Choosing the perfect boat to reserve for your outing with 321 can seem daunting. After all, we have the biggest fleet in Central Florida, with around 30 boats currently available. So how do you know which one will best suit your unique circumstances? The two main factors that influence our decision when we’re taking a boat out for the day are the size of our party and the different activities we have planned. That might seem incredibly simple, but sometimes it requires thinking outside the box to make sure everyone isn’t too cramped when you figure in all the items you plan on bringing with you.
Party Size vs. Real Capacity of the Boat
For example, let’s say you’re a family of five who plans to go boating together. You reserve a boat that’s just big enough for five and plan to go tubing. But… where are you going to put the tube in the boat? The same rules apply in a variety of other situations; you have to consider what you’ll be doing not just when choosing the right variety of boat and engine, but also when getting your “head count” for a trip. If you’re a party of ten and you plan to bring three coolers of food and drinks (we won’t judge), you’ll need to make sure that all those supplies will fit comfortably on the boat with your group. By the way, you can see pictures and the recommended capacity of all our boats.
Center Console Boats
Center console boats will always be our #1 choice for fishing excursions. There are two major features that make them uniquely well-suited to this purpose. First, most center console boats are absolutely PACKED with rod holder around every side and even across the back and the t-top overhead. This makes it easy to cast multiple lines or just to put the rod down for a few moments to rest or grab a drink. The other major benefit is that you can move around the entire outside of a center console boat safely while fighting a catch or trying to cast in a particular location. Center console boats also make getting to your favorite fishing spot more enjoyable with their front-facing seats. On a center console boat, everyone is usually looking straight ahead, which gives you all a chance to look for wildlife and actually reduces your chances of becoming seasick.
Pontoon Boats
Pontoon boats are our favorite type of boat to party on. Due to the double-hulled construction of these boats, they have an incredible amount of stability on the water. If you plan to anchor off a sand bar with a large group and spend the day playing in the sun, you’ll likely have people getting on and off the boat all day and congregating on and off the boat. With a center console boat, even two people standing on one side while the other side is empty can cause rocking. On a pontoon boat, this isn’t a concern. It also means that the kids won’t be tossed around as the try to climb the swim platform ladder on the anchored boat, so no fun-stopping head bumps. Another benefit of the double hull on a pontoon boat is that they offer a huge amount of deck space to sun yourselves and relax. This makes them even better for large parties, as does the layout of the seating: unlike many boats, pontoons boats usually have seating around the outer edge facing into the interior of the boat. This means that everyone is facing each other while seated, making it easy to share food and conversation.
Deck Boats
Deck boats are basically a pontoon boat with the added benefit of speed! The double hull that makes a pontoon boat stable also makes it slow, which is what separates these two types of vessels. Deck boats tend to be smaller than pontoons, so this is the perfect choice for a family outing, especially if you plan to tube or waterski; these boats are a favorite for water sports. The usually offer the same inward-facing seating layout as a pontoon boat, but many have additional front-facing seats too, which can be a real bonus if you have any group members who tend to experience seasickness. Deck boats can be great for fishing too, and some are even designed specifically for this purpose for professional anglers, with fighting chairs on the front deck and built-in fish finding equipment.
If you still have questions about which of our boats is right for you, we’d love to help you figure it out. Whether you’re renting with us for the first time or you’re a long-time boat club member, we want to make your experience as perfect as possible. Feel free to give us a call or send us a message!