Are you looking to buy a deck boat? You might be wondering how much deck boats weigh.
The weight information is vital when buying a deck boat, especially if you already have a trailer, boat lift, or even a vehicle that will support or tow the vessel.
If you buy a deck boat that exceeds your trailer’s or vehicle’s towing capacity, you won’t be able to move your vessel from place to place safely.
Generally, the average weight of deck boats is about 3,100 lbs., without the engine and other fittings.
However, when you add the motor, battery, fuel, and other equipment, the overall weight may shoot to 4,200 lbs. or more.
Depending on what you are after, you can find large deck boats well suited for water activities like fishing and watersports such as wakeboarding.
The good thing about deck boat manufacturers is that they fit different accessories and equipment for different watersports on their boats to let you choose exactly what suits your needs.
Here we’ll talk about the weights of some popular deck boats to help you decide which size fits your boating needs best.
Table of Contents
How Much Do Deck Boats Weigh?
It’s technically correct and safe to say that the average weight of deck boats is about 3,100 lbs. But this can easily change as deck boats from varied brands come in different sizes and specifications.
Here are some average weight examples of popular deck boats:
- Hurricane SunDeck 2690 26 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 4,475 lbs. with a wet weight of 5,845lbs.
- NauticStar 243 DC 24 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 3,373 lbs. with a wet weight of 4,573 lbs.
- Stringray 234LR 23 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 4,105 lbs. with a wet weight of 5,305 lbs.
- Strigray 212SC 21 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 3,100 lbs. with a wet weight of 4,300 lbs.
- Hurricane SunDeck 217 21 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 2,725 lbs. with a wet weight of 3,990 lbs.
- NauticStar 211 Angler 20 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 2,100 lbs. with a wet weight of 3,300 lbs.
- Stringray 186CC 19 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 2,300 lbs. with a wet weight of 3,500 lbs.
- NauticStar 193 SC 18 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 2,100 lbs. with a wet weight of 3,300 lbs.
- Hurricane SunDeck 187 18 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 3,575 lbs. with a wet weight of 3,925 lbs.
- Hurricane SunDeck Sport 202 20 ft Deck Boat – dry weight 3,725lbs. with a wet weight of 4,075 lbs.
These are just a few examples from renowned deck boat manufacturers, and the dry weight indicates how much the boat weighs without gear, engine, or fuel.
On the other hand, the wet weight shows how much these boats weigh when the vessel has the motor, fuel, gear, and battery.
When buying a deck boat, you need to check both types of weight to find out which craft matches your needs.
Do not forget to add the weight of your trailer to the wet weight to know whether your vehicle has the towing capacity required to move your vessel from one point to another.
Boat trailers’ average weight usually ranges between 600 pounds and 1,200 pounds.
Why the Deck Boat Weight Matters
So, why is it important to consider the weights when buying a deck boat? Well, here are a few reasons:
Your Vehicle Towing Capacity
A small passenger car will surely not have the towing capacity to haul a 2,000 pounds boat.
And because your boat won’t sit on the water all year round, you’ll need to consider the type of vehicle you have and the average weight capacity it can haul.
When the winter season approaches, you’ll want to tow your boat for cleaning and safe storage until the wet season is over.
If you purchase a boat whose weight exceeds your vehicle’s towing capacity, you’ll need to hire a truck every time you need to tow your craft.
Your Boat Trailer’s Capacity
If you already have a trailer, you’ll want to invest in a boat whose weights are within the trailer’s weight capacity.
While trailers can support different weights regardless of the boat type, you’ll want to check whether the deck boat is within the average weight capacity of your trailer before sealing the bid.
Boat Maintenance
Larger boats need more maintenance, which costs more money than the amount needed to maintain small crafts like bass boats and small fishing boats.
Big boats also have a larger fuel capacity, which adds to the boat’s overall weight and increases costs. The added weight means you’ll need a big trailer and a truck to tow the boat.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the cost of cleaning and repairing large boats and trailers will be much higher than that of small boats.
In general, the weight of a boat should contribute heavily to your final decision on what to take home.
Nonetheless, this does not mean that you should ignore all the other facilities and specs you want to be featured on your boat.
The best way to choose your perfect boat is by considering all the various aspects, including the average weight, size, and comfort of your boating crew.
What is the Average Weight of Pontoon Boats?
The average weight of pontoon boats is 2,200 pounds, excluding any boating equipment and passengers.
With the motor, battery, fuel, appropriate boating gear, and passengers, the pontoon boat’s weight range from 4,000 to 5,000 pounds or even more, depending on size and construction.
Knowing your pontoon boat’s weight is vital for many reasons. The most obvious one is that it allows you to tow your boat from one point to another safely.
Another reason why your pontoon boat weight matters is that it helps you find ways to improve performance on the water.
Keep in mind that a heavier or overloaded pontoon boat will ride slowly while still using the same power.
So, before you toss anything into your pontoon boat, you need to consider the weight and see how much it adds to the boat’s total weight.
Knowing how much your pontoon boat weighs and its weight capacity is also crucial as it allows you to boat safely. You won’t have to worry about overloading your boat.
When buying a pontoon boat, you’ll find that there are three types of weight capacity, and you may not understand them right away. Here is what each weight capacity means:
- Dry hull weight: Dry hull weight refers to the weight of the boat without the motor, fuel, battery, deck accessories, and boating gear onboard.
- Total weight: This is the total weight of the pontoon boat with the engine, battery, fuel, deck accessories, boat fittings, boating gear, and even passengers.
