Simplify Your Wakeboat Search

Wakeboats are one of the most popular boat categories today, with more and more people discovering the sports, social atmosphere, and versatility offered by wakeboats. Whether or not you’re interested in buying a wakeboat, boat shows offer a fantastic opportunity to compare wakeboats and wakeboat brands side by side. 

Here’s what you should consider when checking out a wakeboat:

1. Performance Features:

While all wakeboats are designed to create wakes & waves behind the boat, not all boats are created the same. In fact, it’s what best differentiates boat brands from each other. 

To ensure you receive the cleanest, most consistent wave on the water, you want to look for a wakeboat that was designed specifically for wakesports and works together with a ballast system and other surf technologies to easily create a fully customizable wave. 

You shouldn’t have to displace crew and move weight from side to side to get the perfect wave. You should be able to fully customize the shape, size, and length of the wave for wakesurfers, wakeboarders, and riders of different sizes & abilities.

2. Operating System:

Modern wake boats should feature user-friendly systems for adjusting your ballast, speed, and wakesurf settings. Nobody wants to have to fuss with controls and multiple screens while they’re pulling their family & friends behind the boat. 

Every second counts when you’re on the water. You want your operating system to be intuitive, sleek, and easy to adjust on the fly — just like Malibu’s Command Center and Operating System.

3. Interior Comfort & Storage:

High-quality upholstery, ample seating, deep storage and smart layouts ensure a day on the water is as relaxing as it is action-packed. Luckily, these features can often be customized for each model across the brand, just like interior & exterior color options.

It goes without saying that you should have plenty of seating and storage for all your friends, family, and gear. But, you should still be able to move throughout the boat without stepping on people or their belongings. 

Explore what additional seating upgrade options are available to add-on to your boat to allow for further customization of your lounge. For example, Malibu’s award-winning MaxPivot™ Seat easily converts the standard bench seat into a dining table, sunbed, or rear-facing seat.

4. Dodgy Deals on the Wrong Boats:

The price of a boat is important, but it’s not the only consideration you should prioritize when making your decision. Not only can a cheap boat indicate cheap parts or a market saturated with low-demand boats, but it could also impact your valuable time on the water with family and friends. Think about the full ownership experience. Is a discounted boat today worth potential long-term compromises? 

The Bottom Line: A boat that doesn’t hold its value means you could be forced to accept a discounted price at trade-in or resale time. Ask yourself these questions to ensure you’re making the right investment.

Brand Reputation: 

• What is the overall perception of the brand in the boating community?
• Is the brand known for introducing innovative features and technologies to the industry?
• Is there a strong and active community of owners and enthusiasts for the brand?

The Ownership Experience

• Is there a strong network of authorized dealers and service centers?
• What does my local dealer support look like?
• How responsive is the customer service & warranty team?

Resale Value

• How often is the company introducing new technology?
• How well does the boat hold up to regular use?
• Is the brand / model in high-demand?
• A boat that doesn’t hold its value means being forced to accept a discounted price at trade-in or resale time.

5. Ask An Owner:

As we all know, sometimes it’s best to simply ask other owners what they think about their purchase, and buying a boat is no different in that way. For that reason, you should make time to speak to other owners of the boat you’re interested in. What do they love? What do they wish they had known about their boat before buying? Are there any features they wish they had upgraded to? What is their experience like behind the boat?

6. Schedule Test Rides:

Everything is made to look good on the showroom floor, but the best way to experience a boat’s performance and features is to get it out on the water. When it comes to wakeboats, you should always try it before you buy it. Not only will you get a proper feel for the wave and how the boat handles, but you will get a better feel for whether its layout and interior features are right for your needs.

Be sure to schedule your Malibu demo, but be sure to reach out to the other guys too. Whether you’re serious about wake sports or just starting out, Malibu Boats offers a standard of performance, wake customization, build quality, and innovation that’s hard to beat. We’re confident that once you get behind a Malibu, you’ll understand why the Truth Is On The Water™.