When buying your first boat, it can be overwhelming to figure out what type of boat is right for you. Here at Skier’s Marine, we want to be your education source and guide you to the perfect one for your family. Overall, most boats fit into four usage categories: wake and ski, cruising/pleasure boating, fishing, and thrill-seeking. Here, we’ll briefly cover which types of boats are the best wake and ski boats and the benefits of each. If you’re interested in fishing, cruising, or thrill-seeking boats, we will cover those in separate posts you can find here!
Let’s get started! When talking about the wake and ski boats, there are two main types of boats that are designated by their engine locations: inboard and inboard/outboards.
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First, let’s talk about Inboards. Inboards make a lot of sense for people who spend a significant portion of time behind the boat enjoying watersports. Inboards make wakesurfing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, waterskiing, and tubing very easy, thanks to their design and integrated technologies. Another benefit of inboards is the open seating layout. The open lounge seating makes it easy for people to enjoy the water in a social atmosphere.
An inboard wake boat or ski boat has many design elements that make them great for families who enjoy watersports:
Inboard boats are incredibly versatile, perfect for those who want to enjoy watersports and cruising the lake. They come in various size options between 20 to 26 feet, allowing you to find the perfect size for your waterway.
For clients looking to get involved in wakeboarding and wakesurfing but spend the majority (70%+) of their time cruising, a Sterndrive with a forward drive and cruise control may be a great solution. Sterndrives, also known as inboard/outboards, help bridge the gap between the traditional sterndrive cruiser and the inboard.
Let’s look at the benefits of a sterndrive with a forward drive and surf system:
Sterndrives are great boats for clients looking for a smooth ride, fast cruise speeds at lower MPGs, and who occasionally want to spend some time wakeboarding, wakesurfing, and waterskiing. If you like sterndrives AND watersports, opting for the forward drive is a good option.
To learn more information about Inboards (Wake Boats) or Sterndrives (Ski Boat) with the capability to deliver wakeboarding, wakesurfing, kneeboarding, or waterskiing performance, visit your local Skier’s Marine.
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