Wake Boats for Sale

Wake Boats: what to know

A wake boat is built to throw a wave. Ballast tanks fill with water to weigh the hull down, the hull is shaped to displace rather than plane over, and a tower gives the rope somewhere high to pull from. They are the most specialised boats on the lot and the most fun if that is what you are there for.

What to check before you buy

• Hours matter more than years. A ten-year-old boat with 300 hours has been looked after. A three-year-old with 900 has worked hard.
• Ask when the ballast pumps and bags were last serviced. They are the part that fails and the part people forget to mention.
• Check the tower for cracks around the mounting points, particularly on a boat that has spent its life being trailered.
• A surf system that shifts the wave from side to side is the difference between a boat you can surf both ways and one you cannot.
• Look at the transom and the swim platform for impact marks. A board hitting the boat leaves a mark, and so does the wave over several seasons.

Common questions

How many hours is too many on a wake boat?

Under 500 is low. Between 500 and 1,000 is normal for a boat five years old or more. Over 1,500 means the engine has done real work. Hours tell you more than age does, and a full service history tells you more than either.

What is the difference between a wakeboard boat and a surf boat?

Usually the same boat. Wakeboarding wants a firm, clean wake at around 22 mph. Surfing wants a long soft wave at 11 mph, made by weighting one side of the hull. Most boats built in the last decade do both, and the ones that surf well can move the wave from side to side without anybody changing seats.

Do I need a tower?

For wakeboarding, yes. Pulling from a tower lifts the rope, which lifts the rider, which is most of the trick. For surfing you do not need one, though nearly every boat has one and it is where the speakers and the board racks live.