Top 8 Best Wakesurf Boats Under 30K - Surf Hungry (2024)

Finding a good wakesurf boat under $30,000 is not an easy task — it can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack!

Often wakesurf boats under 30K are either used, have lots of engine hours on their gauge, or need expensive upgrades or repairs to create surf wakes. Hence, losing their main purpose of saving you thousands of dollars in the process.

Quality-made wakesurf boats come up in the market every once in a while, but since lots of people are also looking for boats with this price range, they sell really fast. Yes, even if they’re already used boats, and especially if they’re from a reputable brand.

So if you’re going to buy your own wakesurf boat, you might as well spend it on a boat that will have an increased value over the next few years. This article includes the best wakesurf boats under $30k that are worthy of your investment, including all the information you need to know about them.

Expensive Wakesurf Boats vs Boats Under 30K

Wakesurf boats today have soaring prices because of the modern technology they come with, such as integrated surf systems that create the perfect wave shapes and volumes. These kinds of boats are also specialized with roaring horsepower engines. They’re also hand-assembled and made with construction materials like fiberglass.

Now, boats under 30k are also constructed with fiberglass; however, those from the years 2001-2006 are not made for surfing purposes. You’ll save money, but you’ll also have to allot a few hundred dollars for added ballasts and shapers.

Top 8 Best Wakesurf Boats Under 30K

Used wakesurf boats need maintenance, but they have good resale value in the long run. If you’re looking to invest in a good boat and have fun surfing in the wakes at the same time, check out this list:

1. 2001 Mastercraft Prostar 209 — Our Top Pick
2. 2003 Tige 22V — Best Budget
3. 2006 Centurion Lightning C4 — Best High End
4. 2007 Moomba Mobius XLV
5. 2002 Malibu Wakesetter LSV 23
6. 2003 Supra Launch SSV
7. 2003 Mastercraft X-10
8. 2005 Moomba Outback

#1: 2001 Mastercraft Prostar 209 — Our Top Pick

Specifications:

• Price: ~$38,482
• Length: 21 feet
• Weight: 2,850 lbs
• Fuel type: Gasoline
• Fuel capacity: 35 Gallons
• Drive: Direct Drive
• Hull material: Fiberglass/Composite

Nothing beats the best. When it comes to making wakesurfing boats, the Mastercraft stands out among others with its years of expertise and research. Since 1968, this brand has been producing award-winning performance boats used in tournaments and recreation in over 40 different countries worldwide.

This is why it’s a no-brainer that the top pick of this list came from this brand — the Prostar 209, winner of Powerboat’s ‘Towboat of the Year’ in 2001. MC has already stopped this boat’s production, but you can still find several people selling this beautiful boat for under 30K.

The MC Prostar 209 is 21’ in length and 96” in width, which is pretty big and comfortable. It can accommodate a whole family, maybe even more. This boat has a deep V-hull, which is perfect for carrying a large crew and increased ballasts for a narrow wake. It has a large trunk with a slit-opening that can accommodate a full sac. You can also put a sac on its ski-locker, as well under its seats where the sac can fit pretty nicely.

This is a direct-drive boat that’s suitable as a traditional ski boat, and when weighted, can make full and powerful pro wakes. It has a top speed of 43.5 mph and accelerates 30mph in just 3.6 seconds!

Another cool feature of the MC Prostar 209 is the removable sundeck on the boat’s rear that’s located just below the armrest’s level. So you and your guests can have gorgeous views of the sun during sunset. Some units may also include wakeboard towers, sound systems, rack-and-pinion steering, and integrated fuel pump, just to name a few.

#2: 2003 Tige 22V Riders Edition — Best Budget

Specifications:

• Price: $22,000-$27,900
• Length: 22 feet
• Weight: 3,820 lbs
• Fuel type: Gasoline
• Fuel capacity: 38 Gallons
• Drive: V- Drive
• Hull material: Fiberglass

Next, we have the 2003 Tige 22V Rider’s Edition — the official towboat of the 2002 U.S. Open and World Wakeboard Championships. This wakesurf boat is big and can guarantee powerful and awesome surf waves, even without the use of ballasts.

The Tige 22V is easy to drive and maneuver, which makes a good wakesurfing experience for both the rider and the driver. It’s also integrated with TAPS technology that allows transoms to drop in the water naturally during increased speeds. This displaces water evenly and creates volumized wakes for surfing.

