How to Buy the Best Wakeboard Boat | The Ultimate Guide To Wakeboard Boating
Wakeboard boating is all about helping the rider get up, go fast, and do tricks and flips on huge wakes. And for that, you need a wakeboard boat that makes big powerful wakes and serves as a launching point where a rider can take flight. Wakeboarding, wake surfing, water skiing, tubing, and all kinds of watersports enjoy the huge wakes that wakeboard boats create.
This is your ultimate guide to understanding what size boat you need, the best hull design, bow, how much power you need for a wakeboard boat, in-board ballast systems, hydrofoil, wave plates, price, and more. Learn about new technology in wakeboard boating and why a regular ski boat just won't do.
Wakeboarding on a Boat
Wakeboarding on a boat is a water sport that involves a wakeboard and riding on large wakes made by the boat. The rider is towed behind the boat and wants to go fast and gain altitude so they can do tricks and flips. Using a wakeboard tower to increase the pulling position on the rope launches the rider and helps them get more time in the air. And ballast features cause a bigger wake which makes surfing more fun.
But all of this can happen only when the wakeboarding boat is making large powerful wakes that serve as a launching point for a rider.
Wakeboard boats are made specifically to displace water and make big wakes for a rider in tow.
They are typically lightweight, fiberglass and have an inboard engine. The engine is either in the center or towards the back so the weight of the boat is optimal for speed, hydrofoil, and water displacement.
There are several features boat manufacturers use to create big wakes: ballast, hydrofoil, and hull technology.
A Ballast System is a Must-Have for a Wake Boat
A good wake boat features a ballast system. It can either be built-in or with an add-on ballast system kit. But both systems involve filling bags with water to add weight and bring the hull of the boat deeper into the water which ultimately makes a bigger or longer wake.
Built-in ballast system
Many boats have built-in ballast systems which are areas that can be filled with water adding extra weight and displacing water at certain points on the boat.
Most wakeboarding and wake surfing professionals prefer wake boats that have built-in ballast systems as it provides more comfort than the ballast kit which has bags that need to be filled and emptied with a pump.
Ballast Bags
Ballast bags are placed on sections of the boat's hull to add weight and make larger wakes. It requires more efforts and time than a built-in system and isn't convenient for the driver to have to control.
These bags are different in shape and are loaded with water for stability and a stabilization system on the boat's surface. Correct use of the ballast bag can have considerable effects on the wake shape.
It's recommended to fill ballast bags in the backmost portion to create the smooth vertical wake. Since most surfers enjoy playing in large waves with their hands without ropes, it's best to fill a ballast bag at the back to create a longer wake.
Hydrofoil Technology
Hydrofoil technology, or hydrofoils, help the boat gain speed so it can drive more on top of the water, which reduces drag.
On a wakeboard boat, the hydrofoil is a wing-like structure that is mounted to the struts below the hull. As the boat increases in speed, the hydrofoil features create enough lift to raise the hull out of the water, reducing drag. It also helps to improve fuel efficiency.
Hydrofoils are expensive to build which makes the price of wakeboarding boats somewhat higher than boats not made for watersports.
Best Hull Design for a Wake Boat
Wakeboard boats get their size and power from the water displacement of the boat. Depending on the shape of it, the boat is either moving on top of the water or riding deeper in the water. The best wakeboard boat has a lot of internal ballast to weigh the down the hull making it go deeper into the water and having a lot of power to make huge waves as it pushes through. This creates a bigger or longer wave and wake. Hull design will determine the ride and fuel efficiency of the boat.
The hull is the part that helps keep the boat afloat. It provides stability and protects cargo and storage areas. It is essential to find the optimum hull design which provides high performance, efficiency, speed and efficiency. Boat hulls come in various shapes - the 'Deep V,' multi-hulled, rounded-hull, and flat bottom.
V-shaped Hulls
The 'Deep-V' hull is considered the best choice for a wakeboard boat. Unlike a ski boat or flat hull, it is designed to cut through water instead of bouncing over the top of them. The ride is fast and smooth, even in strong winds or rough wave conditions. You'll get better fuel efficiency because it goes through water instead of having to push against it. A boat with a Deep-V design typically has a larger engine than a flat-bottom or round hull.
