foot models. 

Why are Bowrider Boats Popular?

Bowrider boats are one of the most popular style of small motorboat there is, and it's thanks to their versatility. Whether it's a day of swimming and sun lounging with friends, watersports for the kids, or a day of fishing, they are easy to handle and trailer, can fit in most boat-buying budgets, and offer bucket-loads of fun. 
 

This text was written in January 2024 by Samantha Wilson.