Surfing has long been a cool sport that few people have access to. That all changed when wannabe surfers realized that wakeboard boats, weighted down with plenty of onboard ballast, actually produced some tasty waves. Suddenly, the surf could be up not just off coastal beaches but on waterways everywhere. After that, wakesurfing rose from playful diversion to watersports phenomenon.
Credit boat design for truly building the wave. Electronically controlled, movable plates and tabs became a staple on transoms, disrupting water flow to create not only larger wakes but ones that mimicked an ocean wave’s shape and face. Software replaced trial and error, reducing variables like ballast loads and surf hardware positioning to a few intuitive taps on a touchscreen helm display. Boats also became larger and more luxurious, with powerful engines to carry the increased load and abundant seating to let friends join the party.
Ready to catch this ever-growing wave? Here are four of the most tricked-out wave makers on the market as well as one electric alternative creating its own swell for the future.
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Nautique G25 Paragon
Image Credit: Courtesy Nautique With its faceted hullsides and trademark telescopic tower, Nautique’s G25 Paragon blends form and function. Tap the button to lower that tower and the attached Bimini stays level, maintaining coverage from sun or rain. Slide into the helm chair and find two touchscreen displays, one to monitor vitals and the larger placed closer to intuitively dial in wake preferences. Starting at $395,245, power options run from a 600hp PCM Z8 to a Yanmar diesel, both with abundant torque to haul a ballast and passenger-influenced load. And those wakes? Vertical plates extend out and down from hull corners and combine with a horizontal, configurable running surface tab to build pro-level monsters…or a gentler curve perfect for that first-time rider.
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MasterCraft XStar S
Image Credit: Courtesy MasterCraft MasterCraft’s X Star series is legendary in wake circles and the XStar S is the pinnacle flagship of the fleet. Choose Ilmor’s supercharged 6.2-liter engine and experience the benefits of 630 hp and 665 lb-ft of torque, power that allows the boat to easily handle its supersized 4,500 pounds of ballast or 16-passenger capacity. MasterCraft’s SurfStar system uses a trio of transom-mounted tabs to alter the running surface and shape the surf wave to perfection. For a total of $323,274 you can go crazy with the options list and include the Z8 watersports tower with hydraulic assist, stern thruster for superior docking control, cool-touch vinyl in surprisingly dark hues and bold metal-flake gelcoat.
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Malibu 26 LSV
Image Credit: Courtesy Malibu Boats Malibu’s LSV has long been a favorite for its impressive wake potential and classic V-shaped bow. Starting at $249,175, 26 LSV is the biggest version yet, measuring in at 26’ 6” in length, boasting a passenger capacity of 17, and featuring a ballast capacity of over 6,000 pounds. Malibu refines its passenger and ballast-built wake via a series of add-ons at the transom. The Power Wedge III hydrofoil simulates up to 1,500 pounds. The Surf Gate’s twin vertical tabs disrupt water flow along the hullsides and shapes an ideal wave on a rider’s preferred side. Dial in the wake to individual rider’s preference on the dash touchscreen or let the rider take control via the Surf Band, a smartwatch-like controller.
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Nautique Super Air Nautique GS22E
Image Credit: Courtesy Nautique The Super Air Nautique GS22E is a paradigm shifter, not so much for its impressive wakes but the fact the boat doesn’t burn an ounce of gas. An Ingenity electric motor is paired with a 124 kWh battery for up to three-hour wake sessions between charges. That battery’s weight also naturally adds to wake volume. The GS22E’s dry weight tips the scales at more than 1,000 pounds heavier than its gas-powered counterpart. Add 2,250 pounds of subfloor ballast, Nautique’s trademark surf system and configurable running surface and the boat produces wakes that can satisfy beginner and pro alike, at an almost eerily quiet ride on the water.
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Pavati AL 26
Pavati makes waves for its 100-percent military-grade aluminum construction. The aptly-named Zero Flex hull measures a full 1-inch thick and is tough enough to beach on a rocky shoreline. Lightweight aluminum also improves performance and fuel-efficiency. That’s not to say the AL 26, priced at $419,999, can’t displace plenty of water when it’s time to surf. Nearly 6,000 pounds of water ballast floods welded subfloor cavities in as little as 90 seconds, eliminating the need for pumps. Oversized surf tabs, dynamic trim control surfaces and a horizontal trim tab build, shape and clean up wave faces. Extras? Check out the 17-in. dash touchscreen, 12-in. speed display at the transom, and bow and stern thrusters for easy, precise docking.
