Wake Boats vs. Ski Boats

Wake boats and ski boats seem similar at first glance, but in actuality have a number of key differences that buyers need to be aware of. If you’re in the market for a new boat and a ski or wake boat has popped onto your radar, we recommend reading our article below. In it, we explain some of the key differences between these two unique models, and which option is likely the better choice for you. 

Size

One of the most notable differences between wake boats and ski boats is their size. While both models are able to reach top speeds, wake boats are expected to also create large wakes for riders to surf on—meaning they need to be much heavier than your average ski boat. While some of this weight is controlled by ballasts, more often than not wake boats are significantly larger than ski boats to help increase waves. While this does reduce the speed of a wake boat—especially when compared to a ski boat— wake boats do provide the added benefit of being able to transport more passengers and equipment in one trip.

Use 

Ski boats were specifically designed to be the best boats available for serious waterskiing. As a result, they’re able to support a variety of unique waterskiing substyles such as trick, slalom, and jump water skiing. On the other hand, wake boats were created to provide a more versatile selection of watersports activities, including waterskiing, wake surfing, and tubing. As a result, wake boats tend to be the favored model among watersport amateurs and wake surfing enthusiasts, while ski boats are often preferred by competitive water skiers who are looking to hone their skills. 

Whether you prefer a ski or wake boat for your next model, we encourage you to shop with us here at New England Water Sports! Our location in Naples, ME offers a wide variety of high-quality wake and ski boats for you to browse through, and proudly serves the local regions of Long Lake and Sebago Lake, ME.