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Top 10 Boats for Texas in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Shallow Sport X3
Direct answer

The Shallow Sport X3 is the best boat for Texas: the 25 X3 drafts 9.5 inches at rest and carries 80 gallons. The Texas-built Skeeter SX241 (75 gallons, 350 hp) is #2, and the Shallow Sport 24 Mod V is #3 for families.

At a glance

#PickMax horsepowerBest for
1Shallow Sport X3350 hp recommended (25 X3)Skinny Texas bays one day, wind-blown open water the next
2Skeeter SX241350 hpA Texas-built bay boat with long range
3Shallow Sport 24 Mod V250 hp recommendedFamilies who want a V-hull ride that still runs shallow
4NauticStar 214 Shallow Bay200 hpAnglers who split time between lakes and bays
5Sea Hunt BX 25 FS350 hpFamily days on open bays with forward seating
6Skeeter FXE21 Limited250 hpBass tournaments on big Texas reservoirs
7Tracker Pro Team 17575 hpA first fishing boat for Texas lakes and ponds
8Bennington RX SportUp to 700 hp totalBig groups cruising Texas lakes
9Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV652 hp (top engine option)Wakesurfing and wakeboarding on Texas lakes
10Cobalt R4 Surf430 hp (top engine option)Surfing plus cruising in a runabout layout

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Shallow Sport X3
Best Texas-built bay boat
Skeeter SX241
Best for lakes and bays
NauticStar 214 Shallow Bay
Best bass boat
Skeeter FXE21 Limited
Lowest price
Tracker Pro Team 175

The ranking

1

Shallow Sport X3

Shallow Sport X3
Answrs VerdictThe best all-round Texas coastal boat.
Max horsepower: 350 hp recommended (25 X3)Draft: 5 in on plane, 9.5 in at rest (25 X3)Fuel: 80 gal (25 X3)Lengths: 25, 29 or 32 ftBuilt in: Los Fresnos, TX

The Shallow Sport X3 comes in 25, 29 and 32 ft. The 25 X3 drafts 5 inches on plane and 9.5 inches at rest, carries 80 gallons and is rated for 350 hp; Shallow Sport builds it in Los Fresnos, TX.

Go ifSkinny Texas bays one day, wind-blown open water the next
Skip ifYou want a classic V-hull
Why #1 over #2: Its 9.5-inch draft at rest is shallower than the SX241’s 15 inches.
2

Skeeter SX241

Skeeter SX241
Answrs VerdictThe Texas-built bay boat.
Max horsepower: 350 hpLength: 24 ft 1 inDraft: 15 inFuel: 75 galBuilt in: Kilgore, Texas

The Skeeter SX241 is 24 ft 1 in with a 15-inch draft, 75 gallons of fuel and a 350 hp max; Skeeter builds in Kilgore, Texas.

Go ifA Texas-built bay boat with long range
Skip ifYou fish the skinniest flats
Why #2 over #3: Its 75 gallons top the Mod V’s 57.
3

Shallow Sport 24 Mod V

Shallow Sport 24 Mod V
Answrs VerdictThe family crossover.
Max horsepower: 250 hp recommendedDraft: 6 in on plane, 10.5 in at restFuel: 57 galDry weight: 1,600 lbsHull: Modified deep V that converts to a tunnel at mid-ship

The Shallow Sport 24 Mod V has a modified deep V that converts to a tunnel at mid-ship. It drafts 6 inches on plane and 10.5 inches at rest, carries 57 gallons and is rated for 250 hp.

Go ifFamilies who want a V-hull ride that still runs shallow
Skip ifYou need more than 57 gallons
Why #3 over #4: Its 10.5-inch draft at rest is shallower than the 214 Shallow Bay’s 11 inches.
4

NauticStar 214 Shallow Bay

NauticStar 214 Shallow Bay
Answrs VerdictThe freshwater-saltwater crossover.
Max horsepower: 200 hpPrice: Standard MSRP $61,603Length: 21 ft 2 inDraft: 11 inFuel: 51 gal

The NauticStar 214 Shallow Bay is 21 ft 2 in with an 11-inch draft, 51 gallons and up to 200 hp; its standard MSRP is $61,603.

Go ifAnglers who split time between lakes and bays
Skip ifYou want 250+ hp
Why #4 over #5: Its $61,603 MSRP is far below the BX 25 FS’s $122,382.
5

Sea Hunt BX 25 FS

Sea Hunt BX 25 FS
Answrs VerdictThe family bay boat.
Max horsepower: 350 hpPrice: Starting at $122,382Length: 25 ft 3 inDraft: 15 inFuel: 68 gal

The Sea Hunt BX 25 FS is 25 ft 3 in with a 15-inch draft, 68 gallons and up to 350 hp, starting at $122,382.

