So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and buy a boat. That’s great! But where do you start? Choosing the right vessel for your voyages is always challenging; it’s not just about having the boat, it’s about what you’re going to do with it. It really comes down to the lifestyle you have and the activities that you’re interested in exploring.

If you’re wondering what kind of boat is best for you and your lifestyle, check out our guide below.

Types of Boats Available

Think about what you want to do and what you could potentially see yourself in the future. Boatsetter breaks down four types of boats that a boat can acquire, depending on your hobbies and interests:

• If you’re planning on making overnight trips in your boat, you might want to consider a motor yacht or a trawler. Both are going to have the amenities necessary for an overnight stay on a boat. A trawler can be smaller (and slower) than a motor yacht and is also not trailerable.
• If you’re trying to casually cruise in your boat, you might want to consider a pontoon or a sailboat. A pontoon is a flatboat that can seat up to 25; some will even have a wet bar, making the pontoon the party boat. Sailboats are meant for leisure but can also be used for racing. Remember that not many will have a motor attached; if they do, it’s small.
• If you want to go fishing, consider a bass boat or a sport fishing boat. Both are designed for state of the art fishing, including equipment like GPS and others. But a sports fishing boat is going to be better for long distance and deep sea fishing.
• A bowrider or an inboard ski boat is going to be great if you want to partake in watersports. The big difference between the two is that a bowrider has towing capabilities. Inboard ski boats are meant for tubes, water skis and wakeboards.

Types of Hulls to Consider

The hull is the part of the boat that goes into the water. Each hull is specifically designed for different water activities. It’s always good to know the most about your boat before getting boat insurance. Discover Boating dives into the types of hull that you should know when picking out a boat:

• Flat bottom boats are fast. But as far as control goes, there’s very little of it.
• Vee hulls have flatter bottoms meant to cut through water, making the boat plane. When there’s a deeper vee, it means less control with choppy waters–but easier cutting through waves. A shallow vee is going to be a more stable boat to maneuver.
• Multihull boats have boat the speed and stability desired from other boat types. The only drawback is going to be lack of interior space.
• Round hulls are slow but that are steady and stable. Think of a trawler. These boats are also incredibly fuel efficient.

If you’re worried about the boat you select not being easy to insure, that shouldn’t be a concern for you. Here at Mariners we cover a wide variety of vessel types including yachts, fishing boats, sailboats, speedboats, pontoons, houseboats and many different personal watercrafts. Once you’ve made your decision, it’s time to contact an agent for Boat Insurance coverage to keep you safe on the water. After that, the sea is yours!

About Mariners Insurance

Mariners General Insurance Group was founded in 1959 to protect boat owners and marine business clients. We are marine insurance experts and insure boats worldwide – in every ocean on the planet. Marine insurance is critical if you own a boat or nautical business. Trust the professionals with all of your Boat Insurance needs – trust Mariners Insurance. Call us at (800) 992-4443 any time you have questions or concerns about insurance for your vessel or marine business.