BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Cabin boat or open boat for a day trip: how to choose
Shade, storage, an onboard toilet: what really changes between a cabin cruiser and an open boat for a day trip, beyond the simple question of style.
For a day trip, the choice between an open boat (clear deck, no enclosed cabin) and a cabin cruiser is not just a matter of style: it concretely changes comfort depending on the weather, the number of passengers, and whether children are aboard.
What even a small cabin brings
An enclosed cabin, even reduced to a simple forward berth on a mid-sized RIB, offers shelter if the weather turns suddenly, a space to stow belongings away from sun and spray, and often an onboard toilet, absent on most open boats. That last point matters a lot for a trip with young children or several hours at sea.
What an open boat brings
A fully clear deck makes moving around easier, along with getting in and out for a swim and fitting a large group onto the cockpit benches. These boats, usually lighter, also tend to carry a more accessible rental price than the cabin equivalent in the same power category.
Weather, often the deciding factor
In hot weather, the question ties back to our guide on marine heatwaves: a well-sized bimini or awning sometimes matters more than an enclosed cabin for staying out of the sun during the hottest hours. If rain is forecast, though, a cabin changes the whole comfort level of the outing.
Three questions to ask before booking
- Does the trip involve several consecutive hours at sea, or mostly swim stops with little sailing in between?
- Are young children coming along, with a need for a toilet or an enclosed shaded corner for a nap?
- Does the day's forecast carry a risk of change, which would make an enclosed shelter more useful than a simple bimini?
The right habit when comparing
In a given destination, open RIBs and cabin cruisers often land in the same daily price range: it is better to compare the models actually available than to pick a category upfront. Our guide to motorboat or sailboat rounds out this thinking for multi-day trips, where the balance between shelter and open deck space shifts once again once nights spent sleeping aboard enter the picture.
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