TAHOE Deck Boat Comparisons

Think of the TAHOE series of deck boats like today’s ever popular crossover SUVs. You get a smooth sedan-like ride with the roomy interior of a sport utility vehicle. What’s cool about these deck boats is they are designed for fishing and family entertainment.

Deck boats, like their automobile counterparts, are growing in popularity for the same reasons. Families want one vehicle—or boat—to be multifunctional and meet their many needs. Think of a day on the water like this: An early morning fishing trip is followed by an afternoon of cruising, skiing, tubing, picnicking and more with the family. Deck boats can handle it all with purpose and style. A two-in-one boat obviously saves money, makes boating more convenient, and can even make it more fun.

Don’t mistake deck boats as fiberglass versions of a pontoon boat, though both deliver the fun in spades for fishing, cruising and watersports activities. The deck boat builds on the pontoon boat’s characteristics with varied layout space and performance attributes.

The deck boat’s forward wider beam is the most obvious physical feature with the more visibly rounded bow. By design, deck boats are wider to accommodate a spacious interior layout for the abundant seating and storage. More space equals greater variety of interior layouts. For performance, deck boats have less deadrise at the transom. That gives the boat greater lift and stability when carrying weight inside the cockpit. Wider chines also give more lift and stability at planing speeds. That means greater stability and buoyancy when passengers ride at the bow.

The TAHOE Deck Series lineup gives fun-loving families a waterborne playground for endless fun. Four models are available and we’ll compare three of those. Options are available to customize them for your needs.

Optional trailers are built by White River Marine Group, parent company of TAHOE and other trusted recreational boat brands. Every TAHOE trailer is constructed of welded steel tubing for maximum strength and durability. The entire frame features exclusive GALVASHIELD® Impact powder-coat finish for extended corrosion protection. Other great features include a swing-away tongue, folding tongue jack, Super Lube hubs, submersible lights and more.

Read on for the basics of these three deck boats, and then schedule a visit with the friendly experts at a Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Boating Center.    

All three deck boats share the unique POWERGLIDE hull. This design features a deeper V at the bow to cut through chop and waves, and a shallower rear section for faster planing and better at rest stability. The turned down edges of the hull side—called reverse hull chines—force spray downward to provide stability on plane and better steering response in turns. The result is a softer ride, nimbler handling and better overall performance. 

About the boat
The 2150 deck boat is 21' 1" overall with a beam spanning 8' 6." Fuel capacity is 46 gallons with a maximum 225 horsepower outboard. Capacity is 11 persons with an overall combined maximum weight of 2,200 pounds.

Fishing features
At the bow is a 15-gallon aerated livewell for keeping live bait healthy and ready for action. Three starboard rod holders keep rigs at the ready, and the boat is pre-wired for an optional trolling motor, which can be factory rigged for dependability.

Play features
Wakeboards, skis and gear can be conveniently stored out of the way in the in-floor storage compartment. The refreshment center with a drained sink and sprayer with freshwater receptacle provide convenience for entertaining. There’s a built-in trash receptacle, stereo and ski tow pylon storage. And there’s plenty of seating with a wrap-around bow lounge with beneath seat storage, and a comfy L-lounge with storage for tow ropes and a removable 36-quart cooler.

What makes it stand out
Seating throughout for 11 people and deep storage areas for all the gear needed for a day on the water. Outside the cockpit are fore and aft swim platforms, each with telescoping boarding for watersports fun. A stereo, refreshment center, cooler, ski pylon and Bimini top add to the reasons why this deck boat is ready to please everyone.    

About the boat
This center console deck boat is 21' 1" overall with a beam spanning 8' 6." Fuel capacity is 46 gallons with a maximum 225 horsepower outboard. Capacity is 10 persons with an overall combined maximum weight of 2,300 pounds. Compared to the 2150, this variant is more geared for fishing with its bay boat interior layout.

Fishing features
Fishing buddies have 360-degree access around the deck for rigging up, casting and fighting fish. Rod holders, aerated livewell and insulated fishboxes make it rigged and ready for fishing. The boat is pre-wired for adding an optional trolling motor, and there is space available for mounting fish finders at bow and console. 

Play features
Lounge seating defines a deck boat and there is plenty of it for relaxing in style. The Bimini top cools the interior from the hot sun and there’s an in-floor compartment for convenient storage of wakeboards and skis. When the time comes for watersports fun the front and rear swim platforms with boarding ladders are ready-made for the perfect cannonballs.

What makes it stand out
Sleek lines with luxury pontoon-level features and comfort combines with the 360-degree fishability of a saltwater fishing rig to define this crossover deck boat. Trade fishing gear for wakeboards in no time to make this boat ideal for a day filled with fun and variety. 

About the boat
This inboard deck boat is 21' 6" overall with a beam spanning 8' 6." Fuel capacity is 36 gallons with a maximum 250 horsepower outboard. Capacity is 12 persons with an overall combined maximum weight of 1,800 pounds.

Fishing features
At the bow fishing station is a 20-gallon livewell and two bow fishing positions for the removable fishing seats. There’s an anchor locker to keep the space uncluttered. At the back is another seat post and designated storage space. Three starboard rod holders keep fishing rigs neatly stored and ready, and the boat is pre-wired for trolling motors that can be factory installed. A Lowrance depthfinder is located at the console.

Play features
The aft swim platform includes insulated storage, and a covered 4-step boarding ladder that is longer for easier boarding. Beneath the bow lounge seating is lots of storage, and you can store the removable 36-quart cooler beneath the spacious aft L-lounge. A refreshment center with a sink and sprayer with a 15-gallon freshwater receptacle make it convenient for entertaining. The in-floor storage provides easy access to wakeboards, skis and related gear.

What makes it stand out
The speed and handling of the MerCruiser 4.5L MPI 250 HP Alpha One ECT. The sterndrive provides unobstructed access to the rear swim platform, which has more open space where the outboard is normally mounted. Of the three compared deck boats, the 215 Xi has the greatest capacity. The forward and aft fishing stations allow anglers to enjoy casting while the rest of the crew relaxes in the cockpit.

Read more about choosing between outboard and sterndrive power here. 

All three deck boats share similar attributes, but each has standout features making it different. If your crew loves watersports the sterndrive 215Xi is worth a look. If you lean more toward fishing the 2150CC is ideal. The go between is the 2150, which provides a balance of fishing, playing and cruising in the ultimate two-boats-in-one package.

The growing popularity of inshore and nearshore saltwater fishing is creating a demand by anglers for boats catering to their specific needs. Whether the pursuit is venturing into the backcountry to search for snook in the mangroves, intercepting migrating tarpon in the pass or stalking redfish in the marshes, there is a rig to meet your needs

What stands out about the REGENCY LE3 Sport, LE3 and DL3 pontoon boats? That’s an easy answer. Head-turning luxury and style is obvious from bow to stern, inside and out.