Now, for its interior, the Tige 22V features a spacious and wrap-around cushioned seating that can accommodate the size of eight people. It also has a cooler to keep beverages cold and multiple drink holders located everywhere in the boat. To make parties more fun, this boat also boasts a great sound system, with both amplifiers and BOSS tower speakers included.

Tige is known as a brand that makes the most versatile inboard boats, so even if the Tige 22V is cheaper compared to the other brands, you can resell it to a higher price, provided you upgrade and maintain it well.

#3: 2006 Centurion Lightning C4 — Best High End

Specifications:

• Price: ~$29,900
• Length: 22 feet
• Weight: 2,900 lbs
• Fuel type: Gasoline
• Fuel capacity: 36 Gallons
• Drive: V- Drive
• Hull material: Fiberglass

Ask any wakesurfer what their dream wakesurf boat is and they’ll probably answer any of the Centurion models — the official towboat of the 2020 World Wakesurfing Championships and 2021 IWWF World Wakeboarding Championships. Saying they have a good reputation when it comes to board wakes is an understatement.

Now, if you’re wondering if Centurion wakesurf boats are expensive, the answer is — yes, they are. Some of their boats can reach up to $300,000, but fortunately, you can also find used Centurion boats priced only at $29,900.

For instance, we have the 2006 Centurion Lightning C4. This boat creates surf wakes as good as this brand’s other models. All you need is around 2,000 lbs of added ballasts because it already includes a 500-lb factory-installed ballast system. It also features trim tab controls located at the steering wheel for easy wake size adjustment.

This boat includes a wake tower with racks that can be used in wakeboarding. It may also feature a 200-watt RMS, Sony audio, and HT4 amp with 300 watts per channel depending on its previous owners’ customization.

#4: 2007 Moomba Mobius XLV

Specifications:

• Price: ~$29,900
• Length: 23 feet
• Weight: 3,600 lbs
• Fuel type: Gasoline
• Fuel capacity: 40 Gallons
• Drive: V- Drive
• Hull material: Fiberglass

Moomba is known as the official towboat of the Skier’s Choice Incorporated. Or better yet, this brand is popular as the makers of fun and powerful inboard boats for wakesurfing and waterskiing. A reason why the 2007 Mobius XLV is one of the favorites of many surfers and skiers worldwide.

This boat has a large storage capacity for sacs to generate fuller wakes. It can load two 750 lbs bags on each side of the rear storage, and another one on its ski locker. With around 2,000-3,000 lbs ballasts on this boat, you’re guaranteed to generate some good wakes.

The Mobius XLV is spacious and can accommodate up to 16 persons inside. It also has four tower Kenwood speakers and three-tower lights which is great for parties with family and friends.

#5: 2002 Malibu Wakesetter LSV 23

Specifications:

• Price: ~$29,500
• Length: 23 feet
• Weight: 3,400 lbs
• Fuel type: Gasoline
• Fuel capacity: 55 Gallons
• Drive: Direct Drive
• Hull material: Fiberglass

Looking for an upgrade? Wanting to have more room in your wakesurf boat’s hull to accommodate more people? Then you might want to check out the Malibu Wakesetter LSV 23. This wakesurf/wakeboard boat is from Malibu Boats, the brand that offered the ‘first true cross-training tow boat’.

The Wakesetter LSV 23 is designed for wakeboarding, but if you throw in a couple of ballasts, this boat will be able to create good wakes for surfing. Notice that we just said ‘good’, because when it comes to wakes, Malibu’s current 2021 Wakesetter creates way better surf wake than this model. This one is cheaper, though.

But of course, the Wakesetter LSV 23 also has its own cool features, like the Malibu Launch System which you can use when wakeboarding.

For its interior, this boat has a retrofitted wraparound dash that is roomy and can fit 8-12 people inside comfortably. It also comes with a flip-down tower and wake building wedge. As well as a multi-color coating with tattoo style patterns for its exterior design.

#6: 2003 Supra Launch SSV

Specifications:

• Price: ~$28,000
• Length: 22 feet
• Weight: 3,250 lbs
• Fuel type: Gasoline
• Fuel capacity: 37 Gallons
• Drive: V- Drive
• Hull material: Fiberglass

The Supra Launch SSV is yet another fan favorite that’s most recommended by other wakesurfers. If you enjoy wakeboarding as much as wakesurfing, this boat is for you.

Supra Launch SSV is a high-performance boat that creates boat wakes of different transitions and sizes with its built-in ballast system. When not in use, the integrated ballasts go flat, making room for other equipment and gear. It also has a hydraulic wakeplate that you can put all the way down to balance uneven weight and shape wakes.

