high performance boats

back to boat types find a boat manufacturer

High-performance boats satisfy the need…for speed. These long, sleek craft boast incredible power, often running a pair of high-horsepower sterndrives, inboards, or multiple outboard engines to propel them swiftly through the water. Their deep-V or catamaran-style bottoms, or “hulls”, slice through waves like a knife through butter, making them the perfect match for ocean swells or large inland lakes. They typically look the part, too, boasting flashy paint jobs and plush interiors. The classic high-performance boat features a long, enclosed front, or “bow”, with a relatively small main seating area, or “cockpit”, arrayed with seating for captain and crew. Additional features can include a head (toilet) and V-berth (bed) below the bow deck.

Learn more about …

… which activities you'll most enjoy

High-performance boats, often referred to by the nickname “go fast,” are frequently seen streaking up and down coastal beaches, or running rivers at thrilling speeds. That, after all, is partly what they’re designed to do. It’s fun to go fast, especially when that speed is across the water. Some high-performance boat owners take this passion to another level by participating in organized racing. Others frequently enjoy “poker runs,” organized events that bring together fellow enthusiasts on a high-speed, multiple-destination power cruise.

… which engine is right for your boat.

Sterndrive power is a common choice in high-performance boats. Sterndrives tuck the engine below an upholstered lounge (also called a “sunpad”) or engine box, and allow for a clean, uninterrupted swim platform off the back of the boat, or “stern”.

High-horsepower outboard engines are frequently seen on high-performance boats, with multiple engines commonly seen mounted to the back panel of the boat, or “transom”. Quiet and easy to service, outboards create additional cockpit room and storage space by positioning the engine behind the boat’s transom. Outboards can also be fully lifted, or ”trimmed”, out of the water.

Inboard engines position the engine within the hull, and only immerse a portion of the driveshaft (the rod connecting the engine to the propeller) and propeller in the water below the hull, often advantageous in saltwater environments. Steering is accomplished via a movable rudder, located aft of the propeller blades.