Contact a local dealer and arrange for a demo to get a feel for them. They’ve outperformed several others in the same category. The 10 products detailed in this guide come highly recommended by water skiing experts across the world. If you’re shopping for a vessel, ensure that you choose a critically acclaimed manufacturer with a glowing reputation for producing the best ski boats in the industry. Most manufacturers allow you to “Build-a-Boat” to customize it to your needs and individual preferences. That way, you have a vessel that’s ideal for both activities. Get a ski boat that comes with an optional wake tower and sterndrive to produce nice large wakes for wakeboarding. Just don’t expect them to perform as well as they would in calmer waters.Īdditionally, we recommend getting a crossover boat that can do a bit of everything. That is not to say you can’t use them in the ocean. They are optimized for the tranquil conditions of clear lakes. The one thing you need to keep in mind is that boats designed for skiing or wakeboarding don’t perform well in the choppy waters of the open sea. Do you plan to ski out in the ocean, or will you be resigned to the calm waters of a lake? The next thing you need to think about is where you’ll be using your boat. So, you’re planning to do a little fishing or recreational cruising as well, you’re better off getting a more versatile runabout instead. The downside is that boats designed for water sports are rarely ever good for anything else. It is possible to find boats that support all these waterborne activities, although they will likely cost more. Something you can use for water skiing and other water sports like waterboarding, tubing, and even kneeboarding. The issue, however, comes about when you want something that offers a little more versatility. Crossover Capabilityįinding a boat that you can exclusively use for water skiing isn’t a problem per se. The costs associated with maintenance and storage should also factor in when calculating the overall cost of ownership. Of course, the more high-tech or feature-rich a specific vessel is, the higher it will cost. So, find a boat that falls within your budget and meets your basic requirements. PriceĪlthough the price isn’t an indicator of whether a particular boat is more suited for water skiing than its higher/lower-priced counterpart, it’s pointless if the vessel is way out of your price range. The best way to get a feel for the type of wakes generated by a particular boat is to get in touch with the dealer, arrange for a demo and see firsthand the kind of wake it produces. You’ll see them hung at the stern using clamps. Outboards, on the other hand, are situated outside the boat. So, they power the propulsion shaft through the hull. These are known to produce flat wakes that are ideal for water skiing since they are permanently situated inside the boat. You want a ski boat that has an inboard (not an outboard) motor. The wake’s characteristic largely depends on the propulsion method used to generate torque. Propulsion MethodĪs mentioned before, water skiing requires relatively flat wakes. So, once again, if you intend to use your ski boat for wakeboarding as well, it needs to have this capability. This is usually achieved with a wakeboard tower on the boat. If you plan to use the same boat for wakeboarding, ensure that it comes with a hitch point positioned higher than the wakeboarder. Ideally, you want a one whose hitch point is at the same height as the skier’s hands to pull them parallel to the water surface since water skiing doesn’t typically require an individual to make jumps on the water. The other thing you need to consider is the point where the rope attaches to the vessel. So, rather than have one boat dedicated to wakeboarding and another specifically for water skiing, find one that supports different wake characteristics. The best ski boats should be capable of generating both types, to increase their functionality and utility. If you’re water skiing, you want a nice flat wake. If you’re wakeboarding, you want a larger, more aggressive wake. Different watersports call for different types of wakes/waves. Whether you’re choosing a boat for water skiing or wakeboarding, the main thing you need to consider is the wake characteristic. Here are a couple of things you need to keep in mind when picking the best one. How to Choose the Best Ski Boats – Buyer’s GuideĬhoosing the right ski boat is paramount to your entire on-water experience.
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