Have wake-boats gotten too big?

[Bret Cole]

It's starting to feel like wake-boats have gotten way too big with most of the boats dry weight over 4000 lbs and you need a diesel rig to tow it. I miss the days when wake-boats were a lot smaller and you could tow them anywhere with either a full size S.U.V or a Half Ton truck perfectly fine.

[gonefishin5555]

You wanted to be a new truck anyway? Now you have a reason. It doesnt have to be diesel but just 3/4 ton

[jtryon]

1st post, also 1st posts on two other forums with the same exact thing.

[Kmayotte]

There is a wake/surf boat from nearly every manufacturer in a smaller size.
The 2000-2006 SAN 210 that some consider the "golden era" of wakeboarding & wakeboats weighs 3200 pounds
Axis A20, 3500 lbs
Mastercraft NXT, 3800 lbs
Mooba Helix, 4000 lbs
SAN 210, 4100 lbs

Considering technology, surf system, , increased capacity/storage, tower; that's not a bad increase. And all could be towed easily by a well equipped half-ton.

But yes all these manufacturers also make some very big boats as well. The new Centurion RI265 is HUGE.

This is the same as saying, Sea Ray boats have gotten too big. Well ya they make some big boats...in addition to small boats.

Just can't take the thought of buying the small boat in the line-up because it's not the "flag-ship"?

[dhmcfadin]

I just watched the product overview for the Centurion RI265. From bow to end of the swim platform with the tongue swung, its 28 feet long. Weighs 6400 lbs not including the trailer. Comes with 5800 lbs of ballast. Just a behemoth of a boat. It’s getting a little insane. Went out on Lake Austin Monday evening, it was so rough, we had to turn back to the boat ramp and call it a day. Kinda sad.

[jhiestand]

From a non-towing perspective, the wakes on these giant wake-producers at some point are going to eventually result in liability concerns. Seems like owners seem to forget they are responsible for their wake. I was perusing a thread on one of the "other" forums and that new Malibu M220 weighs more than a G23 dry and has 1400lbs more ballast capacity. There's even a short video of one nearly sinking a Mastercraft 205. Seems like it's just a matter of time before someone gets injured from the wakes produced by one of these behemoths and litigation begins.

[Jonny Quest]

He!! Yes

[hal2814]

We thought the same thing about wakeboard wakes yet here we are. These boats that are producing this sort of wake are getting considerably more expensive. I suspect the problem will take care itself through a combination of increasingly more expensive boats and some pretty interesting advances in surf park technology.

[gonefishin5555]

’Merica. We like our stuff big. I hope people aren’t surfing just outside the no wakes zone at their lake. The other thing is you don’t have to surf at max ballast. Beginners don’t let go of the rope anyway and they don’t want the biggest wave. I had a kid learning was at the lowest settings and 60-70% on the ballast

[SilentSeven]

....It's getting a little insane. Went out on Lake Austin Monday evening, it was so rough, we had to turn back to the boat ramp and call it a day. Kinda sad.

Seeing the same thing here on Lake Sammamish in the PNW. This summer has been game changer on hot days...lake is packed with big surf rigs and it's almost impossible to even float and swim with all the rollers coming through.... :/



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[Nautiquehunter]

Too big , Too expensive and too much useless crap and electronics to only increase the sales price. I have pity for the poor sucker that breaks a shaft and looses the prop or has an electrical failure after the warranty is over. Everybody wants to surf regardless of the docks, shoreline or other people in the danger zone. Keep it up and you will see lakes banning surf boats?

[srock]

The performance and driving fun of direct drives is missed although my 230 is not a bad compromise. I just don't get the driving pleasure in these massive boats with tons of freeboard. I feel removed from the water. Perhaps there will be a resurgence of people buying and cleaning up old direct drives. The simplicity makes them good project boats.

[bturner]

I saw this post on the MC forum with similar replies. Bit of a troll post seeing the OP has only one post but I think it's a fair topic for conversation.

I have to say even the smaller boats like the GS20 are fat boys these days and present a challenge for an upgrade path for people like me. I want a smaller boat as I'm on an inland lake that's not that big or deep but the weight these new boats are coming in at is a bit of a problem for me. I have a 4000 lb lift with an upgraded winch which means I'm good up to about 4500 lbs. This has worked well with all my previous 20' boats as they all came in under 3600 lbs. Now a boat like the GS20 is coming in at nearly 1000 lbs more, dry. If I were to seriously look at moving to a GS20 I'd also need to look at a bigger lift. Aside from the cost of getting a bigger lift, this would also mean I need to consider the PITA factor of moving the bigger, heavier lift in and out of the water every year as well.

IDK may have to just love what I have and get on with life.