Ski Boats

This category is dedicated to boats which qualify as tournament ski and wakeboard boats.

Ski Boats

When it comes to these boats you want to look for several features. Great ski boats are fairly flat on the bottom (They have little dead rise.) The idea is, of course, to not create a wake because skiers like glassy water.

Tournament boats have a pole to ski from. Most skiers want a pole close to the center of the boat.

Engine power and engine placement are important too. An engine in the center of the boat will create less wake than an engine in the back of the boat. A powerful engine helps you to pull your skier out of the water more quickly.

Skegs are important as well. As these boats have a flat bottom, they need skegs to help keep the boat going straight. The skegs also help the boat to carve a better line when turning.

Examples of tournament boats are Ski Nautiques, Tige', Malibu, and Mastercraft.

Many of these boats can also be used for wakeboarding.

Tournament wakeboarding boats have several key features. They have a tower and either a slight V shape to the hull or a flat bottom(although this is not always the case).

When wakeboarding you want to create a wake. Therefore, the boats are designed to create a wake. Some ski boats are converted into wakeboarding boats by adding ballast to the back of the boat. Others, like Tige', have a small plate on the back of the boat which can be pushed down or pulled up. When pushed down the plate causes the boat to leave a small wake. When you put the plate up you get a larger wake.

You must be careful with some boats that have water ballast tanks on the back. Some people damage their boats' hull when traveling at too high of a rate of speed with full ballast tanks. Educating your drivers is important!