If you want to get away from your busy routine and spend your weekend on a peaceful trip, you should definitely pen down fishing in your calendar. You could either go solo or make it a trip with a couple of friends or family members, and unwind all your stress.
However, before you can jump on to fishing, you need to select the correct type of boat for your fishing expeditions. This is where the bass boat or deep v debate comes in.
Although both of them are preferred for fishing, they have many fundamental differences in their features, which affect your fishing style. While one is more suitable for calm waters, the other allows you to drift through rough waters at high-speeds.
So which one should you opt for? What type of boat will suit your fishing needs? Can your boat handle your preferred fishing style?
If we have caught your attention, keep reading to find all the answers to your questions in the following post.
Bass Boat or Deep V: A Comparison
Since both types of boats have many key differences in their construction, speed, and use, we have compared them side-by-side to help you find the perfect one for your weekend trips. All the crucial factors in the bass and deep V boat are described in the following section.
Design
While there are different models of bass boats available in the market to suit your fishing style, they all have the same basic design. Bass boats have a low, sleek profile with a lightweight design that can float on top of your nearby lake.
Besides this, they feature a flat bottom hull and a flat deck, which helps to glide the boat without creating much water disturbance. As their name suggests, these boats were designed keeping bass fishing in mind.
Moreover, the bass boats are operated using a trolling motor or an outboard motor and decked with all the necessary fishing essentials.
This includes coolers for storing your fish, aerated livewells for keeping live fish and even swiveling chairs to make conversation with your comrades.
On the other hand, Deep V boats feature a very distinctive V hull. Instead of a flat bottom, they have a wedge-shaped hull spanning from the bow to the stern. It gives rise to a very noticeable deadrise, ranging from 21 to 26 degrees approximately.
Apart from this, deep V boats have a narrow and compact shape and include a storage area for your catch as well. However, they include higher sides than the bass boats to minimize water splashes.
The deep V boats, most commonly, include fiberglass bottoms, making them ideal for rougher, seawater bodies.
Size and Space
If you plan to go fishing with a large group, it does not matter whether you choose a bass boat or a deep V boat. Since both of them are relatively compact, they cannot hold more than a few people simultaneously.
But if you really want to compare, then deep V hulls have a slight advantage over the bass boats. While they have enough space to accommodate three to five people in larger models, you can fit only a couple of people in a bass boat without capsizing the boat.
As for the size, the bass and deep V boats have almost the same measurements, with variations from model to model. Approximately, they stay below 30-feet in length.
Speed
Most bass boat models can handle high speeds, reaching up to 116 mph, to help them glide over the surface of calm water bodies. With a lightweight body and a powerful outboard motor to boast, these boats can pack up to 150 to 300 HP with ease.
However, people do not typically use bass boats for their speed. Instead, they prefer them for a peaceful and relaxing fishing trip to relieve their stress.
On the contrary, deep V boats are synonymous with fast-speed. The wedge-shaped boats can only deal with rough water conditions on open seas by cutting through the water at high velocity. Without this quality, they get unstable and increase the risk of capsizing.
Ride Quality
Whether you choose a bass boat or deep V boat, your ride experience is going to be unique regardless of their differences.
If you want to invest in an easy-to-handle boat that glides smoothly over calm water, then a bass boat is ideal for your needs. Since it has a flat bottom and shallow draft, these boats do not disturb the water or the fishes. As a result, you get a peaceful fishing experience on your boat for an extended period.
What’s more, these boats are exceptionally stable on lakes and smaller water bodies. With little to none deadrise, these boats can even achieve fast speeds to glide on calm water.
On the downside, bass boats get quite rough and unstable on choppy water. In fact, there are high chances of falling out of the boat.
For such circumstances, a deep V boat will suit your needs perfectly. With a deep wedge-shaped hull, these boats are commonly used on large water bodies to cut through rough, choppy waves at high speed.
Instead of risking instability by strong waves against the sides, deep V hulls go deep into the water to stabilize themselves. On the other hand, these boats are not preferred for small, calm water bodies like lakes.
Usability
As mentioned previously, both types of boats are incredibly suitable for fishing at the end of a busy week. A bass boat or deep V boat has enough space to accommodate all your fishing equipment and your bountiful catches at the end of the day.
So what is the difference in their use? Can you use both of them for the same style of fishing?
To be very precise, the design and construction of the boats have a massive impact on the style of fishing. On the one hand, bass boats are suitable for calm, freshwater bass fishing. However, do not let the name of the boat fool you. You can easily use the same boat for catching other types of shallow-water species in your nearby lake.
Meanwhile, deep V boats are preferred for high-speed fishing tournaments on open seas. Since they can handle rough waves at high speeds, they are suitable for competitive people looking for an adrenaline rush. Moreover, you can even use these boats to throw and spread large nets to catch your favorite seawater fish.
Durability
When it comes to durability, most manufacturers prefer to use lightweight and cheaper Aluminum for their boats. However, you can also find fiberglass in many models of bass boats or deep V boats.
Deep V boats, especially, have a fiberglass hull to protect it from the abrasive seawater. As a result, they can last for a pretty long time with regular maintenance and proper handling.
Final Thoughts
Since there is a significant difference between bass boats and deep V boats, it is quite challenging just to pick one from the market. With both of them having their specific fishing styles, you need to decide if you prefer a calm fishing experience on a freshwater body or you would love an excellent seawater adrenaline rush.
Whatever your decision may be, read our article thoroughly to learn about all the differences in each boat and how it can affect your weekend experience.
