New & Used Bowriders & Deck Boats Dealership & Sales in Michigan City, IN
Family-owned on Trail Creek since 1953 — Northwest Indiana’s trusted source for bowriders, deck boats, financing, and full-service marine care.
Bowriders and deck boats are the two most popular boat styles on Lake Michigan: they seat a crowd, they’re easy to handle, and they work as well for a quiet morning cruise as for pulling a tube all afternoon. B&E Marine has been helping Northwest Indiana families choose the right one since 1953. Visit our showroom at 31 Lake Shore Drive in Michigan City to compare new and used models side by side.
- 73+ Years in Business
- Family-Owned & Operated
- Top 100 Marine Dealer
- NMMA 5-Star Certified Dealer
Why bowriders and deck boats dominate Lake Michigan
Walk any marina in Northwest Indiana on a Saturday in July and you’ll see the same two silhouettes again and again. There’s a reason for that. A bowrider gives you open seating forward of the windshield, a walk-through to the bow, and a deep cockpit aft — which means the same boat that carries six adults comfortably can also handle watersports, sunset cruises, and a day anchored off the beach. Deck boats take that idea further with a wider, squared-off bow that trades a little top-end sharpness for a lot more usable floor space.
The decision comes down to how you actually spend your time on the water. If watersports and handling matter most, a bowrider’s V-hull cuts through Lake Michigan chop more cleanly and tracks better at speed. If you’re more often hosting — grandparents aboard, coolers, folding chairs, a dog underfoot — a deck boat’s extra beam up front is worth more than a couple of miles per hour. Our sales team asks those questions first, because the wrong answer means a boat that sits on the trailer.
B&E Marine has sold this category longer than almost anyone in the region. Founded in 1953 and still run by the same family three generations later, we’ve been named a Top 100 marine dealer, a Brunswick Ambassador Dealer, and an NMMA Marine Industry 5-Star Certified Dealer. Our factory-trained technicians service the same boats we sell, so the relationship doesn’t end at the sale. More on our About Us page and our certifications and awards.
Find the right bowrider or deck boat for how you boat
Length is the first thing most buyers ask about, but how you’ll use the boat matters more than the number on the hull. Here’s how the category breaks down in practice, based on what we see our customers actually buy.
18–21 ft Bowriders
The easiest entry point into boating. Trailerable behind most SUVs, simple to dock, and priced for first-time buyers who want room for four to six.
22–25 ft Bowriders
The sweet spot for Lake Michigan. Enough freeboard and hull weight to handle open-water chop, with seating for eight and real watersports capability.
26 ft & Up Bowriders
Larger sport boats with head compartments, premium sound, and wet bars — closer to a day yacht than a runabout, and built for long days offshore.
Deck Boats
Maximum floor space and seating in a given length. The practical choice when you’re regularly bringing more than six people aboard.
Watersports Models
Bowriders equipped with tow pylons, ski lockers, ballast, and upgraded power for families who wakeboard, tube, and ski most weekends.
Jet-Powered Bowriders
Yamaha-style jet propulsion with no exposed prop, shallow draft, and quick acceleration — popular with families boating around swimmers.
Looking at other styles too? We also stock center consoles, pontoons, cruisers, and yachts, or you can browse our complete inventory.
The bowrider and deck boat brands we stand behind
Fit and finish varies enormously in this category, and a bargain hull usually reveals itself by year three. We carry brands with proven construction quality and resale value: Sea Ray’s SPX and SDX lines set the benchmark for sport boat ride quality; Yamaha Boats bring jet propulsion and strong value in the 19- to 25-foot range; Boston Whaler’s Vantage models put the unsinkable Unibond hull in a dual-console family layout; and Navan builds modern Scandinavian-designed day boats. New boats are rigged with Mercury power and Trailmaster, Venture, or Phoenix trailers.
Still comparing? Our team has written detailed brand comparisons, including Sea Ray vs. Chaparral, Sea Ray vs. Cobalt, and Yamaha vs. Scarab jet boats.
New or used — which makes more sense for your budget?
Bowriders and deck boats hold their value well when they’ve been properly maintained and stored, which makes the used market genuinely worth considering. Here’s how our sales team frames the decision.
Buying New
A new bowrider gives you full warranty coverage, current hull design and digital helm electronics, and the ability to spec the layout, upholstery, and power package you actually want. Factory incentives on in-stock models often narrow the gap with used pricing more than buyers expect. Check our current inventory for active offers, or talk to our sales team.
Buying Used or Brokerage
A three- to six-year-old bowrider stored indoors each winter can deliver most of a new boat’s experience at a meaningful discount. The catch is knowing what you’re buying — hours, service history, engine compression, stringer and transom condition. Our brokerage program lists pre-owned boats from local owners whose maintenance records we often know firsthand; start with our used and brokerage listings.
Already own a boat? Our trade-in program applies its value directly to your next purchase, and We Want Your Boat will give you a number even if you’re not buying this season.
What to look for when shopping bowriders and deck boats
After seven decades of selling and servicing this category, a few details separate boats that owners love from boats they list two seasons later. These are the things we point out on every walkthrough.
Hull Deadrise
A deeper V (roughly 19–21 degrees at the transom) rides noticeably better in Lake Michigan chop than a flatter hull. It’s the single biggest factor in whether your family enjoys a breezy afternoon or asks to head in early.
Power Package
The base engine is usually adequate; the upgrade is usually worth it. Loaded with eight people and gear, an underpowered boat struggles to plane and burns more fuel doing it.
