Towing The Line

New boats are forever appearing on our waterways, but of the new-season crop none are quite as eager as those funky watersports machines that, this year especially, turned the hall of the Sydney boat show into a wakeboarding wonderland.

What’s big in 2006? Boating bling. Think bright-coloured hulls with funky graphics and matching trailers, chrome-enhanced V8 petrol inboard tow motors, even louder sound systems with subwoofers and amps, plus aft-facing speakers and board racks on their signature tow towers. Expect transom-mounted stereos with remotes so you can dial up your favourite playlist on the iPod, and hit the water while listening to, I’ll show my age here, April Sun in Cuba (okay, 50 Cent if you must).

Comforts matter more aboard the new age watersports boats. And they aren’t in short supply. Expect plush surround seating with grabrails, a stout canopy for shade, storage for watertoys and towels, togs and personals, and provision for carrying lunch and drinks aboard.

The new summer line-up is made up of more than one-trick ponies. You need to think about spending long summer days on the waterways, pulling into shore to picnic under the she-oaks, staging family trips at new waterways. And for boarding in saltwater look for stainless steel fittings, no exposed timber under the seats, galvanised trailers, and plenty of freeboard so you can safely tackle the wind waves and those from other boats.

But for all these comforts NSW wakeboarding champion and instructor Scotty Kell from Black Diamond Wakeboarding School, who has seen the transom of many dedicated wakeboarding boats before, says the most important thing is the wake. He would say that after a career riding behind boats as big as a 38ft cruiser. And to generate wake befitting of a cruiser, today’s trailerable wakeboarding craft have nifty built-in ballast tanks, wedges, and special wake-making plates.

“On the new boats look for an esky, stereo, all the amenities to make the boat comfortable for you, the family and friends on a long summer’s day,” Kell says.

Unlike Saturday school ball sports, wakeboarding is an activity that allows the kids to go out with mum and dad and enjoy their time together. Increased participation rates are set to send wakeboarding to new heights this season as has occurred overseas. In fact, such is the sport’s growth that the local industry now supports its own pro circuit, numerous websites and, as touched on, an amazing range of purpose-built towboats.

Where we scoffed at big-ticket, imported wakeboarding boats when they first came into the country a few years ago, it appears we’re prepared to pay six figures for the latest boats with wake-making devices, onboard comforts and, yes, bling. And with that comes fashion; wakeboards with cool graphics, clothes and attitude. This has created a whole new market and, says those in the thick of the action, attracted people who wouldn’t ordinarily consider waterskiing. For the young and the young at heart it’s very much a boarder’s lifestyle.

But if you can’t afford a new wakeboarding boat, fear not: you can now buy all the groovy accessories such as high poles, towers, racks and ballast bags to turn your pre-existing skiboat into a better wake-making machine. Meanwhile, here are some of the new, purpose-built towboats from $30,000 to $130,000 taking their place in the sun this summer.

BAYLINER
The biggest builder of American boats-to-go, Bayliner isn’t sitting on the sidelines and watching the watersports world pass it by. Though not strictly hardcore, its bowriders from the entry-level 175 to the 225 model are available with optional XT packages, which include groovy graphics, a sports tower and upgraded stereo options. It costs from about $30,000 for a tow in the door. Visit www.avantemarine.com.au for more information.

EXTREME
Though the Murray is little more than a trickle these days, it’s the birthplace of wakeboarding and waterski marque Extreme, which is making waves around the country.
The factory builds about 80 boats a year with centre-mount V8 Chev motors in either walkthrough-bow, step-over-bow, or closed-bow configurations. The 6.1m X-Factor at the Sydney Boat Show had an adjustable cavitation plate and ballast system for at-call tsunamis, cool graphics, custom paint job, and matching Easy Tow trailer. It’s keenly priced from $36,000. Visit www.extremeskiboats.com.au

FORCE
These hair-raising outboard-powered skiboats are built on the banks of the Hawkesbury. Four models are available, from 18 to 23ft, with the new F19X and F21 being the most popular. They are available in semi-custom finishes and matching graphics packs, and are handmade works of art. They are priced from about $38,000. Visit www.forceboats.com.au

FORMULA AND EBBTIDE
If you like your boats fast and seaworthy for open-water boating, then the American-made Formula 240BR takes some beating at $174,000, including a top-shelf wakeboarding tower and racy graphics. You’ll need a maxi four-wheel drive to tow it, though. Smaller but no less capable, there’s the Ebbtide 2000 with Volvo Penta V8 for $96,000. With its switchable Captains Call through-hull exhaust, it commands attention. Visit www.macarthurmarine.com.au

