About Ski Boats

Historically, ski boats have been used to tow one or more water skiers. But their mission has become somewhat more complicated as the sport of wake boarding has ridden a wave of popularity in recent decades. While water skiers enjoy gliding behind a boat that creates only a minimal wake, wake-boarding enthusiasts want larger wakes to launch their airborne routines. Responding to this challenge, many new ski boats are being designed as crossovers equipped with adjustable features like ballast systems and wake-shaping devices to keep water skiers and wake boarders both happy.

  1. History

    • Walter C. Meloon is widely seen as the father of ski boats. Meloon moved his family from New England to Florida in 1924 with dreams of making a fortune in real estate. When the housing market went bust, Meloon turned to boat building, manufacturing innovative vessels that were smaller and lighter than his competitors' models. His company, Correct Craft, introduced water skiing shows at the Cypress Garden theme park in 1935. A decade later, during the height of World War II, Correct Craft built 300 boats in less than a month that were used to transport Allied troops across the Rhine River in Germany. As the industry's oldest family-owned company, Correct Craft's boats remain at the forefront of tournament water skiing and wake boarding.

    Types

    • Ski boats use two main types of inboard propulsion systems--direct-drive and V-drive. Water skiers traditionally prefer the small wakes formed by flat-bottomed, direct-drive boats. In these boats, the engine is placed near the center of the vessel's cockpit. Deeper hulled V-drive boats feature engines placed in the stern, a configuration that makes the larger wakes that wake boarders crave.

    Features

    • Ski boats are equipped with a tow bar or a pole that attaches to the ski line or lines. In order to quickly lift a skier or wake boarder out of the water, many ski boats feature engines with powerful acceleration. It is not uncommon for ski boats to attain top cruising speeds of 50 mph. V-drive ski boats typically include a water-storage ballast system that adds more weight to the stern for bigger wakes. Because they have a roomier cockpit, many V-drive ski boats also boast ample seating for passengers and creature comforts like built-in ice coolers. Ski boats come in every imaginable color.

    Considerations

    • When shopping for a ski boat, keep the following factors in mind. Budget--Know your price range. Prioritize needs--Hardcore water skiers will probably prefer a direct-drive board. But V-drives might be a better option for families with more varied water sports interests. Bells and whistles--Choose the options and features that you want in a ski boat, keeping in mind that these extras will drive up the total cost. Take a test drive--The best way to judge a boat's performance it getting it out on the water.

    Crossovers

    • Boat builders are making a growing number of so-called crossover ski boats that are intended to satisfy water skiers and wake boarders alike.One example is Crossover Nautique 211, the most popular boat built by Correct Craft. Featuring V-drive propulsion, a specially designed hull and a wake-shaping gate, the 211 is certified for water skiing tournaments but also capable of creating launching power for wake boarders.