Since this boat is also a V-Drive, it handles well and it’s easier to drive in the water. This makes driving as fun as it’s when riding the waves. Oh, and this boat also features a cool stadium seating arrangement where the rear seats can be converted to a bench for four people. This one takes the cake in leveling up the relaxation after the fun!

#7: 2003 Mastercraft X-10 (~$28,799)

Specifications:

• Price: ~$28,799
• Length: 21 feet
• Weight: 3,075 lbs
• Fuel type: Gasoline
• Fuel capacity: 45 Gallons
• Drive: V- Drive
• Hull material: Fiberglass

The battle of the best wakesurf boats continues, and this time, we have another one from the Mastercraft brand, the X-10.

The Mastercraft X-10 is made from hand-crafted fiberglass that’s been integrated with stringers. It is mainly designed for wakeboarding, but if you load it with enough weight sacs, it can create big wakes in just a snap. You can also upgrade the prop system and put additional surf gates to put volume and create narrow wakes.

The MC X-10 is an all-around boat that is good for families. It features a good stereo for some tunes and wraparound seating that can fit 8 to 10 riders comfortably. Lastly, this boat is a driver’s dream as well. In fact, one user claims that driving this boat is as seamless as steering a jet ski!

#8: 2005 Moomba Outback

Specifications:

• Price: $29,495
• Length: 21 feet
• Weight: 3,000 lbs
• Fuel type: Gasoline
• Fuel capacity: 40 Gallons
• Drive: V- Drive
• Hull material: Fiberglass

Finally, we have the 2005 Moomba Outback V — a boat designed for performance and reliability.

This boat is not meant for luxury, as the Moomba created this with affordability in mind. This is why the Moomba Outback isn’t as flashy as the other wakesurf boats. Aside from fiberglass, it’s also made from plastic and stainless steel to lower its cost; however, this doesn’t mean they have downgraded its features.

This boat is V-drive that can provide speed up to 40mph. It also features E-Z cruise control, wakeplate, a wakeboard tower with racks, and built-in ballast tanks to control the wake size. Not only wakesurfers, but wakeboarders can also enjoy this versatile boat!

The Moomba Outback V’s hull also has a lot of room that can accommodate 10 people. There’s also ample storage inside for other equipment such as your wetsuits and wakesurf board. For its price, this boat is a great buy and will surely have a higher value in the future.

Buyer’s Guide: What You Should Look for When Buying Used Wakesurf Boats

Used wakesurf boats are cheaper for a reason, and it’s because they already have outdated systems and they need further repairs. Here are the things you should consider before you buy that boat you’re eyeing at:

Engine hours

It’s common for a boat’s engine to have a few hundred engine hours on its gauge. Considering it’s already used and it’s been manufactured more or less 20 years ago (2001-2006). But for it to have 500 engine hours when it’s only bought in 2018, that’s not a good thing.

Overall maintenance

Some sellers give discounts on their boats because it’s not properly maintained or had been used in saltwater. Most wakesurf boats are specially designed for use in freshwater, so the salt may have damaged its metal construction and wirings.

Boat size

A boat’s hull also contributes to its price. Boats with a deep V-hull can accommodate more ballasts and larger crew sizes. Also, bigger wakesurf boats that are 23’ in length create more wakes in lakes; while smaller ones create lighter wakes, therefore you need to put more sacs.

Technology

The prop systems and inboard power also contribute to a boat’s price range. If it’s a V-drive, you can expect it to have propellers at the bottom of the boat. This creates narrow wakes which are suitable for wakesurfing and wakeboarding.

Ballasts

Some wakesurf boats already have ballasts installed on their system. If not, you can upgrade it or just buy your own. Note that there are two kinds of ballasts: lead and water. We recommend getting the water ballast as it goes flat when not in use and you can easily load and unload it on your boat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the additional costs of cheap wakesurf boats?

Cheaper boats under 30K are not meant for surfing; therefore, you need to upgrade their surf system. You might also need to purchase ballasts or sacs to increase the boat’s weight for more powerful wakes.

Q: Can you use wakesurf boats in saltwater?

Wakesurf boats meant for freshwater cannot be used in saltwater. According to research, freshwater boats that are used in saltwater depreciate more rapidly if they’re not regularly maintained and rinsed after every use. This is because the salt component damages the boat’s metal and its wirings.

Q: Which wakesurf boat brands under 30K are the best?

If you’re planning to buy used wakesurf boats, you can’t go wrong with brands like Tige, Centurion, and Mastercraft. These brands are the makers of the official towboats in world tournaments and championships.

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