Malibu is the top wakeboard boat brand, with 5,728 lbs of max factory ballast in its 26 LSV. Centurion (up to 5,650 lbs in the Ri245) is #2 and Axis (5,270 lbs in the A245, from $92,840) is #3.
Jet-drive wake boats at the lowest published starting price here
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Malibu Boats
Best for wake surfing
Centurion Boats
Best value
Axis Wake
Lowest price
Yamaha Wake Series
Most models
MasterCraft Boats
The ranking
1
Malibu Boats
Answrs VerdictThe biggest-ballast wake brand.
Heaviest published ballast: 5,728 lbs max factory ballast (26 LSV)Lowest published starting price: As low as $119,607 (20 VTX); the flagship M242 is as low as $280,7472027 wake lineup: M242, M230, 26 LSV, 25 LSV, 23 LSV, 22 LSV, 24 MXZ, 23 MXZ, 22 MXZ, 21 LX and 20 VTX, plus the Response TXi ski boatSurf system: Surf Gate Fusion (26 LSV)
Malibu’s 26 LSV carries 5,728 lbs of max factory ballast with Surf Gate Fusion, the heaviest figure any brand here publishes. The 2027 lineup runs from the 20 VTX (as low as $119,607) to the flagship M242 (as low as $280,747).
Go ifBuyers who want the heaviest factory ballast and the widest choice of sizes
Skip ifYou want a published price under $100,000
Why #1 over #2: Its 5,728 lbs in the 26 LSV top Centurion’s 5,650 lbs in the Ri245.
2
Centurion Boats
Answrs VerdictThe surf specialist.
Heaviest published ballast: Up to 5,650 lbs (Ri245)Lowest published starting price: Not published2027 wake lineup: RS230, RS245, RS265, Ri230, Ri245, Nv213, Nv233 and Nv243Surf system: QuickSurf Pro with Lenco Smart Rams (Standard on the Ri245)Smallest model ballast: Nv213: 4,900 lbs
Centurion’s Ri245 moves up to 5,650 lbs of ballast, and even its smallest Nv213 lists 4,900 lbs. The 2027 lineup spans the RS, Ri and Nv series, with QuickSurf Pro and Lenco Smart Rams standard on the Ri245. Centurion does not publish prices.
Go ifSurf-first buyers who want heavy ballast even in a 21-foot boat
Skip ifYou need a published price before you shop
Why #2 over #3: Its 5,650 lbs in the Ri245 beat Axis’s 5,270 lbs in the A245.
3
Axis Wake
Answrs VerdictThe best value wake brand.
Heaviest published ballast: 5,270 lbs max factory ballast (A245)Lowest published starting price: As low as $92,840 (A200)2027 wake lineup: A245, A225, A200, T250, T235 and T220Surf system: Surf Gate (A245)
Axis tops out at 5,270 lbs of max factory ballast in the A245, with Surf Gate. Its six-boat A and T Series lineup starts as low as $92,840 for the A200.
Go ifBig-ballast surf and wake boats at the lowest published prices here
Skip ifYou want luxury-level finishes
Why #3 over #4: Its 5,270 lbs in the A245 beat Supra’s 5,200 lbs in the R245.
4
Supra Boats
Answrs VerdictThe luxury pick with standard surf tech.
Heaviest published ballast: 5,200 lbs (R245)Lowest published starting price: From $185,200 USD (R225)2027 wake lineup: SV, SA, SL, SE, R225 and R245: six wakeboard and wakesurf boats, two all-new for 2027Surf system: Swell Surf System and AutoWake, standard on every Supra
Supra’s R245 carries 5,200 lbs of ballast. All six 2027 models, from the R225 (from $185,200 USD) to the SE, come with the Swell Surf System and AutoWake as standard.
Go ifLuxury buyers who want surf and wake tech standard on every model
Skip ifYou are shopping on price
Why #4 over #5: Its 5,200 lbs in the R245 beat Moomba’s 5,000 lbs.
5
Moomba Boats
Answrs VerdictThe friendly-priced family brand.
Heaviest published ballast: 5,000 lbs (Max and Tykon)Lowest published starting price: From $94,999 USD (Mondo)2027 wake lineup: Mondo, Craz, Max and TykonSurf system: Flow Surf System with SmartPlate and AutoWake
Moomba’s Max and Tykon both carry 5,000 lbs of ballast with the Flow Surf System, SmartPlate and AutoWake. Its four-boat lineup starts from $94,999 USD for the Mondo.
Go ifFirst-time wake boat buyers who want published prices from $94,999
Skip ifYou want more than four models to choose from
Why #5 over #6: Its 5,000 lbs in the Max and Tykon beat Tigé’s 4,300 lbs in the Z3.
6
Tigé Boats
Answrs VerdictThe privately held luxury builder.
Heaviest published ballast: 4,300 lbs (Z3)Lowest published starting price: Not published2027 wake lineup: Ultré 25ZX, Ultré 23ZX, 24RZX, 22RZX, Z3 and Z1Surf system: GO System, powered by TAPS 3T (Ultré 25ZX)Most seats: Ultré 25ZX: 19 seats
Tigé’s Z3 lists 4,300 lbs of ballast, and the Ultré 25ZX seats 19 with the GO System, powered by TAPS 3T. The 2027 lineup covers the Ultré ZX, RZX and Z classes. Tigé does not publish prices.
