Supra Sunsport 20V

Over the years, Supra has won many awards and featured in literally hundreds of ski and wakeboard competitions. In 2006 Supra celebrated its 25th year of ski boat production, so it’s understandable that have a pretty good idea of what’s required in a tow boat.

Enter Australians Josh Sanders and his brother Justin who import and manufacture the Supra brand from their factory in Nowra, on the NSW South Coast. Josh is a professional wakeboard champion who became acquainted with Supra while competing in the US.

He says he was so impressed with Supra’s products, he brought one to Australia for his own use. As interest grew, he started importing some for sale, before commencing manufacture under license in 2009.

At first glance, our test boat certainly looked the goods, with its industrial-strength wake tower, board racks, red livery and go-fast graphics. Fitted with a booming Indmar 5.7-litre V8, the boat turns out 325 good ol’ Yankee horsepower, while the hand-laid fibreglass hull has foam-filled stringers and what to me seemed like a perfect, mirror-like gelcoat finish.

The Sunsport’s hull has a deep keel and a sharp deadrise at the bow; this gives way amidships to a raised section of hull running to a rear planing plank and transom-mounted wakeplates. Supra claims the design results in superior handling and a great ride, with the deep bow cutting through the water and the rear section forming a higher concave area, where the hydrodynamic force equates to better stability at speed.

With seating in the bow, at the helm and in a wrap-around rear lounge, the Sunsport 20V has a seating capacity of 10 people. There’s a full-width sundeck at the stern, while the upholstery and every fitting ooze luxury and quality.

The design (and its abilities) place it squarely in the serious wakeboat category. But don’t be scared off if you’re not an expert wakeboarder, because the computerised, adjustable wake settings will cater for all levels of rider and driver.

The boat’s “Supra VISION” system (Video Information System with Integrated Onboard Network) allows up to eight different skill levels and wake shapes to be programmed into the onboard computer. Simply move the throttle forward to allow the computer to deliver a programmed speed, wakeplate, and ballast setting -- you can even pre-program the stereo volume! You just steer a safe path and look like a pro.

The VISION system also incorporates a GPS chartplotter, it has video capability that can play video from a VCR or a tower-mounted camera and it even has ipod connectivity.

There’s room in the bow for three people on ultra-comfortable seating with a removable centre infill, which can transform the area into a full-width sunbed. There is storage below and well-placed drink holders, plus a pair of MB Quart speakers. Access to the bow is through a walkway between driver and passenger and an opening screen. The floor has clip-out carpet and there is a central locker for boards.

The rest of the seating is somewhat unusual. There’s a traditional bucket for the driver while the observer’s seat is part of a "stadium" lounge with room for seven to watch the wakeboarders behind. The driver’s seat, which can turn a full 360 degrees, can become part of the cockpit lounge for socialising at rest. The cockpit seating can be swivelled around for more rear-view seating, or it can be lifted to form a backrest.

The actual driver position is comfortable and well laid out, with a bolster option. Vision is unrestricted in all directions and controls are smooth and easily reached. Steering through the hydraulic system is smooth and light and the electronic controls are finger-touch controllable, without being too light or likely to inadvertently over-rev.

The moulded dash has vinyl trim and the instrument panel is a tech-head’s dream come true. There are analogue gauges for speed, tacho, fuel, oil and water temperature, while a digital monitor repeats the information and also displays ballast, trim, GPS data and full engine diagnostics. This readout forms part of the previously mentioned VISION system.

All available space is cleverly used for storage and there’s a moulded glovebox that houses the DVD player. Drinkholders also abound -- I counted two on the port side and four to starboard, but they seem to be everywhere.

Based on a General Motors block, the Indmar V8 is a favourite engine for American watersports boats. With 340hp on tap there’s a heap of grunt to pull boarders out of the water, even with full ballast tanks, yet it still runs on regular unleaded fuel.

Supra uses these engines exclusively. They're designed specifically for these style of boats and come in various sizes -- as long as you like V8s with EFI. Over the years, Indmar engines have graced many performance ski and wake boats with terrific results.

On the flat reaches of NSW’s Shoalhaven River, cruise speed was whatever I wanted it to be, but at 3500rpm the boat maintained 27kts (50km/h) -- a sedate, economical pace. In sections of the river where there was some wind chop the boat sliced through the waves without any banging from the hull or shaking from any fittings.

Into turns the Sunsport also remained flat and stable. When thrown around into sharp turns it’s a case of hang on tight as the hull bites in. The design of the hull’s underwater section is such that the boat feels like it’s being sucked into the water, delivering safe, predictable handling even over chop and into eyeball-watering turns that pull your face sideways. The uncharitable might call my reaction a "wraparound idiot grin"…

Supra says the boat is covered by a four-year warranty which, given the build quality you shouldn't have to call on too much.

However, this boat is all about towing skiiers and wakeboarders. Whether it's in competition or socially, it's sure to get the attention of other owners. It's big, bold, brash and very, very effective.