Bow rider

A bow rider is a kind of runabout boat typically between 17' and 35', use stern drive or outboard engines, and hold between six and ten people. To distinguish it from a cuddy boat, it has an open bow area where there are extra seats in front of the helm station. This term can be confused with bow riding, a dangerous and often illegal activity involving sitting or standing on the bow while the boat is underway.

They are well suited for many recreational water sports such as tubing, water skiing, and swimming, however a Center Console or Walkaround type boat is more practical for fishing. Bow riders are well suited for lakes and inland water. In heavy seas the open bow and lower gunwales may cause the boat to take on more water into the bilge.

A bow rider or bowrider is a type of boat which has a seating area in the bow, the forward part of the ship. Bow riders are generally designed for recreational use such as day cruising or water skiing, and they come in a variety of styles from luxurious to basic. Several manufacturers of boats produce bow riders, in both mass production and custom models for their customers, and such boats are often available for rental at facilities which offer boats for rent to people who do not maintain their own watercraft.