- Combined weight: Also known as tow weight, combined weight refers to the total weight of the boat added to the weight of the trailer. Combined weight determines whether a vehicle can safely pull a boat or not.
Once you find the right vehicle to tow your boat, you need to be careful when moving the boat for maximum safety.
You want to drive slowly when taking turns, especially the wide ones, and ensure that your towing vehicle has a good braking system.
Before you set off for the lake, I recommend that you check the grip and traction of your vehicle and trailer tires, and the ground to prevent sliding.
Average Boat Weights and What Will Tow Them
Different types of boats vary in weight due to their different sizes, shapes, designs, and accessories.
So, it can be quite difficult to know exactly how much various boats weigh and whether they are easily towable with certain vehicles or not.
Luckily, I researched the various types of boats, from speed boats to pontoons, and found out their average weights. I’ve also highlighted what you can use to tow each type of boat.
Remember, the best way to know how towable your boat is involves considering its specific wet weight and that of your boat trailer. These are just average weights for different types of boats:
Ski Boat
- The average dry weight of 3,500 pounds
- Towed by trucks and SUVs
Small Fishing Boat
- The average dry weight of 1,700 pounds
- Towed by trucks, SUVs, and crossovers
Sailboat
- The average dry weight of 8,800 pounds
- Towed by trucks
Bow Rider
- The average dry weight of 3,500 pounds
- Towed with trucks and SUVs
Deck Boat
- The average dry weight of 3,100 pounds
- Towed by trucks and big SUVs
Pontoon Boat
- The average dry weight of 2,200 pounds
- Towed by trucks and big SUVs
Cabin Cruiser
- The average dry weight of 8,700 pounds
- Towed by trucks
Cuddy Cabin
- The average dry weight of 4,000 pounds
- Towed by trucks and big SUVs
Speed Boat
- The average dry weight of 8,000 pounds
- Towed by trucks
Wake Boat
- Average dry boat weight of 3,500 pounds
- Towed by trucks and big SUVs
*Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
- The average dry weight of 850 pounds
- Towed by cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks
Jon Boat
- The average dry weight of 500 pounds
- Towed by cars, vans, SUVs, Trucks, and crossovers
Bass Boat
- The average dry weight of 1,700 pounds
- Towed by trucks, SUVs, and crossovers
FAQs
Q: How Much Does a 20-Foot Deck Boat Weigh?
A: A 20-foot deck boat weighs somewhere between 2,100 pounds to 3,700 pounds at dry weight.
With the engine, fuel, boat accessories, and other fittings added, a 20-foot deck boat weighs about 3,300 pounds to 4,000 pounds, depending on the brand and model.
For example, the NauticStar 211 Angler 20-foot Deck Boat weighs 2,100 pounds without the engine and has a wet weight of 3,300 pounds.
The same-sized sports deck boat from Hurricane SunDeck has a dry weight of 3,725 pounds and a wet weight of 4,075 pounds.
If you are unsure how much your 20-foot deck boat weighs, you may need to refer to the manual or contact the manufacturer.
Q: How Much Does a 24-Foot Deck Boat Weigh?
A: 24-foot deck boat weight ranges from 3,000 pounds to 4,000 pounds at dry weight.
When the engine, battery, fuel, and other essential accessories are fitted on the deck boat, the wet weight can range from 4,500 pounds to 5,300 pounds.
Q: How Much Does a Tahoe Deck Boat Weigh?
A: Tahoe deck boats weigh on average 3,200 pounds, with the motor and other boat accessories fitted in. The dry hull weight for Tahoe deck boats is 2,600 pounds on average.
Tahoe deck boats of about 21 feet in length can carry up to 11 persons as they have a maximum person capacity of 1,550 pounds.
If you are looking for a deck boat with more weight capacity, you’ll want to go for the larger models.
Q: How Much Does a 17-foot Deck Boat Weigh?
A: 17-foot deck boats weigh between 1,150 pounds and 2,220 pounds without extra gear and trailer.
When you add the trailer’s weight and other equipment like engine, battery, and fishing gear, the 17-foot deck boat can weigh up to 3,000 pounds.
Q: What is the Average Pontoon Boat Weight?
A: The average weight of pontoon boats is 2,200 pounds. However, this is for the boat’s hull only.
When pontoon boats are fitted with the outboard motor, battery, Bimini top, pontoon accessories, boating gear, and passengers, the weight can range from 4,000 to 8,000 pounds.
If you want to tow a pontoon boat with your vehicle, you’ll need to consider the trailer’s weight to see whether your car can pull the combined weight.
Q: What are the Most Towable Boats?
A: Some of the most towable boats include skiffs, small fishing boats, personal watercraft, sailboats, and bowrider boats. Such vessels are easy to tow with cars, SUVs, and Minivans.
You’ll need a large SUV or a truck to tow larger crafts like pontoon boats, deck boats, cuddy cabins, cabin cruisers, center console boats, and ski boats.
Conclusion
Deck boats are perfect vessels for recreational boating with friends and family. They offer versatility and adequate room, allowing you to bring your entire crew of water lovers.
Whether you want to buy a deck boat or you already own one, knowing your deck boat weight is as vital as knowing about other specs.
Knowing how much your deck boat weighs does not only help you tow your boat safely but also allows you to improve performance on the water. It is a great way to avoid overloading the craft for safe boating.
So, be sure to get the essential details when buying a boat as you don’t want to do any guesswork about your deck boat’s weight and how to tow it.
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