The question of whether flat-bottom or deep-V boats are superior is somewhat loaded. You can’t trust someone who gives a straightforward answer to one or the other.
It’s easy to give an opinion, but the truth is that deep-V boats and flat-bottom boats each have different abilities. There is equal room for both of them depending on what sort of water you’re planning on cruising.
Today we’ll take a look at each type and draw some comparisons, followed by our personal recommendation of which boat you should purchase based on your preferred body of water.
Whichever boat you pick, you should be aware that maintenance is extremely important. Salt is an obvious corrosive, but even freshwater boats need to be shown some love.
Algae is harmful and needs to be cleaned from the hull regularly, particularly if your boat stays in the water for extended periods.
FLAT BOTTOM BOATS
Now, the most obvious advantage of a flat-bottom boat vs deep-V boats is the fact that they simply don’t ground as easily. If you’re maneuvering in shallow water, a flat-bottom boat won’t hang up on the bottom, which can be a huge advantage when maneuvering tight spaces. This is one of the reasons that river fishermen tend to choose flat-bottom boats over their deep-V counterparts.
The other, not-so-obvious advantage comes in the form of stability. When you’re cruising through calm waters, you can stand upright in a flat-bottom boat with hardly a worry of rocking or capsizing. The exception to this rule is when the water isn’t calm. If you regularly sail choppy water, you’d be well advised to avoid a flat-bottom boat.
In ideal conditions, a flat-bottom boat can be the most relaxing thing in the world. It’s similar to a floating patio that allows you and your buddies to simply relax and let the world melt away.
Stand up and grab another beer from that ice cooler box, and the boat will hold steady. Raiding the icebox is just as easy on the water as it is on land. If you haven’t experienced a flat-bottom boat, I’d highly suggest it. The experience is absolutely surreal.
DEEP-V BOATS
I’ve seen many more deep-V boats than flat-bottom boats, and I suppose there is good reason for that. While flat-bottom boats are built for leisure, deep-V boats were born for efficiency.
While a deep-V boat can’t take you as far into shallow waters or stay as stable in calm waters as a flat-bottom boat, they deal with choppy water far better than their flat-bottomed cousins.
In addition to having what it takes to brave choppy waters, a deep-V boat will keep you much drier. Flat-bottom boats have a habit of slapping the water and creating quite a bit of spray, but deep-V boats will cut through the water.
The taller sides keep you free of any water that might be kicked up. There are a lot of advantages to having a boat that can cut through the water.
One such advantage is the ability to speed around the water much faster than a flat-bottom boat. This can be particularly important during activities based around speed like fishing tournaments.
Even if you just have a lot of fish to discover and water to cover with a limited time to do so, these slight differences give the deep-V boat a distinct advantage.
UTILITY BOATS
If you simply can’t decide between a flat-bottom or deep-V boat, lucky for you there is a decent middle ground. I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that utility boats seem a lot more like flat-bottom boats.
They feature an extended keel that allows them to slice through the water similar to a deep-V boat. While it isn’t technically able to fully displace deep-V or flat-bottom boats, it’s a happy medium.
PERSONAL PREFERENCE
Readers that have kept up with my previous article might know that I’m purely a man of leisure. With that in mind, flat-bottom boats are absolutely a favorite of mine.
I don’t mind if the speed is lacking, I’m on the water to relax, after all. Do you get a little more wet? Well, yeah … But I’m not sure what else could be expected when you’re headed out for a day on the water.
If you’re someone who knows how to take things easy and go with the flow, then we’re a lot alike and I’d highly recommend a flat-bottom boat. Those who need to get where they’re going yesterday, and despise waiting around, will be a nice fit for a deep-V boat.
People who are undecided or simply want a fair share of both sides will mesh with a utility boat. There really is something for everyone!