Unlike buying a car, buying the first speed boat could be a little more daunting. Because speed boats are premium toys, the price differences are just so wide that starts mostly with being expensive. Amenities and luxuries are so attractive that the need for skimping could very well take a back seat. Narrowing the choices down may help.

At the mention of speed boats, the picture that immediately come to mind are the sleek contoured boats that are often used for fast water cruising. Speed boats today though encompass a wider array of choices as many boats including inflatable boats fitted with powerful outboard motors is also a speed boat.

To arrive at the best speed boat that will be tapered more to the need of the buyer, one of the more frequent considerations is the type of water that the boat will be used for and the activity that the boat will be generally subjected to. For someone who is intending to utilize the speed boat for all-around use, any speed boat will do. Another consideration is the frequency of usage and the number of people who would usually use the boat. But the thing that should be given particular attention is what is on the bottom of the speed boat as this oftentimes set the boundaries of the boat's capacity in terms of speed. There are several varieties that a buyer should note for, including the following:

Flat Bottom- Because of the flat-bottom hull design, this boat provides stability on calm weather and on waters where there is shallow draft. Flat-bottom boats are usually not found in the speed boat category because in the first place, these boats have flat bows which make it hard to steer. These can't also handle speed well. Flat-bottom boats, however, are best suited for fishing and other activities that require lesser speed.

Pontoon – Pontoon, otherwise known as deck boat, is basically a combination of several boat hulls. In terms of stability, pontoon boats are sufficiently stable. When it comes to maneuvering, anecdotes of buyers would tell that this type is very easy to maneuver especially with an outboard motor. However, they often ride dry.

V-Bottom Boats— Possibly the most commonly found type, the V-bottom is somewhat the catch-all for boat features. It lies between speed boats and ordinary fishing boats thus providing both speed (which is not sufficient enough to beat race boats) and stability (which is enough to provide a stable ride on rough waters). This design is very versatile and it is not uncommon to find speed boats that have hulls which are variations of the V-bottom design.

Cathedral Hull or Tri-Hull – There are many variations to this type of hull but typically, tri-hull or cathedral hull can be differentiated by its V-shaped bottom with additional hulls by the sides. When it comes to stability, this type is more stable than the more conventional V-bottoms but it also gives less smooth ride especially on rough waters due to the increased bow surface.

Tunnel hull or hydroplanes – As its second name would suggest, this type of boat is possibly the best type when it comes to providing speed. In fact, it is the hull type that is often found used in race boats. It could handle very high speeds well with constant stability.

The special design of this hull is made entirely to trap the air underneath the hull for increased drag.