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Boats · Top 10

Top 10 Boats for Sandbars in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Bennington 25 RX Fastback
Direct answer

The Bennington 25 RX Fastback is the best boat for sandbars: the RX Sport line seats 8 - 15 people and the 23 RX Fastback has an extended aft deck with a Lillipad ladder as standard. The Sea-Doo Switch Cruise 21 (10 people, from $35,349) is #2, and the Crest Caribbean 240 SLSC is #3.

At a glance

#PickPersons capacityBest for
1Bennington 25 RX Fastback8 - 15 people (RX Sport line total capacity)Big groups who want a lounge-style pontoon to anchor off the sandbar all day
2Sea-Doo Switch Cruise 2110 (US)Families who want a pontoon that is easy to beach-hop and board from the swim platform
3Crest Caribbean 240 SLSC13 (2 tube) / 15 (3 tube)Groups who spend the day in the water behind the boat
4Hurricane SunDeck 2690 OBYacht Certified (no person count published)Long sandbar days far from the dock, with a head on board
5Yamaha 252SD12 (seating capacity)Shallow-water cruising with no outboard hanging off the stern
6Carolina Skiff 21 LS14Running right up into skinny water and fishing on the way out
7Chaparral 23 SSi OB13 (NMMA)A sporty bowrider that tilts its outboard up to nose onto the sand
8NauticStar 203 SC Deck10Saltwater sandbars, with a galley sink and an optional fishing package
9Bayliner M177Couples and small families who want a small deck boat that is easy to tow
10Tahoe T166 personsA first boat for short runs to the sandbar

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Bennington 25 RX Fastback
Best value pontoon
Sea-Doo Switch Cruise 21
Best deck boat
Hurricane SunDeck 2690 OB
Shallowest published draft
Carolina Skiff 21 LS
Lowest price
Tahoe T16

The ranking

1

Bennington 25 RX Fastback

Bennington 25 RX Fastback
Answrs VerdictThe luxury sandbar pontoon.
Persons capacity: 8 - 15 people (RX Sport line total capacity)Lengths: RX Fastback offered in 23', 25' and 27'Price: Starting at $170,133 US MSRP (RX Sport line, MY27)Max horsepower: Up to 700 HP totalStern: Extended aft deck with Lillipad ladder (standard on the 23 RX Fastback)

The Bennington RX Fastback comes in 23', 25' and 27' lengths in the RX Sport line, which seats 8 - 15 people, takes up to 700 HP total and starts at $170,133 US MSRP. Bennington lists an extended aft deck with a Lillipad ladder as standard on the 23 RX Fastback - room to lounge and an easy climb back aboard from the water.

Go ifBig groups who want a lounge-style pontoon to anchor off the sandbar all day
Skip ifYou want a boat under $100,000
Why #1 over #2: It seats up to 15 people across the RX Sport line, versus 10 on the Switch Cruise 21.
2

Sea-Doo Switch Cruise 21

Sea-Doo Switch Cruise 21
Answrs VerdictThe sandbar pontoon on a budget.
Persons capacity: 10 (US)Price: Starting at $35,349 (2027 Switch Cruise entry package, trailer included in MSRP)Draft: 18.9 in (static, maximum load)Fuel: 46.5 galEngine: Rotax 1630 ACE jet propulsion, 230 hp or 300 hpBuilder pitch: The ultimate sandbar social hour

Sea-Doo pitches the 2027 Switch Cruise as “the ultimate sandbar social hour.” The 21 is rated for 10 people (US), carries 46.5 gal of fuel and runs a Rotax 1630 ACE jet at 230 hp or 300 hp; its draft is 18.9 in at maximum load. The 2027 Switch Cruise starts at $35,349 with a trailer included in MSRP.

Go ifFamilies who want a pontoon that is easy to beach-hop and board from the swim platform
Skip ifYou need room for more than 10
Why #2 over #3: It is the only boat here its builder pitches straight at the sandbar, and it starts at $35,349 with a trailer.
3

Crest Caribbean 240 SLSC

Crest Caribbean 240 SLSC
Answrs VerdictThe open-stern pontoon.
Persons capacity: 13 (2 tube) / 15 (3 tube)Length overall: 26'2"Max horsepower: 150 HP (2 tube) / 400 HP (3 tube)Fuel: 28 gal (2 tube) / 54 gal (3 tube)Stern layout: SLSC swing-back lounge with an open rear deck for easy water access; Lillipad ladder standard

The Crest Caribbean 240 is 26'2" overall and carries 13 people as a 2 tube or 15 as a 3 tube, with up to 400 HP on the 3 tube. The SLSC floorplan puts a swing-back lounge at the stern with an open rear deck for easy water access, and a Lillipad ladder is standard.

Go ifGroups who spend the day in the water behind the boat
Skip ifYou want a jet drive
Why #3 over #4: As a 3 tube it is rated for 15 people; Hurricane publishes no person count for the 2690 (Yacht Certified).
4

Hurricane SunDeck 2690 OB

Hurricane SunDeck 2690 OB
Answrs VerdictThe full-day deck boat.
Persons capacity: Yacht Certified (no person count published)Length: 26' 4"Fuel: 98 galMax horsepower: 400 HPWater access: Bow and stern telescoping ladders, standardHead: Enclosed head with sink

The Hurricane SunDeck 2690 OB is 26' 4" long with a 98 gal tank and up to 400 HP. Telescoping ladders at both the bow and stern are standard, and an enclosed head with sink makes a full day off the sandbar easier.

