You can practice water sports pretty much with any boat, the thing is that some boats are better suited for the job than others. The same applies to jet boats, let’s discuss what makes a good wake boat and what jet boats are better for this type of sports.
What does a good wake boat must have
- Ballast system- This is a system designed to bring water in the boat and store it temporarily. This adds weight to the boat which pushes the boat deeper in the water. when the boat seats deeper in the water it displaces more water creating bigger and better waves for water sports.
- Wake shaper- These devices are designed to form a better wake. They attach to the side or the back of the boat and don’t require a ballast system on the boat. There are many different styles out there capable of creating different shape waves.
- Wake tower- This is basically a metal structure (usually aluminum) mounted to the hull of the boat. Its main purpose is to provide a high towing point which is very important for water sports. They are also used to mount speakers, Bimini top and wakeboard racks
- Wakeboard rack- this racks mount to the wake tower and provide storage and easy access to your wakeboard at all times.
- Sound system- Wake sports are all about having fun in the water and what a better way to enjoy wakeboarding than listening to your favorite playlist. Boats tend to be loud so you need a louder sound system to bring that music to you.
- Appropriate seating- You need room for your friends but most importantly you need a good boat layout. Proper seating layout will make the boat feel bigger but also it will be less complicated when trying to move around or when trying to get to the cooler. Seating should provide good visibility to the wakeboarder.
- Capable control center- Most wake boats have control centers capable of controlling speed, how fast the boat accelerates, ballast system, audio, navigation, and more
- power- You need enough power to carry your friends, gear, supplies, extra weight from ballast system and still pull a wakeboarder without much hesitation. Remember you never hear anyone say “I which I went with a smaller engine”
You should understand that if you buy a jet boat for the sole purpose of wake sports, you are probably going to get disappointed. Now, if your plan is to practice occasional wake sports but also enjoy all the other amenities and advantages of a jet boat, you are going to love it.
jet boat manufacturers have been working hard to make these boats more attractive to watersports enthusiasts. Ballast systems, wake shaper, wake tower, and sophisticated control centers are just some of the features available now in some jet boat models.
all of these features combined with the safety feature that comes with no having an exposed prop, make these boats an excellent choice. And let’s not forget about the looks, these boats are designed to catch the eye and turn heads.
Even though jet boats have advanced a lot in recent years and can be an excellent option for occasional wake sports. Still, if you are looking for a professional wake boat, you probably should look elsewhere a jet boat is not what you want.
Here I have put together a list of some of the best jet boats for wake surfing.
Jet power wake boat options
Yamaha 212X
The 212X has specific features that target the watersports action. It comes equipped with 1,100 lbs. (498.95 kg) of total ballast in three tanks, a billet aluminum rear view mirror, a premium watersports tower, a premium sound system that includes a tower mounted sound bar, subwoofer, 500 W amplifier, and six Polk audio midrange speakers.
BOATTEST
| LENGTH | 21’3″ |
| WEIGHT | 3,616 lbs |
| BEAM | 8′ 6″ |
| SEATING CAPACITY/WEIGHT CAPACITY | 10 persons/1,860 lbs |
| ENGINE OPTIONS | Twin 1.8 Liter, High Output 1812cc |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 50 gal |
| PRICE | Starting at $62,399 |
Yamaha 242X
Jet boats have never been known for their high wakes, but Yamaha is changing all of that with the 242X E-Series. Yamaha also engineered a system to make a surfable wake that has better push, a deep pocket and a clean face they call “Surf Pointe Technology.” They adjusted the jet-drive nozzle positions to create the ideal wake and by adding three ballast tanks with a total of 1,400 lbs. of water ballast, the boat sits deep, creating a larger more ridable wake.
