The Best Wake Boat Brands, a Complete Guide

Wakeboarding and wakesurfing are incredibly popular, but long gone are the days when any powerboat with an engine would do for serious boarders and surfers. Now we have dedicated wakeboard boats, and other finely honed craft designed to be the very best wake surf boats. Even water-skiing fans have their own specific type of tow boats. Today’s best wake boat brands work hard to design their boats with extreme precision so they can create the perfect wakes and even shape them to the taste of individual riders. These are not at all like straightforward bowriders, which may be perfectly fine for towing inflatables, but instead are carefully crafted performance boats designed for very specific purposes. Which will be the best for you depends on the watersports that get you most excited, yet there’s no doubt that one of these best wake boat brands will do the trick.

 

Best All-Around Wake Boats

 

Axis

Axis builds a lineup of six boats, three in the A-series and three in the T-series. The latest, the A245, is new for the 2024 model year and serves as the queen of the fleet; the T-series boats are intended to deliver the same level of wave-making abilities at a lower price-point. In both cases, the boats are designed for all sorts of boarding whether towed or surfed. Axis boats for sale

 

Axis A245. Axis photo. 

 

Centurion

Centurion’s range of mid-sized wake boats are sporty and sleek with lots of customization options to create the look you want; there are dozens of choices for hull base, hull front, and accent gel coats. But these boats aren’t just a pretty package. Centurions have triangular hull pads designed to make symmetrical wakes, enhanced ballast capacities with the ability to fill ballast while underway, and a touchscreen control at the dash that allows you to manipulate and shape the wake even with a surfer in the water. Centurion boats for sale

 

Centurion Fi25. Centurion photo. 

 

Supreme

Supreme offers five models from 21’2” to 25’2”, all of which carry a huge amount of ballast—4400 to 5100 pounds—to generate monster wakes. These waves are tune-able, and Supreme’s “QuickSurf” system is designed to allow you to toggle between wake surfing and wakeboarding with a tap on the touchscreen. That makes it easy for newer captains to deliver the wake that even an expert would demand regardless of how they like to ride. Supreme boats for sale

 

Supreme ZS212. Supreme photo. 

 

Best Wakeboard Boats

The best wakeboarding boats are generally designed to go back and forth between wake surfing and wakeboarding, but have a few specific requirements. Features like elevated tow points, board racks, and programmable rider speeds and waves are must-haves to look for when checking out wakeboard boats for sale.

 

Moomba

Moomba has been creating watersports boats for over three decades and has racked up a lot of awards during that time. Their lineup ranges from a 20-foot pocket rocket up to a luxurious 24-footer, and there are several mid-sized models in-between. You get a huge amount of tech for your money, from the patented Flow Surf System to the Indmar Raptor engine. And the lineup is designed for maximum versatility, so riders across the spectrum get the waves they want. Moomba boats for sale

 

Moomba Mojo. Moomba Boats photo.

 

Scarab

Scarab’s lineup of wake boats includes seven models from 18’10” to 28’0”, and they land on this list for several reasons. First, these are jet boats, which means they may not create quite the same wake as most watersports boats, but the handling is super-sporty, and there’s no propeller to worry about. Second, they have tall towers with elevated tow points. And third, they offer a center console wake boat (the 235 Open Wake ID) that will be ideal for families that enjoy wakeboarding one day and fishing the next. This isn’t exactly a fish-and-ski boat, but rather is a one-of-a-kind center console wake boat. Scarab boats for sale

 

Scarab 235 Open Wake ID. Scarab photo.

 

Best Wake Surfing Boats

Boats designed specifically for wake surfing as opposed to boarding or a mix of the two sports tend to be among the most advanced of the genre. Manufacturers have spent years perfecting the hulls and accessories to tune their wakes just so. If you’re a dedicated wake surfing fan check out The Best Wake Surf Boat Brands, which takes a look at this narrower category in specific, as well as the top picks we ID here as some of the best wake surf boats around.

 

Malibu

Malibu is one of the best in the sector from comfort to convenience, luxury to technology. And built into that tech is the ability to craft waves exactly as the rider likes them via their Surf Gate, ballast systems, and a touchscreen interface that allows for tiny adjustments and the ability to dial in rider-specific presets. Their lineup includes 12 models including two that are new for 2024, the 23 MXZ and the M242. Malibu boats for sale

 

Malibu 23 MXZ. Malibu Boats photo. 

 

Tige

Tige’s boats have a convex hull shape to help produce the biggest possible waves right from the start, but the TAPS 3T wave-plate takes things to the next level for serious surfers. Able to withstand three tons of pressure, when you deploy the TAPS 3T system and fill the ballast, the boat will deliver outrageously large wakes with tremendous push. Tige boats for sale

 

Tige Ultra ZX. Tige photo. 

 

Best Waterski Boats

Wakeboarding and wake surfing have become so popular that there aren’t any builders of dedicated waterskiing boats, only, and just a handful of watersports boats manufacturers still offer ski boats. That said, water skiing is where towed watersports all began and it still has plenty of fans today. You’ll see these builders elsewhere in this roundup for their wakeboard or wake surf boats, but some people will appreciate their ski boat offerings, too.

