The word compact can immediately conjure feelings of small wakes and cramped interiors, but it doesn’t have to in the case of the Axis A20. This 20-foot wake-maker is similar to the A22 in its stand-up ramps and no-frills functionality, but at a full 2 feet shorter, the A20 is easier to trailer and store, and is welcome on size-restricted waterways the bigger boats can’t touch. Another fringe benefit of having a small boat: The A20 has premium handling and power. Take a small hull like this and throw a relatively big power plant in it with the standard 350-horsepower engine, and you’ve got a sports car on the water. With its relatively small hull, you might start assuming the A20 throws a small wake, but in reality it generates a pretty solid swell with the maximum upgraded ballast, the Autoset Wedge and a few passengers. The great thing about the Axis line in general is the wake is legit straight off the dock. You don’t have to do a lot of tweaking to get these boats to throw a solid wake because the Malibu-inspired hull design is just so good. The A20 is also one of the best small-boat surfers out there. Opt for Surf Gate, and you can get a solid wave on either side without changing your weighting configuration from wakeboarding. Flip the switch at the dash and you’ve got a wave on one side, then signal the driver to switch to the other side and cross over the rooster tail for a midsession transfer.
Stat: The Axis brand is offered with fewer amenities than its luxury sister brand, Malibu, but that doesn’t mean you can’t trick out your A20. Some of the high-end features available to the Axis brand as of 2015 are relationship-saving GPS cruise control, and Bluetooth stereo connectivity so you can forget the cords.
Dig This: The Axis mentality is all about simplicity. The entire boat operates on the same premise from the analog dash to the flip-up seats. There’s a smaller learning curve and less to go wrong on an Axis, so you’ll spend less time at the dealer and more time on the water.
| Boat Specs | |
|---|---|
| Length | 20’ |
| Beam | 98” |
| Dry Weight | 3,500 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity | 42 gal. |
| Seating Capacity | 11 |
| Standard Ballast | 800 lb. |
| Maximum Ballast | 2,075 lb. |
| Standard Horsepower | 350 hp |
| Maximum Horsepower | 450 hp |
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