Go ifBig crews who want up to 19 seats and push-button wave setup
Skip ifYou want 5,000+ lbs of ballast
Why #6 over #7: Its 4,300 lbs in the Z3 beat MasterCraft’s 4,050 lbs in the X24.
7
MasterCraft Boats
Answrs VerdictThe broadest lineup.
Heaviest published ballast: 4,050 lbs (X24)Lowest published starting price: Not published2027 wake lineup: XStar 23, XStar 25, X22, X23, X24, XT20, XT22, XT23, XT24, NXT20, NXT22, NXT23 and NXT24, plus the ProStar ski boatSurf system: SurfStar with FastFill ballast (X24)
MasterCraft’s X24 carries 4,050 lbs of ballast with SurfStar and FastFill. Its XStar, X, XT and NXT families give the most model choices here. MasterCraft does not publish prices.
Go ifShoppers who want the most families and sizes from one builder
Skip ifYou need a published price before you shop
Why #7 over #8: Its 4,050 lbs in the X24 beat Nautique’s 3,900 lbs in the S25.
8
Nautique Boats
Answrs VerdictThe wakeboard heritage brand.
Heaviest published ballast: 3,900 lbs with supplemental (Super Air Nautique S25)Lowest published starting price: Not published2027 wake lineup: G23, G25 and G27 Paragon; Super Air Nautique G21, G23, G25, S23, S25, GS20, GS22 and GS24Surf system: Nautique Surf System (NSS) with WAVEPLATE
Nautique’s Super Air Nautique S25 reaches 3,900 lbs of ballast with supplemental tanks, and its boats use the Nautique Surf System with WAVEPLATE. The lineup includes the G23, G25 and G27 Paragon plus the G, S and GS Series. Nautique does not publish prices.
Go ifWakeboarders who want the G-Series and Paragon wake boats
Skip ifYou want the heaviest ballast numbers
Why #8 over #9: Its 3,900 lbs in the S25 beat ATX’s 3,750 pounds in the 24 Type-S.
9
ATX Surf Boats
Answrs VerdictThe simple surf brand.
Heaviest published ballast: 3,750 pounds (24 Type-S)Lowest published starting price: Not published2027 wake lineup: 20 Type-S, 22 Type-S and 24 Type-SSurf system: TAPS 3T with the Convex V HullBuilder: Built by Tigé
ATX, built by Tigé, offers three boats: the 20, 22 and 24 Type-S. The 24 Type-S carries 3,750 pounds of ballast with TAPS 3T and the Convex V Hull. ATX does not publish prices.
Go ifA simpler three-model lineup from Tigé’s sister brand
Skip ifYou want luxury-level options
Why #9 over #10: Its 3,750 pounds in the 24 Type-S beat the 1,600 lbs Yamaha lists for the 255XD.
10
Yamaha Wake Series
Answrs VerdictThe jet-drive pick.
Heaviest published ballast: 1,600 lbs triple ballast system (255XD)Lowest published starting price: Starting at $77,699 (205XD)2027 wake lineup: 205XD, 222XE, 222XD, 252XE, 255XD and 295XDSurf system: Integrated Electric WakeBoosterPower: Twin supercharged SVHO engines with a combined 500 hp (295XD)
Yamaha’s jet-drive Wake Series runs from the 205XD (starting at $77,699) to the 295XD, with twin supercharged SVHO engines and a combined 500 hp. The 255XD comes with a 1,600 lbs triple ballast system and an Integrated Electric WakeBooster.
Go ifJet-drive wake boats at the lowest published starting price here
Skip ifYou want inboard-level ballast for big surf waves
How we ranked these
We ranked each brand on the heaviest ballast it publishes for any boat in its current wake lineup, the weight that builds a bigger wake and surf wave, using only the builder’s own 2027 model pages. Prices are listed where the builder publishes them. No builder supplied copy, photos, rankings or links for this page. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best wakeboard boat brand in 2027?
Malibu: its 26 LSV carries 5,728 lbs of max factory ballast, the most published by any brand here, and its lineup starts as low as $119,607 (20 VTX).
Which wake boat brand has the lowest published prices?
Yamaha’s Wake Series starts at $77,699 (205XD). Among inboard brands, Axis starts as low as $92,840 (A200) and Moomba from $94,999 USD (Mondo).
Which wake boat brands do not publish prices?
Centurion, Tigé, MasterCraft, Nautique and ATX do not list starting prices on their model pages; ask a dealer for a quote.
Who builds ATX Surf Boats?
ATX Surf Boats are built by Tigé. The 2027 ATX lineup is the 20, 22 and 24 Type-S.
Heaviest published ballast in the lineup at a glance
Yamaha Wake Series1,600 lbs
ATX Surf Boats3,750 lbs
Nautique Boats3,900 lbs
MasterCraft Boats4,050 lbs
Tigé Boats4,300 lbs
Moomba Boats5,000 lbs
Supra Boats5,200 lbs
Axis Wake5,270 lbs
Centurion Boats5,650 lbs
Malibu Boats5,728 lbs
Heaviest published ballast in the lineup, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
