Bow rider

Last updated
Example bow rider boat
2005 Sea Ray 220 Sundeck.jpg
2005 Sea Ray 220 Sundeck, [1] a typical type of large bow rider designed for use on inland waterways
2005 Sea Ray 220 Sundeck open bow area.jpg
Bow rider area of the 2005 Sea Ray 220 Sundeck

A bow rider is a kind of runabout boat with an offset helm and extra forward seating. They are between 17' and 35', use stern drive or outboard engines, and hold between six and ten people. Its open bow area distinguishes it from a cuddy boat.

Runabout (boat) boat type

A runabout is any small motorboat holding between four and eight people, well suited to moving about on the water. Characteristically 20' to 35' but under 35', runabouts are used for pleasure activities like boating, fishing, and water skiing, as a ship's tender for larger vessels, or in racing. Some common runabout types are bow rider, center console, cuddy boat and walkaround.

Boat vessel for transport by water

A boat is a watercraft of a large range of type and size. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on their larger size, shape, and cargo or passenger capacity, and their ability to carry boats.

Ships wheel

A ship's wheel or boat's wheel is a device used aboard a water vessel to steer that vessel and control its course. Together with the rest of the steering mechanism, it forms part of the helm. It is connected to a mechanical, electric servo, or hydraulic system which alters the vertical angle of the vessel's rudder relative to its hull. In some modern ships the wheel is replaced with a simple toggle that remotely controls an electro-mechanical or electro-hydraulic drive for the rudder, with a rudder position indicator presenting feedback to the helmsman.

This term can be confused with bow riding, a dangerous and often illegal activity involving sitting or standing on the bow while the boat is underway.

They are well suited for many recreational water sports such as tubing, water skiing, and swimming, however a center console or walkaround type boat is more practical for fishing. Bow riders are well suited for lakes and inland water. In heavy seas the open bow and lower gunwales may cause heavy spray and the boat to take on water.

Center console is a type of single-decked open hull boat where the helm is in the center. There is a cabin on some models; these are usually located in the bow and hold small berths for sleeping. An advantage of this type of boat, especially in fishing, underway, and at rest, is that person can walk all around the boat from stern to bow with ease.

A Walkaround boat is a cross between a center console and a cuddy boat or express. Like a center console, it is mostly used for fishing and has a full length primary deck or cockpit but also a small cabin (cuddy) for berths and a head in the center in front of the console.

Gunwale

The gunwale is the top edge of the hull of a ship or boat.

Characteristics

A bow rider or bowrider is a type of boat which has a seating area in the bow, the forward part of the ship. Bow riders are generally designed for recreational use such as day cruising or water skiing, and they come in a variety of styles from luxurious to basic. Several manufacturers of boats produce bow riders, in both mass production and custom models for their customers, and such boats are often available for rental at facilities which offer boats for rent to people who do not maintain their own watercraft.

On a bow rider, the area in front of the helm can be used for seating or lounging. Protective rails designed to prevent falls are installed, along with seats which may include seat belts, depending on the boat design. A flat deck is designed with a nonslip surface so that people can walk comfortably, and some bow riders have enough space for people to stretch out and lie down, with people using the area as a sun pad.

This type of runabout boat is powered by a variety of types of engine, depending on the size of the boat and the style. Some are designed to go quite fast, while others are intended to be used for more casual cruising. The design is most well suited to inland waterways and calm lakes, not the open ocean. Like other runabouts, a bow rider lacks accommodations such as sleeping spaces, a galley, and a bathroom, since it is intended for short day use only. A more luxuriously outfitted boat can include padded seating, small wet bars, and other features which are designed to enhance passenger comfort and enjoyment.

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Hull (watercraft) Watertight buoyant body of a ship or boat

A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. The hull may open at the top, or it may be fully or partially covered with a deck. Atop the deck may be a deckhouse and other superstructures, such as a funnel, derrick, or mast. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.

