Only drawing 2вЂ™6вЂќ with engines down, the SLX 350 is suited to lounging at the sandbar, or anchoring in shallow spots.ДЄs youвЂ™d expect at this price point, a huge inventory of luxurious options is available вЂ“ these include state of the art twin 9in touchscreen Simrad MFDs, a high-end 3-zone Fusion sound system and more sunshades than a luxury resort. This is a serious cruising boat with all the usability youвЂ™ll find on the best deck boats. The Sea Ray SLX 350 boasts a sociable deck layoutДЄ 40ft version is available at nearly twice the price but the 10вЂ™6вЂќ beam of the SLX 350 makes it trailerable under wide load limits and therefore easier to move around the country. With capacity for 18 people and a 50mph top speed, the Sea Ray SLX 350 is an exceptional day boat with the amenities to match its price tag. ItвЂ™s available with twin V8 inboard or outboard drives but the outboard version with its pair of 350hp Mercury Verados is the better choice in my opinion. Offering excellent value, the Bayliner is a winner in its class.Д«est luxury deck boat: Sea Ray SLX 350 OutboardДЄlthough sporting a deep V bow, the $500,000 Sea Ray SLX 350 is still considered one of the very best deck boats, albeit one very much at the luxury end of this segment. With its engine down, the Bayliner E18 only draws 2ft 5in, making it perfect for trips to the sandbar or a dayвЂ™s cruising with family and friends. The M-shaped hull is stable and quick to plane, while still offering excellent high and low speed handling.

This includes a live bait well, rod holders, fishing chairs and trolling motor for a fishing focussed boat, or a sport arch with wakeboard racks for the watersports enthusiast. Starting at a penny under $19,000 and topping out fully specced at just over $34,000 with a trailer and 115hp Mercury outboard, the Bayliner E18 has seating for up to nine people and can be optioned to suit almost any day boating need. However, as a lake or back bay boat, the deck boat is pound for pound as good as it gets. If you are considering ocean boating, a center console or closed-bow deep V hull is likely to be a better option. With their big open cockpits, squared off bows, low freeboard and shallow M profile hulls, you are in for a wet and bumpy ride through the waves at least until you get over 28ft or so in length. The high-performance Elminator Fun Deck has a top speed of 80mph with a single 565hp Mercury Racing inboard motorДЄll sounds great so far but whereвЂ™s the catch? HereвЂ™s the compromise.

Starcraft deck boat