Seating & Storage Layout
Count the actual usable seats with the bow filler cushion out, and open every locker. Ski storage, in-floor compartments, and a real cooler space matter more on day three than any brochure feature.
Canvas & Upholstery
Quality vinyl and a well-fitted cover are what keep a boat looking new at resale. On used boats, faded or cracked seating is often the most expensive thing to put right.
Service History
On any pre-owned boat, ask for engine hours and documented maintenance. We’d rather sell you a well-kept older boat than a neglected newer one, and we’ll tell you which is which.
Where It’ll Live
Trailering, a marina slip, and indoor winter storage all change your annual cost. Worth planning before you buy — we can walk you through slip options and indoor storage.
Everything that comes after the sale
A boat is a seasonal commitment, not a one-time transaction. B&E Marine handles the financing, service, storage, and gear that keep your bowrider on the water year after year.
Boat Financing
We work with multiple marine lenders to structure terms around your budget, with an online calculator to estimate payments before you apply.
Explore Financing OptionsTrade-In Valuation
Get a straightforward number on your current boat and apply it directly toward your new bowrider or deck boat.
Start a Trade-InBoat Insurance
Marine-specific coverage built for boat owners, quoted through partners who understand what you’re insuring.
Request an Insurance QuoteService & Repairs
Factory-trained technicians handle everything from spring commissioning and oil changes to sterndrive and jet pump work.
Schedule Service OnlineShip’s Store
Watersports gear, tow ropes, life jackets, parts, and accessories — everything a bowrider owner runs out of mid-season.
Visit the Ship’s StoreSlips & Winter Storage
Private slips on Trail Creek plus heated indoor winter storage that keeps gelcoat and upholstery in condition.
See Storage OptionsServing bowrider and deck boat buyers across Northwest Indiana
Our showroom and marina sit on Trail Creek in Michigan City, but our customers come from across Northwest Indiana and the greater Chicago area. Here’s how we support buyers in the communities we hear from most.
Bowriders & Deck Boats for East Chicago, IN
East Chicago families make the drive to Michigan City for a bowrider selection that’s hard to match closer to home, and for a service department that keeps them running all season. Whether you’re buying your first 20-footer or moving up to a 25-foot sport boat, our team walks you through financing and trade-in options built around your budget.
See how B&E Marine serves East Chicago boatersBowriders & Deck Boats for Gary, Indiana
With direct Lake Michigan access, Gary boaters need hulls that handle open water — which is exactly where a deeper-V bowrider earns its keep. We stock the sizes and power packages that suit those conditions, and we handle financing, trade-ins, and seasonal maintenance in one place.
Learn more about our services for Gary, Indiana boatersBowriders & Deck Boats for Hammond, IN
For Hammond buyers, B&E Marine offers real depth across new, used, and brokerage bowriders and deck boats. Our sales team asks how you actually plan to use the boat before recommending models, and our Ship’s Store and service bays keep you covered well beyond the purchase.
See what we offer Hammond boatersBowriders & Deck Boats for Valparaiso, IN
Valparaiso families have made B&E Marine a regular stop for deck boat shopping, watersports rigging, and spring commissioning. Our full-service marina means you can buy the boat, slip it, and service it without ever heading into Chicago for dealership support.
Explore our services for Valparaiso, Indiana boatersComing from farther out? We also maintain pages for boats for sale near Chicago, Northern Indiana, and Southwest Michigan.
See them in person on Trail Creek
Spec sheets only tell you so much. The difference between a 21-foot bowrider and a 23-foot deck boat becomes obvious the moment you step aboard both — how the bow seating fits adults, whether the walk-through takes a cooler, how the helm feels at your height. Our Michigan City showroom lets you compare models back to back, and our team will happily leave you alone to sit in them.
We’re on Trail Creek, minutes from Lake Michigan and roughly 38 miles from downtown Chicago by water. That’s why many customers buy here and keep the boat here: our marina offers private slips up to 60 feet with drive-up access, a seasonal fuel dock, pool, bathhouse, and laundry. The showroom and Ship’s Store are open six days a week.
Planning a visit? Use our quickest route tool to map directions, check current fuel prices, or contact our team ahead of time so we can have specific models ready for you to walk.
What bowrider owners say about B&E Marine
The best measure of a dealership is whether customers come back for their second and third boat. Here’s a sample of what ours have shared.
“We came in thinking we wanted a 19-footer and left with a 23. Not because anyone upsold us, but because they asked how many people we’d actually have aboard. They were right.”
— M. Alvarez, bowrider owner“Third boat we’ve bought from B&E. Same service department, same people, same honest communication every time we bring it in.”
— D. Kowalski, deck boat owner“The trade-in number was fair and they applied it straight to the new boat. No haggling, no games.”
— T. Reyes, bowrider ownerFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between a bowrider and a deck boat?
What size bowrider is best for Lake Michigan?
Does B&E Marine sell used bowriders and deck boats?
How much does a new bowrider cost?
Which bowrider brands does B&E Marine carry?
Can I finance a bowrider or deck boat?
Can I trade in my current boat toward a bowrider?
Do you offer storage and service for bowriders?
Where is B&E Marine located?
Ready to find your bowrider or deck boat?
Browse current inventory online, or come walk the boats in person at our Michigan City showroom. Either way, our team is here to help you compare models, talk financing, and get a real number on your trade.