Kayak small boat propelled with a double-bladed paddle

A kayak is a small, narrow watercraft which is typically propelled by means of a double-bladed paddle. The word kayak originates from the Greenlandic word qajaq.

Yacht Recreational boat or ship

A yacht is a watercraft used for pleasure or sports. The term originates from the Dutch word jacht, and originally referenced light, fast sailing vessels that the Dutch Republic navy used to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries. The yacht was popularized by Charles II of England as a pleasure or recreation vessel following his restoration in 1660.

Water skiing surface water sport

Water skiing is a surface water sport in which an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation over a body of water, skimming the surface on two skis or one ski. The sport requires sufficient area on a smooth stretch of water, one or two skis, a tow boat with tow rope, three people, and a personal flotation device. In addition, the skier must have adequate upper and lower body strength, muscular endurance, and good balance.

Personal watercraft recreational watercraft

A personal watercraft (PWC), also called water scooter, and comically a boatercycle, is a recreational watercraft that the rider sits or stands on, rather than inside of, as in a boat. PWCs have two style categories, first and most popular being a runabout or "sit down" where the rider uses the watercraft mainly sitting down, and the watercraft typically holds two or more people. The second style is a "stand-up", where the rider uses the watercraft standing up. The stand-up styles are built for one rider and are used more for doing tricks, racing, and use in competitions. Both styles have an inboard engine driving a pump-jet that has a screw-shaped impeller to create thrust for propulsion and steering. Most are designed for two or three people, though four-passenger models exist. Many of today's models are built for more extended use and have the fuel capacity to make long cruises, in some cases even beyond 100 miles.

Jet Ski brand of personal watercraft

Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal water craft (PWC) manufactured by Kawasaki, a Japanese company. The term is often used generically to refer to any type of personal watercraft used mainly for recreation, and it is also used as a verb to describe the use of any type of PWC.

Inflatable boat type of lightweight boat

An inflatable boat is a lightweight boat constructed with its sides and bow made of flexible tubes containing pressurised gas. For smaller boats, the floor and hull is often flexible, while for boats longer than 3 metres (9.8 ft), the floor typically consists of three to five rigid plywood or aluminium sheets fixed between the tubes, but not joined rigidly together. Often the transom is rigid, providing a location and structure for mounting an outboard motor.

Motorboat boat which is powered by an engine

A motorboat, speedboat, or powerboat is a boat which is powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gearbox and the propeller in one portable unit.

Boating Leisure activity involving boats

Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels, focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or waterskiing. It is a popular activity, and there are millions of boaters worldwide.

Tubing (recreation) riding on an inner tube as a recreational activity

Tubing is a recreational activity where an individual rides on top of an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes themselves are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" due to their shape.

Recreational trawler

Recreational trawlers are pleasure boats which resemble fishing trawlers. They can also be called cruising trawlers or trawler yachts. Within the category, however, are many types and styles of vessels.

Fishing vessel boat or ship used to catch fish on a body of water

A fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river. Many different kinds of vessels are used in commercial, artisanal and recreational fishing.

Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine, Starcraft Boats, or simply Starcraft is the name of a company that manufactures boats, campers and RVs. In the beginning, Starcraft also produced farm equipment including aluminum water tanks. The original name of the company was Star Tank Company.

The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is a powerboating sports competition. The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is the premier class of jetski racing, founded in 1992. Aquabike jetskis are personal watercraft vehicles purpose-built for racing and modified according to class. The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is organized and promoted by H2O Racing Ltd on behalf of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the governing body of powerboating and the exclusive entity recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). ABP refers to Aquabike Promotion.

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The Marlow-Hunter 37 is an American sailboat that was designed by Glenn Henderson as a cruiser and first built in 2014.

The S2 9.2 is an American sailboat that was designed by Arthur Edmunds as a cruiser and first built in 1977.

The Gougeon 32 is an American trailerable catamaran that was designed by Jan Gougeon and first built in 1990.

References

  1. 2005 Sea Ray 220 Sundeck Brochure, dated 2004/2005, last accessed 3 November 2015