Multi-Hulled Boats
Multi-hull boat is regarded as a more stable boat. These are the most stable on the water and are typically yachts, pontoons, and catamarans.
Rounded-Bottom Boats
Rounded-bottom hulls are designed to move smoothly and tend to be less stable than other boats. They are designed for smooth water flow. Canoe's have a rounded-bottom hull.
Flat Bottom Boats
Boats with a flat bottom hull are very stable, but don't make much of a wake. They are usually fishing boats.
Power and Engines for a Wake Boats
Wakeboard boats need an engine with lots of power and horsepower. For safety, it's better to have more than enough horsepower than not enough. Boats with more horsepower are less likely to be affected by the rider. A boat with too little horsepower can cause the boat to slow down or come to a stop if the rider makes a hard cut.
For watersports, you need to know how much horsepower your boat needs to tow wakeboarders. This largely depends on the size of your boat, how much it weighs, and which sport passengers are going doing.
The recommended horsepower for wakeboarding, waterskiing, knee boarding, and tubing is 150 horsepower. Wake surfing should have 200 horsepower and barefooting should have 250 horsepower.
Boat Size For Wakeboard Boats
The best size for a wakeboarding boat is 18-25 feet in length.
Boats 18-20 feet in length are small enough to be easy to drive and trailer, but you need to make sure the engine has enough horsepower to pull the wakeboarder safely.
Boats 21-22 feet in length are medium sized wakeboard boats and they are popular on Arizona lakes. They are large enough to bring a few passengers and small enough to be able to drive and handle easily.
Boats 23 -25 feet in length is considered a large wakeboard boat. These models typically include a large engine, higher capacity, ample storage, more ballast capacity, great performance, and have lots of features. But the engine needs to be powerful enough to be able to create big wakes.
Open Bow or Closed Bow Wake Boat
Open and closed bows refers to whether there is seating on the bow of the boat, or not. The main differences are weight distribution, socializing, and storage.
Boats with an open bow, like the Malibu MXZ line, gives you more room to add front weight. This helps the rider max out the wake. It's also comfortable to sit and socialize while cruising and leaves room for storage in the front. But they also take on more water when passengers are sitting up front and picking up a downed skier might mean taking on some water, too.
Boats with a closed bow, like the Ski Nautique 200 Closed Bow, carry less passengers and have storage in the back.
Wave Plates and Wedges For Wake Boats
Wave Plates and wedges help create a bigger wake for the rider. A wakeboard boat should have a wave plate or wedge system so the wake can be adjusted.
Malibu boats have a hydrofoil wedge device that can be extended to create a downward force that brings the stern of the boat further into the water.
MasterCraft boats have an "attitude adjustment plate" which allows the boat to be trimmed, which makes a bigger wake.
Nautique boats have the "hydrogate" which creates a small channel along the stern of the boat at the transom. The driver can adjust the trough to accommodate whichever watersports are taking place.
For wakeboarding, the trough is opened creating high velocity and a region of low pressure which causes the transom to settle lower. This creates the best wake for wakeboarding.
For water skiing, the trough is closed which pulls the nose of the boat lower on the plane to create the ideal wake.
How Much is a Wakeboarding Boat?
The price of a wakeboarding boat depends greatly on the size, model, manufacturer, and features.
A brand new HeyDay H22 starts around $75,000 and is affordable without being cheap. It's a 22'4" boat with 370 horsepower and so many features specific to wakeboarding that any rider will have an amazing time.
Final Thoughts
Wakeboard boating is a great way to have a lot of fun on the water. Finding a boat that has enough power to displace water and have enough ballast to make great wakes. A V-shaped hull is the most popular design for wakeboarding and an in-board ballast system is easier for the driver. A boat that considers hydrofoil and wave plates will get the boat moving fast enough to help the rider take flight. Heyday, Malibu, Mastercraft, and Nautique are among the best wakeboard boats for sports in the world.