 

MasterCraft

Just one ski boat remains in the MasterCraft ski boat lineup, the ProStar. This 20-footer is designed to create the flattest wakes possible, minimize spray, and track straight. It’s the epitome of a tournament-level ski boat and boasts a topnotch fit and finish as well. MasterCraft boats for sale

 

MasterCraft Prostar. MasterCraft photo. 

 

Nautique

Nautique has two ski boat offerings, the Ski Nautique and the Ski Nautique 200. The 200 model is a traditional tournament-level ski boat with an open bow, while the Ski Nautique is a blended carbon fiber and fiberglass closed-bow boat designed to out-perform the competition. Nautique boats for sale

 

Ski Nautique 200. Nautique photo. 

 

Most Affordable Wake Boats

 

ATX

The ATX brand was created by Tige to provide a lineup that delivered top performance and engineering but at a lower price-point than the norm. The lineup includes a 20’, a 22’, and a 24’ model. While some frills may be missing, these boats still carry a Raptor Series Indmar inboard, an electric folding tower, touchscreen controls, and the TAPS 3T wave plate system. ATX boats for sale

 

ATX Type S. ATX Surf Boats photo.

 

Heyday

Heyday’s whole ethos is to build quality wake boats at extremely competitive prices, while still delivering top wake boat performance. They’re sleek and stylish (and instantly recognizable with their snub-nose bows), have tons of ballast, and produce a thick, smooth wave. With just four models in their line-up, Heyday wake boats cost significantly less than most competitors and literally half as much as some. HeyDay boats for sale

 

Heyday H22. Heyday photo.

 

Best Luxury Wake Boats

 

MasterCraft

MasterCraft has been producing some of the best watersports boats in the industry for over 50 years, and their range of pro-level XStar wake boats is top of the line. We’re talking about luxury perks like plush seating with CoolFeel vinyls and hand-stitched detailing, wireless phone chargers, and Klipsch Audio sound systems. Are they cheap? No. In fact, they’re among the most expensive wake boats out there. But what makes them a savvy investment (at least, as far as “investing” in a boat goes) is their resale value. Market demand for these boats is nearly always strong, and on the used market they command top dollar. You may remember seeing Mastercraft before, as it also makes an appearance in our Best Lake Boat Brands roundup. MasterCraft boats for sale

 

MasterCraft X 22. MasterCraft photo.

 

Nautique

Nautique is a big name in this segment, and their range of wake boats is impressive. The smallest models in their lineup offer all of the technology and luxury styling of their bigger cousins, but in a more compact package. Wakeboarders can choose a completely customizable wave based on ability or preference, which they can control from the water via a Garmin watch. Nautique boats also offer solid performance in rough water, thanks to ballast tanks integrated into the stringers to boost hull strength. Nautique boats for sale

 

Best Family Wake Boats

 

Chaparral

Chaparral builds an extensive line of runabouts and cruisers, so they know what families like. And when it comes to their wake boat lineup, which features Forward Drive stern drives, they maintain a family-friendly attitude. They also build some models that are outrageously large for wake boats, including 28’0” and 30’2” models, which have the room to take out the whole family and then some for a day of surfing or cruising. Note that Chaparral keeps price in check, too, and was named a top wake boat in our roundup of the Best Cheap Boat Brands. Chaparral boats for sale

 

Chaparral 26 Surf. Chaparral photo.

 

Four Winns

Four Winns builds more runabouts and bowriders than wake boats, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they seem to intuitively know exactly what makes a family wake boat tick. While their boats might not be tournament-level and are powered by Forward Drive stern drives as opposed to inboards, they’re great tow boats designed for fun and versatility. Perfect for beginners, their 22-foot model is compact, comfortable, able to accommodate up to 10 people, and offers excellent value for the money. Four Winns boats for sale

 

Four Winns H2 Surf. Four Winns photo.

 

Yamaha

Yamaha’s Wake Series brings something a bit different to the table with a combination of a Jetboat and a wake boat. Ranging from 22 feet up to a 25-foot model, these boats run on Yamaha 1.8L supercharged waterjet pumps, offering jaw-dropping maneuverability, and have no propeller—making them perfect for new boaters nervous about having the kids in the water. You get the maneuverability and adrenaline of a jet boat, but with a great wave off the back for wakeboarding and surfing thanks to the integrated Yamaha Wake Enhancer. Note that Yamaha also shows up in our roundup of the Best Small Motorboat Brands. Yamaha boats for sale

 

Yamaha 222XD Wake. Yamaha photo.

 

Wake boats are among the most specialized craft on the water today, and each of the brands we’ve mentioned is a standout. There are others that may or may not be better for your own personal needs, but if you’ll be checking out our the ski and wakeboard boats for sale anytime soon, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these top brands.

 

This article was published in June 2023 and updated in June 2024.