BOATTEST
| LENGTH | 24′ |
| WEIGHT | 4,032 lbs |
| BEAM | 8′ 6″ |
| SEATING CAPACITY/WEIGHT CAPACITY | 12 persons/2,698 lbs |
| ENGINE OPTIONS | Twin 1.8 Liter, High Output 1812cc |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 50 gal |
| PRICE | Starting at $78,999 |
Chaparral 203 Vortex VR and 223 Vortex VRX
the Vortex 223 VRX – a 400hp screamer with the safety of jet propulsion, but with three ballast tanks and a specially-designed transom that creates a sculpted, surfable wake. The ASP (Aerial Surf Platform) is available on Chaparral’s new 223 and 243 Vortex twin jet bowriders and integrates into the existing swimplatform to provide a bigger staging zone for watersports and relaxation.
TRADEABOAT
Chaparral 203 Vortex VR
| LENGTH | 20’3″ |
| WEIGHT | 2,500 lbs |
| BEAM | 8′ |
| SEATING CAPACITY/WEIGHT CAPACITY | 8 persons/1,500 lbs |
| ENGINE OPTIONS | Single 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 250 ECT Single 1.6L Rotax 4-TEC 300 ECT |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 35 gal |
| PRICE | Starting at $39,895 |
223 Vortex VRX
| LENGTH | 22’3″ |
| WEIGHT | 3,600 lbs |
| BEAM | 8’6″ |
| SEATING CAPACITY/WEIGHT CAPACITY | 10 persons/1,500 lbs |
| ENGINE OPTIONS | Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 200 ECT Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 250 ECT Twin 1.6L Rotax 4-TEC 300 ECT |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 52 gal |
| PRICE | Starting at $60,495 |
Chaparral 2430 Vortex VR and 2430 Vortex VRX
For maximum wake surfing potential, owners can order the 243 Vortex VRX with the Aerial Surf Platform (ASP) with a ballast system. First, the ASP is a molded fiberglass extension that bolts to the aft end of the swim platform. It has a contoured bottom designed to form wakes. Unlike other trim-tab like devices, it has no moving parts. The ballast system consists of two 550-lb. (249 kg) bladders underneath the aft seats and a single 250-gallon (946 L) reservoir in the bow for a total of 1,350 lbs. (612 kg). The fill controls for the ballast system are at the helm.
Chaparral
| LENGTH | 24’3″ |
| WEIGHT | 4,000 lbs |
| BEAM | 8’6″ |
| SEATING CAPACITY/WEIGHT CAPACITY | 12 persons/1,850 lbs |
| ENGINE OPTIONS | Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 200 ECT Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 250 ECT Twin 1.6L Rotax 4-TEC 300 ECT |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 52 gal |
| PRICE | Starting at $62,795 |
Scarab 215 ID, Scarab 255 ID, and Scarab 285 ID
The scarab jet boat lineup is also packed with all the things you look for on a wake boat. The Wake Edition includes speed controls, graphics, ballast, a wake tower, and board racks all wrapped up in a beautiful package—all the goodies you need for the ultimate Scarab Wake experience.
Scarab
Scarab 215 ID
| LENGTH | 21′ |
| WEIGHT | 3,100 lbs |
| BEAM | 8’4″ |
| SEATING CAPACITY/WEIGHT CAPACITY | 10 persons/1,800 lbs |
| ENGINE OPTIONS | Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 150 ECT Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 200 ECT Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 250 ECT Twin 1.6L Rotax 4-TEC 300 ECT |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 41 gal |
| PRICE | Starting at $55,133 |
Scarab 255 ID
| LENGTH | 25′ |
| WEIGHT | 3,660 lbs |
| BEAM | 8’4″ |
| SEATING CAPACITY/WEIGHT CAPACITY | 13 persons/2,100 lbs |
| ENGINE OPTIONS | Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 150 ECT Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 200 ECT Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 250 ECT Twin 1.6L Rotax 4-TEC 300 ECT |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 56 gal |
| PRICE | Starting at $71,200 |
Scarab 285 ID
| LENGTH | 28′ |
| WEIGHT | 5,750 lbs |
| BEAM | 9’2″ |
| SEATING CAPACITY/WEIGHT CAPACITY | Yacht |
| ENGINE OPTIONS | Twin 1.5L Rotax 4-TEC 250 ECT Twin 1.6L Rotax 4-TEC 300 ECT |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 98 gal |
| PRICE | Starting at $109,327 |