Go ifLong sandbar days far from the dock, with a head on board
Skip ifYou trailer to small ramps
Why #4 over #5: Its 98 gal tank is bigger than the 252SD’s 75 gal, and it adds a bow ladder for nosing onto the sand.
5

Yamaha 252SD

Yamaha 252SD
Answrs VerdictThe jet-drive sandbar boat.
Persons capacity: 12 (seating capacity)Price: Starting at $124,299Length: 24'6"Fuel: 75 galEngines: Twin 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, 1.9 Liter High Output Yamaha marine engines (jet drive)Swim-up seat: Swim-up seat accessory included

The Yamaha 252SD is 24'6" with seating for 12, a 75 gal tank and twin 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, 1.9 Liter High Output Yamaha marine engines driving jets, so there is no outboard on the stern. A swim-up seat accessory is included. It starts at $124,299.

Go ifShallow-water cruising with no outboard hanging off the stern
Skip ifYou want the lowest price
Why #5 over #6: Its 75 gal tank is far above the 21 LS’s 30 gal for longer runs to the bar.
6

Carolina Skiff 21 LS

Carolina Skiff 21 LS
Answrs VerdictThe shallowest published draft here.
Persons capacity: 14Draft: 7 in (approx)Price: Starting at $41,620 with 150 HP (NAP; MSRP $54,890)Fuel: 30 galMax horsepower: 175 HPStern: Swim platform with 3 step telescopic ladder

The Carolina Skiff 21 LS drafts about 7 in, is rated for 14 people and up to 175 HP, and carries 30 gal of fuel. A swim platform with a 3 step telescopic ladder is standard. It starts at $41,620 with 150 HP (MSRP $54,890).

Go ifRunning right up into skinny water and fishing on the way out
Skip ifYou want plush lounge seating
Why #6 over #7: It is rated for 14 people, versus 13 on the 23 SSi OB.
7

Chaparral 23 SSi OB

Chaparral 23 SSi OB
Answrs VerdictThe sandbar bowrider.
Persons capacity: 13 (NMMA)Draft up: 14 inLength (with swim platform): 23' 6"Fuel: 56 galMax horsepower: 250 HP

The Chaparral 23 SSi OB is 23' 6" with the swim platform, drafts 14 in with the drive up, carries 56 gal and takes up to 250 HP, with an NMMA capacity of 13.

Go ifA sporty bowrider that tilts its outboard up to nose onto the sand
Skip ifYou want a pontoon-style deck
Why #7 over #8: Its 56 gal tank tops the 203 SC’s 47 gal.
8

NauticStar 203 SC Deck

NauticStar 203 SC Deck
Answrs VerdictThe saltwater deck boat.
Persons capacity: 10Draft: 10 in (approximate)Price: Standard MSRP $64,803Fuel: 47 galMax horsepower: 150 HP

The NauticStar 203 SC Deck has an approximate draft of 10 in, room for 10 people, a 47 gal tank and a 150 HP max. Its standard MSRP is $64,803.

Go ifSaltwater sandbars, with a galley sink and an optional fishing package
Skip ifYou need more than 150 HP
Why #8 over #9: It carries 10 people, versus 7 on the M17.
9

Bayliner M17

Bayliner M17
Answrs VerdictThe small deck boat.
Persons capacity: 7Price: Starting at $31,433Draft (minimum): 9.6 inFuel: 18 GALMax horsepower: 90 HP

The Bayliner M17 drafts 9.6 in at minimum, seats 7, carries 18 GAL and takes up to 90 HP. It starts at $31,433.

Go ifCouples and small families who want a small deck boat that is easy to tow
Skip ifYou bring big groups
Why #9 over #10: Its 18 gal tank and 7-person capacity top the T16’s 13 gal and 6 persons.
10

Tahoe T16

Tahoe T16
Answrs VerdictThe lowest price.
Persons capacity: 6 personsPrice: $23,595 with a 60 ELPT FourStroke (2027, boat, motor and trailer, national price)Draft (trimmed up): 12.5 inFuel: 13 galMax horsepower: 75 HP

The Tahoe T16 is $23,595 with a 60 ELPT FourStroke as a boat, motor and trailer national price. It seats 6 persons, carries 13 gal, drafts 12.5 in trimmed up and is rated for 75 HP.

Go ifA first boat for short runs to the sandbar
Skip ifYou need room for more than 6

How we ranked these

We ranked each boat on how well it works for a day anchored at a sandbar - deck and lounge space, easy water access (ladders, swim platforms, open sterns), shallow draft and capacity - using each builder’s published specs and prices. Builders publish draft on different bases (trimmed up, approximate, at maximum load), so we only compare draft figures that share a basis. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best boat for a sandbar?

The Bennington 25 RX Fastback. The RX Sport line seats 8 - 15 people, takes up to 700 HP total and starts at $170,133 US MSRP; the 23 RX Fastback lists an extended aft deck with Lillipad ladder as standard.

Which boat on this list has the shallowest draft?

Of the drafts the builders publish, the Carolina Skiff 21 LS lists the smallest: about 7 in. It is rated for 14 people and starts at $41,620 with 150 HP.

What is the cheapest sandbar boat on this list?

The Tahoe T16, at $23,595 with a 60 ELPT FourStroke as a boat, motor and trailer national price. It seats 6 persons.

Is there a pontoon made for the sandbar?

Sea-Doo calls the 2027 Switch Cruise “the ultimate sandbar social hour.” The 21 is rated for 10 people and the 2027 Switch Cruise starts at $35,349 with a trailer included.

Max persons capacity (largest published configuration) at a glance

Tahoe T166 people
Bayliner M177 people
Sea-Doo Switch Cruise 2110 people
NauticStar 203 SC Deck10 people
Yamaha 252SD12 people
Chaparral 23 SSi OB13 people
Carolina Skiff 21 LS14 people
Bennington 25 RX Fastback15 people
Crest Caribbean 240 SLSC15 people
Max persons capacity (largest published configuration), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.