Last year we wrote an article – “Plus-Sized Performance” – about the benefits of bigger boats. Suffice to say, that bigger boats provide more room for family, friends and gear, and generally offer amongst the biggest wakes and waves for riding and surfing. There are some other benefits, like on-water presence and being able to handle bigger bodies of water better, as well. That article was geared toward boats 24-feet or longer, but there has been a trend beyond that. As demand has increased for more room on board and bigger wakes and waves behind boats, manufacturers are answering by offering more 25-foot-plus boats than ever before. If you’re the wake enthusiast that likes including everyone, or just has a huge crew to begin with, likes the comfort of roomier boats, and loves some of the best wakes and waves, then a 25-footer could be just what you need. Read below to find out more on all the 25-foot wake boats currently on the market, and be sure to check out our full reviews on several of them!
Centurion Fi25 – new for 2019
The Fi line was introduced for the 2018 model year to much acclaim. It took the performance of the Ri line, left out some of the bells and whistles, and delivered an incredible wake boat at a lower cost. We tested the Fi23, and it was one of our favorite boats in the Centurion line, not to mention one of our favorites in general. We can safely say that with the Opti-V hull, which is the biggest feature in the Fi line – and is also what the Ri257 is built on – that the Fi25 is likely capable of delivering some of the most massive wakesurf waves and giant wakeboard wakes around. What this all means is that we can’t wait to get on this new boat to try it out. If you’re researching the Fi25 and looking for wake/wave reviews, you would be safe in looking to our Ri257 review and comparing, just note that it is a little smaller than the Ri257 and carries less fuel. You can also check out the Fi23 review here.
Length: 25′
Beam: 102″
Passengers: 17
Fuel: 82 gal
Weight: NA
Ballast: 5,050 lbs (w/ plug-and-play)
Centurion Ri257
Since its debut several years ago, the Ri257 was already on the list of best wakesurf boats on the market. But for 2018, thanks to the introduction of an all-new Opti-V hull, this flagship Centurion became markedly better. The most notable difference was the performance with wakeboarding wakes. They were much more solid and consistent side-to-side, not to mention the fact that they were huge, even with minimal ballast. Load the Ri257 down for wakesurfing though, and it really shines. The wave is one of the best in the world and can be customized to suit a variety of styles and skill levels.
Read the full Ri257 review here.
Length: 25’7″
Beam: 102″
Passengers: 18
Fuel: 92 gal
Weight: 6,150 lbs
Ballast: 5,550 lbs (w/ plug-and-play)
Malibu 25 LSV
The LSV line doesn’t just represent one of the most popular for Malibu, it’s one of the best-selling wake boat lines of all time. Simply put, the LSV is tried and true for performance, comfort, and ease-of-use, which helps set it apart in the growing world of XXL wake boats. Aside from the size, the first thing we noticed when testing out the 25 LSV was how easy and intuitive it was to set up. Like nearly every boat in the Malibu line, the 25 LSV can be quickly setup to wakeboard or wakesurf thanks to the Command Center helm, integrated ballast, Power Wedge and Surf Gate systems. When it comes to truly customizing the shape, length, and characteristics of both wakes and waves, there might not be anything better or easier on the market than the Power Wedge. And with Malibu’s Surf Band remote it can be controlled by the rider.
Read the full 25 LSV review here.
Length: 25′
Beam: 102″
Passengers: 19
Fuel: 77 gal
Weight: 5,600 lbs
Ballast: 4,800 lbs (w/ plug-and-play and AutoSet Wedge)
MasterCraft XT25 – new
Launched earlier this year, the XT25 is built to be a ton of fun for you and your friends at a palatable price point for a 25-foot wake boat. The craziest thing about the XT25 is the versatility. Like other boats in the XT line, the XT25 has the ability to pull wakeboarders and wakesurfers, as well as water skiers. So if you’ve got a big group that likes to do everything on the water, this newcomer might be right up your alley.
Length: 25’3″
Beam: 102″
Passengers: 18
Fuel: 92 gal
Weight: 5,200 lbs
Ballast: 2,800 lbs (w/ Gen 2 surf system)
MasterCraft X26
The biggest boat in the MasterCraft line is also designed to be one of its most luxurious (it is yacht-certified, after all). Aside from producing big wakes and waves thanks to its size, ballast, and the Gen 2.0 surf system, it can also be equipped with extras like an onboard head and a refrigerator.
Length: 26′
Beam: 102″
Passengers: 18 / Yacht certified
Fuel: 94 gal
Weight: 6,700 lbs
Ballast: 2,800 lbs (w/ Gen 2 surf system)
Nautique G25
The G25 is the big brother to the legendary G23, and you probably know what that means. You get the performance and quality of the G23 in a bigger package to hold more people and stuff. Thanks to onboard systems like NCRS and the Nautique Surf System, the G25 is capable of pumping out some of the most consistent and customizable wakes and waves on the market. We didn’t test one for 2018, but you can check out our full review of the G23 here.
Length: 25′
Beam: 102″
Passengers: 19
Fuel: 83 gal
Weight: 6,400 lbs
Ballast: 2,850 lbs
Pavati AL26
Pavati have been turning heads for years with their all-aluminum wake boats, and that is no different for the AL26. Not only does it look different, but it also feels different as it is the biggest wake-specific boat on the market. Each boat is hand-welded and comes with tons of bells and whistles.
Length: 26’8″
Beam: 102″
Passengers: Yacht certified
Fuel: 81 gal
Weight: 5,760 lbs
Ballast: 5,988 lbs
Tigé ZX5 – new for 2019
Launched just this summer as an early 2019 release, the ZX5 is all-new for Tigé from the bottom up. You can still expect the same great performance from legendary Tigé features like TAPS 3 and the Convex V hull, but now you get all that and more in a boat that holds 19 people with 3,000 pounds of sub-floor ballast.
Length: 25′
Beam: 102″
Passengers: 19
Fuel: 80 gal
Weight: 6,300 lbs
Ballast: 3,000 lbs
