Boats

WakeCraft Boats ZR6 2008

By Wakeboarding Magazine

Updated: January 1, 2008

Wakeboard Boat Review

Throughout our tests, every wakeboard boat has been different on how much you have to upgrade it from the standard version to get the full wake vibe and performance. With WakeCraft Boats, a company launched in 2006, there are no worries. On the WakeCraft ZR6, it’s all standard here, from the tower to the ballast to the stereo. So instead of building a boat, you can just ride it.

Hull: This 20.5-foot V-drive is hand-built using the company’s patent pending Hydro Thrust design. Hand-laminated and finished at WakeCraft Boats’ facility in Atwater, California, the WakeCraft ZR6 comes with a limited lifetime warranty on its hull. The transom has a small swim platform integrated in, adding space to the more traditional platform.

Ballast: As with every other feature on the WakeCraft ZR6, the 1,200-pound factory ballast system comes standard with every boat. One 200-pound tank is in the bow while twin 500-pound tanks weight down the rear, which really helps get the biggest wake for the weight and gives this small wakeboard boat some pretty serious size.

Tower: Just like everything else on this boat, you get a tower standard with the WakeCraft ZR6. It’s a composite fiberglass tow spoiler and is gelcoated to match the rest of the hull, which is a nice touch. Four tower speakers add to the already impressive stereo while built-in LED lights are handy as the sun goes down. We wish the two wakeboard racks were swivel instead of fixed, but that’s a minor issue.

Wake shaper: An adjustable trim plate from Lenco is yet another standard wake feature that comes with this boat. A good addition that we were wondering if this “all-standard” wake boat was going to include, the shaper helps control the wakes.

Highlight feature: The stereo is just sick, and the fact that it’s totally standard is that much better. WakeCraft threw in a total of 10 speakers, including four tower speakers, two amps and a 12-inch subwoofer to make a system that made testing this boat a lot more fun.

The wake: The first thing we noticed about these wakes was how big they were for a wakeboard boat this size. The 1,200 pounds of ballast, largely back loaded, really does the job well. Our test team had to get used to the throw of these wakes, with the wake shaper helping to bring some consistency. That said, we especially liked how this boat handled double-ups, and re-entries were very smooth riding at 65 feet.