The Right Wake
Finding the ideal boat — and wake — for your favorite towsports.
In the summer of 1922, 19-year-old Ralph Samuelson made history as the first person to waterski, launching a sport that has since captivated millions worldwide. This achievement took place on Lake Pepin in Lake City, Minnesota, where Samuelson skied behind a 20-foot workboat powered by a converted Saxon truck engine, reaching a top speed of 16 mph.
Over the past 103 years, waterskiing has evolved into a diverse range of towsports, including slalom skiing, jumping, trick skiing, barefooting, wakesurfing, kneeboarding, wakeboarding, wake skating and even wake foiling.
Though all these towsports have their roots in what Ralph Samuelson envisioned and accomplished, each has its nuances and each requires a specific type of wake for optimal performance. For competitive athletes and recreational enthusiasts alike, the boat’s wake is their playing field. But the optimal wake characteristics vary among towsports. Slalom and barefoot skiers prefer smaller wakes, while wakeboarders and wakesurfers prefer larger, steeper wakes. Even within those broad categories, the ideal shape for slalom differs from that of barefooting, just as the ideal shape for wakeboarding differs from that for wakesurfing.
Fortunately, for lovers of sports done behind the boat, manufacturers now offer a variety of options to suit every towsport. With so many choices available, knowing what to look for is key to selecting the best boat for your favorite towsport — and your family’s needs. Here’s what you need to consider.
The importance of wake
When it comes to towsports, the most important factor is the boat’s wake. The wake is determined by its hull shape, weight, length and propulsion type — whether that’s inboard, sterndrive, outboard or jet drive. Of these factors, the hull’s shape has the greatest impact on wake type and quality.
A hull with added deadrise (a deeper V-shape) at the transom creates a larger wake, while a hull with less deadrise (a flatter shape) produces a smaller wake. Centurion, which pioneered the wakesurfing revolution, features the most deadrise among wakeboats — 20 degrees at the transom — to help create a big wake and wave.
Heavier boats generate bigger wakes; lighter boats produce smaller wakes. Specialized ski boats weigh about 3,000 pounds, while wakeboats weigh about 4,000 pounds or more, depending on length, without any ballast. By understanding how hull design and weight influence wake size and shape, you can choose the right boat to deliver your ideal tow, whether you’re carving slalom turns, getting big air on a wakeboard, or surfing the wave.
Inboard-powered ski boats
Specialized inboard towboats feature the engine either as a direct drive (placed at midship) or a V-drive (placed at the stern). In both cases, the propeller is located under the hull, just forward of the transom.
Midship inboards — such as the Ski Nautique 200, MasterCraft ProStar or Malibu TXi — are designed specifically for slalom, trick and jump competition events. These boats are typically a relatively compact 20 feet in length to help them track perfectly straight down the course.
Though it takes up interior space, the midship placement of the engine helps create a smaller wake and enhances the boat’s tracking ability. The midship placement of the tow pylon, just forward of the engine, also helps with the boat’s tracking. These design choices are crucial for optimal performance in competitive events, especially when slalom skiers cross the boat’s wake back and forth with significant leverage.
(Main photo) Slalom skiing / credit National Boating Safety Media Center
Wake foiling behind the Malibu M230 / credit Malibu
Kneeboarding / credit National Boating Safety Media Center
Cobalt R8 Surf / credit Cobalt
Wakesurfing behind the Regal LS2 Surf / credit Regal Boats
Filling the ballast on a MasterCraft XT22 T / credit MasterCraft
Ski Nautique 200
Inboard-powered wakeboats
Wakeboats are designed specifically for wakeboarding and wake surfing. These boats also feature inboard engines; however, they use a V-drive configuration with the engine positioned at the stern.
Manufacturers such as Centurion, Heyday, MasterCraft, Malibu, Moomba, Nautique, Supra and Tigé specialize in inboard V-drive wakeboats. This segment includes boats ranging from 20 to 26 feet in length.
Boats in general are designed to provide a smooth ride; however, manufacturers of wakeboats also design features into the hull to control the flow of water and create an optimal wake for wakeboarding and wakesurfing. For wakesports, it’s not just about the size of the wake — it’s about the quality. A high-quality wake or wave has a clean face and a distinct peak.
These wakeboat manufacturers also include ballast tanks and transom-mounted systems that shape and customize the wake or wave to suit different skill levels and riding or surfing styles.
Wakeboats will have ballast capacities ranging from about 3,000 to 5,000 pounds in some models. To create a bigger wake, the ballast is not only located in the stern of the boat but also throughout the boat, below the deck. The purpose is to have the entire boat ride deeper in the water, instead of just the stern.
Turning the big wake into a perfect wave for surfing is done with devices mounted to the transom. For example, Malibu features its Surf Gate — a paddle-like actuator that, when activated, redirects the flow of water to create a surf wave on one side of the boat. MasterCraft redirects the water with large surf tabs mounted on both the starboard and port sides of the transom. When one tab is activated down, the opposite side converts into a wave.
Wakeboats include features on the dash for the driver to quickly adjust ballast and to modify the wake or wave on the fly, giving each rider or surfer a crisp wake or wave to enhance performance. The driver can adjust the surf wave from one side to the other on the fly, allowing the surfer to transfer from one side of the boat’s wake to the other without stopping the boat.
Sterndrive and jet-powered surf boats
In 2015, Volvo Penta introduced its Forward Drive sterndrive, and in 2020, Mercury Marine unveiled its Bravo Four forward-facing sterndrive — both of which place the propeller on the forward side of the outdrive, under the boat’s hull. This innovation is safer and allows for wakesurfing, creating a new category of wakeboat. Boat builders such as Cobalt, Regal and Chaparral are designing boats that blend traditional family features with enhancements for wakesurfing and wakeboarding.
This segment offers families a versatile, hybrid option in various boat lengths, starting at 21 feet — ideal for those who want to enjoy both the qualities found in family boats and towsport performance. In addition to ballast, Cobalt and Chaparral both feature the Malibu Surf Gate on the transom to create and adjust the surf wave, while Regal wakeboarding and wakesurfing boats feature large trim tabs on the port and starboard sides of the transom to create a clean surf wave.
For fans of jet-powered boats and wakesports, Scarab and Yamaha boats feature a full wake series. These boats also include ballast and wake-shaping devices to convert the wake into a wave for surfing.
From 1922 to 2025
With so many innovations now available across different types of boats, today’s families and towsport enthusiasts have more choices than ever to find the perfect boat for their favorite towsport.
It’s remarkable to think how far Ralph Samuelson’s pioneering achievement has come. From his historic first ride on waterskis in 1922 to the diverse, specialized towsports we enjoy today, the growth of the sport reflects advancements in technology and design. Just as Samuelson’s achievement sparked a global movement, today’s boat manufacturers continue to push the boundaries, offering an array of options to suit different preferences and skill levels.
The right wake can elevate your experience, whether you’re throwing a big spray on a slalom ski, catching massive air on a wakeboard, or carving the wave on a wakesurf board. By understanding the importance of hull design, weight and propulsion type, you can make an informed decision about the ideal boat for your favorite towsport — ensuring the ultimate experience on the water.
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