Go ifFamily days on open bays with forward seating
Skip ifYou fish skinny water
Why #5 over #6: Its 68 gallons top the FXE21 Limited’s 48 for open-bay runs.
6

Skeeter FXE21 Limited

Skeeter FXE21 Limited
Answrs VerdictThe Texas-built bass boat.
Max horsepower: 250 hpLength: 21 ft 5 inDraft: 17 inFuel: 48 galBuilt in: Kilgore, Texas

The Skeeter FXE21 Limited is a 21 ft 5 in bass boat with a 17-inch draft, 48 gallons and a 250 hp max, built in Kilgore, Texas.

Go ifBass tournaments on big Texas reservoirs
Skip ifYou fish saltwater bays
Why #6 over #7: Its 250 hp max is far above the Pro Team 175’s 75 hp.
7

Tracker Pro Team 175

Tracker Pro Team 175
Answrs VerdictThe budget lake boat.
Max horsepower: 75 hpPrice: $24,995 boat, motor and trailer (national price)Length: 17 ft 7 inDraft: 12 inFuel: 21.5 gal

The Tracker Pro Team 175 is 17 ft 7 in with a 12-inch draft, 21.5 gallons and a 75 hp max, at a $24,995 national price for boat, motor and trailer.

Go ifA first fishing boat for Texas lakes and ponds
Skip ifYou fish open bays
Why #7 over #8: Its $24,995 package price is a fraction of the RX Sport’s $170,133 start.
8

Bennington RX Sport

Bennington RX Sport
Answrs VerdictThe luxury lake pontoon.
Max horsepower: Up to 700 hp totalPrice: Starting at $170,133 US MSRPLengths: 23 ft to 27 ftCapacity: 8 - 15 people

The Bennington RX Sport line runs 23 ft to 27 ft, takes up to 700 hp total and seats 8 - 15 people, starting at $170,133 US MSRP.

Go ifBig groups cruising Texas lakes
Skip ifYou want to fish or surf
Why #8 over #9: It is the only pontoon on this list, seating 8 - 15 people for big lake groups.
9

Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV

Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV
Answrs VerdictThe wake boat.
Max horsepower: 652 hp (top engine option)Price: Starting at $146,973Length: 23 ftMax factory ballast: 4,435 lbsCapacity: 15 people

The Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV is 23 ft with up to 4,435 lbs of factory ballast, seating for 15 and engines up to 652 hp, starting at $146,973.

Go ifWakesurfing and wakeboarding on Texas lakes
Skip ifYou want a fishing boat
Why #9 over #10: Its 4,435 lbs of factory ballast is far more than the R4 Surf’s 1226 lbs.
10

Cobalt R4 Surf

Cobalt R4 Surf
Answrs VerdictThe surf runabout.
Max horsepower: 430 hp (top engine option)Length: 24 ft 3 inBallast: 1226 lbsFuel: 50 galCapacity: 13 people

The Cobalt R4 Surf is 24 ft 3 in with 1226 lbs of ballast, 50 gallons, room for 13 and engine options up to 430 hp.

Go ifSurfing plus cruising in a runabout layout
Skip ifYou need the biggest wake

How we ranked these

We ranked each boat on how well it handles Texas water - shallow coastal bays first, then big inland lakes - using each builder’s published draft, fuel, horsepower and price. 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 Texas?

The Shallow Sport X3. The 25 X3 drafts 5 inches on plane and 9.5 inches at rest, carries 80 gallons and is rated for 350 hp; Shallow Sport builds it in Los Fresnos, TX.

Which boats on this list are built in Texas?

The Shallow Sport X3 and 24 Mod V (Los Fresnos, TX) and the Skeeter SX241 and FXE21 Limited (Kilgore, Texas).

What is the cheapest boat on this list?

The Tracker Pro Team 175, at a $24,995 national price for boat, motor and trailer.

Which boat works in both lakes and bays?

NauticStar calls the 214 Shallow Bay the perfect crossover for freshwater and saltwater angling; its standard MSRP is $61,603.

Top horsepower (as published) at a glance

Tracker Pro Team 17575 hp
NauticStar 214 Shallow Bay200 hp
Shallow Sport 24 Mod V250 hp
Skeeter FXE21 Limited250 hp
Shallow Sport X3350 hp
Skeeter SX241350 hp
Sea Hunt BX 25 FS350 hp
Cobalt R4 Surf430 hp
Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV652 hp
Bennington RX Sport700 hp
Top horsepower (as published), 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.