MALIBU
Made in Albury under licence from the American parent company, Malibu boats are as common as cows along the banks of the Hawkesbury in summer. They are priced from $39,990 for the entry-level 20ft Sportster to $107,800 for the fully imported 247 LSV. The most popular model, the VLX Wakesetter with 320hp vee-drive Indmar motor ($72,260 driveaway) has a triple-tank underfloor ballast system, multifunction LCD with air and water temperatures, premium Rockford Fosgate stereo, fly-by-wire throttle and, for 2006, Precision Pro Speed Control, Illusion X tow tower and optional Power Wedge for bigger wake. Visit www.malibuboats.com.au

MASTERCRAFT
A force on the tournament ski and wakeboarding circuit, Mastercraft is the official towboat of the X (as in extreme) Games, and has several cool 2007 models. The Superfly bowrider has a batboat-like entry and wide forward seating, but the 22ft X-Star from the Saltwater Series is the pick, with swivel board racks, Perfect Pass cruise control, fly-by-wire throttle, a 450kg underfloor ballast system and fully marinised components, including a Crusader rear-mount 340hp petrol inboard motor. Visit www.mastercraft.com

MATRIX
This South Australian boatbuilder builds the popular 6.3m Sorrento, an all-purpose family ski and wakeboarding boat with step-over dash, bow seating, 250lt ballast tank and tow tower as standard. Matched with a centre-mounted MerCruiser 330hp Black Scorpion inboard, on trailer, with options, the Sorrento is keenly priced at about $54,000. However, wakeboarders inspired the new purpose-built 6.45m Expression ($64,000 drive-away) with a 10cm wider hull and generous U-shaped seating, removable rear platform, tower and 500lt of ballast, which is switchable from the (vacuum-formed) dash. The result: a steeper wake and happier airborne riders. Visit www.matrixmarine.com.au

NAUTIQUE
Wakeboard instructor Scotty Kell reckons the American-made Nautique boats are ‘the bomb’. At the top of the tree, the Air 226 for $115,000 has a 375hp PCM rear-mount inboard, saltwater finish and a boatload of goodies, including a blow heater to warm your toes, cruise control, sub-woofer and amp, built-in ballast system, a lunch table and an under-seat icebox.

The Air 220 is a 2006 tournament wakeboard model, the SV211 is a crossover family ski/wakeboarding boat, but it’s the Air 210 that’s the company’s benchmark in the wakeboarding world. These are boats for watersports connoisseurs and start at $59,000. Visit www.ccmmarine.com.au, or www.correctcraft.com

SEARAY
One of the most established American boats in Australia, SeaRay offers sporty wakeboarding versions of its pre-existing family bowriders. The 185, 195 and 205 Sport come with optional upgraded graphics and stereos and, more importantly, wakeboarding towers with racks and aftermarket speakers. No wake-making devices, but you can trim up the sterndrive leg for a steeper wave. Visit www.searay.com.au

SKIBIRD
While wakeboard boats are riding roughshod over traditional social ski boats, the upside is that there’s value to be had. Take the Skibird Extreme Series II, a family skiboat with revised deck and windscreen. In canary yellow with reconditioned 350 Chev and dog clutch, the boat costs $30,000. Visit www.penrithpowerboatcentre.com.au

STINGRAY
The head-turning, all-American Stingray 230SX is a $98,000 speed machine. Fitted with a 420hp 8.1lt MerCruiser and switchable Captains Call exhaust, the rakish boat is capable of over 100km/h. Ski between high-speed cruising or add a tower, kick the leg up, do 35km/h, and go wakeboarding instead. Visit www.stingrayboats.com

SUPRA
Supra is a well-liked American marque that sponsors the aptly named Gravity Games and builds crossover watersports and family boats based on the premise that comfort and performance aren’t mutually exclusive. Hence the Stadium Seating, Perfect Pass cruise control, gravity ballast system, and comfortable deep-vee hull.

But its biggest claim to fame is the hydraulic wake plate which, at the press of a button on the dash, ramps up the wave faces. The Launch 20 costs $67,000 with a centre-mount Indmar 325hp Assault motor, but the $76,000 Launch 21V with the same motor and a vee-drive is Supra’s dedicated wake machine. Visit www.supraboats.com.au

TIGE
Tige is a renowned American builder of multi-sport inboard towboats with so-called Convex V hulls, built-in ballast, ram-adjusted wake plates and MerCruiser power.

The new-for-2007 flagship 24VE, which has a 330hp MerCruiser Black Scorpion, debuted for $95,347. An accommodating boat, it has surround seating for up to 14 adults or three watersports-loving families. There’s also the 20i slalom ski boat, mid-mount 21i ski/wake boat, and 20V with vee drive, which was the official towboat of the US Open Wakeboarding Championships. Visit www.avantemarine.com.au