There are many types of pleasure boats from small fishing boats to huge mega yachts costing millions. In addition, there are many types of commercial boats ranging from small fishing boats and barges used in building docks all the way up to cargo ships and mammoth cruise ships. Also there is a large number of war ships from PT boats thru aircraft carriers. Of all these types, I am very familiar with the pleasure boats offered to members of the Freedom Boat Club. Here I will just talk about the types I am familiar with.
Cruising/Sport Boats: Freedom boats of this type are usually referred as deck boats, runabouts, sports, and cruising boats. They are mostly in a range of 19 feet to 23 feet long. The have a shallow V-hull or flatter bottom in the case of deck boats and can cruise with a top end of 30 to 40 miles per hour. These boats have an inner hull which can hold water and should be pumped out with a bilge pump as needed. There is almost always a sun canopy for shade. These craft also usually have hookups to tow skiers, wake boarders and tubers. Seats are comfortable and capacity is mostly 2 people to 6 people. NOTE: The capacity rating of the boat may be more than 6 people but there also a weight limit and in the case of cruising and sports there are some practical limits due to coolers, beach chairs, sport equipment and so forth that are brought along.
Fishing Boats: Freedom fishing boats typically range in size from 17 feet to 24 feet. The shorter boats are deigned to fish in shallow waters while the larger boats are intended for off shore fishing. Mid-sized in the range are used in the Inter-coastal Waterways at most depths. Most all of these boats have a center console with operator controls, radio, depth/fish finder and a small cover for limited shade. The rest of the boat is open for fishing and has various storage compartments. These boats have an inner hull which can hold water and should be pumped out with a bilge pump as needed. Also found on the boat is a live well with a water circulation system to keep bait alive. These boats typically are a deep V-hull in design and can cruise with a top end of 30 to 40 miles per hour. Capacity is usually 2 people to 6 people. NOTE: The capacity rating of the boat may be more than 6 people but there also a weight limit and in the case of fishing a limit to how many can reasonable fish at the same time.
Pontoon Boats: Freedom Pontoon boats (2 toons) are being expanded at Freedom to include Tritoons (3 toons). Toons refer to round flotation cylinders that float and are designed to keep a deck floating. On the deck is mounted container walls, furniture (couches and seats) and boat controls. These type of boats are very comfortable and take the impact of wakes and waves very well. As a result, these boats are considered luxurious cruisers with lots of room. These boats are often used to explore areas, cruise to beaches and also to restaurants. They are typically 22 feet to 24 feet long. Top cruising speeds tend to range from 18MPHs to 25MPH. The capacity of these boats is 2 people to 10 people. NOTE: The capacity rating of the boat may be more than 10 people but there also a weight limit to consider.
For myself, I like Pontoons and Fishing boats the best depending on what I’ll be doing that day.