How to Buy a Water-ski Boat

The changing nature of boat design reflects how the sport has evolved over time. Skiers prefer small, soft wakes. Wakeboarders, on the other hand, want big wakes from which to launch aerial maneuvers. But when mom and dad are die-hard skiers, and the kids want to wakeboard-- and with $25,000 and more at stake--then what?

Instructions

1. Review your basic options. An inboard engine is the most powerful and is located in the boat's hull. Cheaper outboard engines clamp onto the transom. Inboard/outboard engines combine the power of an inboard with the maneuverability of an outboard.

2. Understand the trade-offs between inboard engine types:

3. A direct-drive engine is located mid-boat and sends power directly from the engine to the drive shaft to the propeller. Direct drives with their flat bottoms are preferred by skiers because they produce small wakes, and handle and track better. The flat hull, however, makes riding on choppy water a bouncy ride; and the engine, smack dab in the middle of the boat, uses up prime seating.

4. V-drive boats have rear-mounted engines and a deep V hull that cuts through chop without a blink, but produce a large wake. Some feature ballast tanks that can be filled for even bigger wakes, making wakeboarders ecstatic, then drained again for skiers. The engine location allows for quieter, more sociable seating. Tow lines attach from a tower high above the cockpit.

5. Meet in the middle. Recognizing the market's changing needs, boat builders have designed crossover boats. Mostly featuring direct-drive engines, these "all-event" boats have ballast tanks that hold up to 1,600 lbs (597 kg) with adjustable trim-plates. So fill it up and create monster wakes, or dial it back down for the skiers; one boat happily serves both camps.

6. Investigate available amenities. Swim platforms make it easier to climb into the boat after a hard run, and overhead racks stow gear safely away.

Tips & Warnings

• Improved technology has boosted engines to over 300 horsepower. In the future, look for boats with new composite hull materials and engines that further reduce noise and water pollution.

• The hull ventilation system prevents the buildup of explosive gasoline fumes. Make sure it works before operating the boat.

• If you're buying a used boat, hire a marine surveyor to perform an inspection. This service costs several hundred dollars but will reveal any potentially disastrous problems. You need to be sure the engine is functioning and the hull is sound.