Bowrider boats are amazingly popular, and the reasons why are simple: they’re sporty and fun to drive, have lots of seating for family and friends, and are incredibly versatile. You can do just about anything on a bowrider. Many first-time boat buyers start with a bowrider since they can try water skiing one day, cruise to a waterfront restaurant the next, and enjoy sandbar hopping the day after that.
That tremendous popularity means there’s a massive fleet to choose from. Which bowrider brands are the best? To a great extent that depends on what you and your family find most important in a boat, and while we’re limiting our top choices to 10, in truth there are dozens of different ones you could decide are the best pick. That said, these favorites each stand out from the crowd.
Bayliner
Bayliner boats get the nod for offering solidly built boats at a price point that undercuts much of the competition. The bowrider lineup includes six models from 18’9” to 22’7” in both outboard and stern-drive versions. These aren’t jam-packed with high-end luxury features but if you’re looking for the most LOA per dollar, they’ll be tough to beat.
See Bayliner bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler’s line of dual console bowriders starts at the Vantage 210 and goes up to the Vantage 320. The standout feature here is that like all Boston Whalers, these are completely unsinkable boats constructed with a fiberglass-foam-fiberglass sandwich. They’re also available with a wide range of options, and can be outfitted to favor watersports, fishing, day cruising, or all of the above.
See Boston Whaler bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Chaparral
This builder is well known for its huge selection of bowriders, including 21 different boats from 20’1” to 33’6. In that lineup you’ll find dedicated watersports models, boats with cabins inside the consoles, small open runabouts, and just about everything in-between. Unlike some manufacturers Chaparral outfits the stock models with plenty of features and extras, so every boat is ready for aquatic fun from the moment you fill the fuel tank.
See Chaparral bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Chris-Craft
The Chris-Craft lineup sets itself apart from the norm with a spectacular level of fit and finish, numerous luxury touches, and gobs of eye-appeal. If you favor Lexus over Toyota and Accura over Honda, this is a boat brand you’ll be looking at. Their Launch and Calypso models fit into the bowrider genre, and span from 24 to 35 feet.
See Chris-Craft bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Cobalt
The Cobalt boat brand has always been known for its awesome looks, including a spectacular fit and finish and gleaming gel coat. The bowrider line is huge, ranging from the 200 SS to the E305, and includes a mix of 28 different outboards and stern-drives. Crownline also offers eight dedicated wake surfing bowrider boats rigged with Forward Drive for watersports enthusiasts.
See Cobalt bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Grady-White
Anglers in search of a dual console bowrider that has all the fishing accouterments they want like livewells, raw water washdowns, gunwale-mount rodholders, and integrated fishboxes will likely be checking out the Grady-White Freedom lineup. Not only is it extensive, beginning with a 21-footer and including nine different models, their offerings also range up to a rather huge 36’ 7” long, 13’2” wide model with cabins in the consoles and plenty of space and accommodations for weekending aboard.
See Grady-White bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Regal
The Bowrider line from Regal includes boats from 20’ all the way up to 36’. They’re known for delivering an excellent bang for the buck along with a high level of quality, and Regal also offers a pair of models (a 33 and a 38) called the “SAV,” or Sports Activity Vehicle. These are designed to be as versatile as a bowrider can be, with cockpits appropriate for fishing, a cabin inside the console, and a walkaround to a bow cockpit. They’re untraditional bowriders for sure, but for many boaters will prove to be the perfect pick.
See Regal bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Sea Ray
Few builders have a name as synonymous with bowrider boats as Sea Ray. Actually, none do. Twenty three of the boats in their lineup are bowriders, and these cover the gamut from zippy little 19-footers with stern-drives to the largest bowrider model you’ll find from any of these brands, the 42’2” SLX 400 Outboard. Many Sea Ray boats boast some serious tech, too, featuring the latest in lithium-ion power systems, digital switching, and joystick controls.
See Sea Ray bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Tahoe
Tahoe has nine boats in their lineup including the diminutive T16, a compact little fun machine that costs less than some fancy motorcycles. In fact, their entire line is surprisingly affordable, yet each boat is sold as a complete boat-motor-trailer package with few cost-adding options on the spec sheet.
See Tahoe bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Yamaha
If you’re looking for a bowrider that’s also a jet boat, Yamaha fits the bill. Their line of 22 bowriders from 19’ to 27’ includes everything from straightforward runabouts to decked-out wake boats, and all have jet drive propulsion instead of spinning a propeller. These boats are known for their sporty handling, quality construction, high-tech features, and watersports acuity. Rather than offering a long list of options Yamaha breaks out the models by how they’re equipped, which also means the pricing is straightforward and easy to understand.
See Yamaha bowrider boats for sale on Boat Trader.
You say you have a favorite brand that didn’t appear on this list? Remember, different boats are “best” for different people. If that weren’t the case we wouldn’t have so many different bowrider boats to choose from. But thank goodness we do, because no matter what sort of watery fun you enjoy you can bet that the perfect bowrider is out there somewhere waiting for you — and the boats built by these 10 top brands are sure to be an excellent selection to start checking out.
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