Best Watersports Tow Boats For 2023

The level of technology now making its way into new boats is simply astronomical, and perhaps nowhere is this more exciting than in some of the best watersports tow boats.

New technology lets riders dial in wave shape, length and profile to suit their own skill level, from seasoned pro to utter novice. New tech delivers more torque and power than ever before, while reducing emissions and providing the most comfortable ride imaginable. And new tech lets us live-stream the action on social media, sharing the fun with friends all around the globe.

There’s a lot of excitement coming to the market in 2023, so here are our picks for the best watersports tow boats for the coming year.

Axis A225

Axis A225

All new for 2023, the A225 from Axis Wake builds on the success of the A22 with even greater levels of comfort, convenience and performance.

The new A225 starts with the company’s Wake Plus hull with Surf Gate and Power Wedge III wave-shaping technology. It then adds all-new vivid orange, vivid orange metallic and volt yellow color schemes to create a striking new look, while the interior gains all-new features like a hidden trash can to keep waste under wraps. There’s a more spacious and comfortable bow, and helms on the new A225 feature a 7-inch Garmin touch screen and a Bluetooth-enabled stereo. Upgrade with wireless phone charging and the rear-facing Sliding Skybox seat, that delivers forward-facing and aft-facing adaptability.

Centurion Ri265

Centurion Ri265

Centurion delivers the goods for 2023 with its 26-foot, 6-inch Ri265. Riding on Centurion’s Opti-V hull design that changes the running attitude of the boat for optimal performance, the Ri265 comes with every imaginable amenity including a full 5,850 pounds of ballast, a DropZone auto tower and the Revo side-by-side 12-inch Touch Vision HD dash.

Want to personalize things? Upgrade with the available WetSounds and Roswell stereo systems, a wireless clamping cell phone charger by PTM, or the QuickSurf Pro Surf system that creates more water displacement for a wider range of surf wave adjustment. Passengers also have the ability to customize their seating layout with a standard flip-up stadium seat, as well as a standard 6-position slide seat. It’s details like these that make the Ri265 one of the best watersports tow boats of the year.

Malibu Wakesetter 26 LSV

Malibu Wakesetter 26 LSV

Malibu is well known for its wake surfing technology, and for 2023 it doesn’t get better than the all-new Wakesetter 26 LSV. The top model in the acclaimed LSV lineup, this boat stretches a full 26 feet 5 inches in overall length to seat up to 18 people in luxurious comfort.

Three striking new exterior colors alongside new two-toned soft-grip flooring options give Malibu owners more ways than ever to express their personal style. New features include the all-new Max Pivot Table which smoothly changes between multiple positions including a bench seat, a bed, and a fully functioning table that doesn’t sacrifice the bench seating space, and the latest edition of Malibu Command Center for quick wake setup. New sound systems, and an awe-inspiring 6,100 pounds of ballast, take this boat’s wake surfing and wakeboarding credentials to the next level.

MasterCraft XT20

MasterCraft XT20

New for 2023, MasterCraft’s compact and towable XT20 rocks a new hull design with higher freeboard, more ballast, and more performance. Equipped with SurfStar, MasterCraft says its XT20 produces the most precise and adjustable wakes and waves on the market. There aren’t many watersports tow boats that can top the XT20.

Standards include clamping board racks and a redesigned Bimini top with surf sleeves that can accommodate 10 boards in all, MasterCraft’s innovative SurfStar feature, onboard telematics to stay connected to the boat remotely and monitor its health, view and share critical data with family, and alert the local dealer for scheduled service needs. The new MasterCraft Connect app also allows boaters to search nearby food and fuel spots, help find friends via GPS capabilities, and locate marinas and boat ramps close by. Additionally, boaters can now track past boat trips, find favorite spots, and record their latest sets – and share all that with friends, family, and other MasterCraft owners.

Super Air Nautique S25

Super Air Nautique S25

An extension of its groundbreaking S-Series, Nautique’s completely new Super Air Nautique S25 stretches the aesthetics and performance of the existing S23 model into a luxurious 25-foot package with seating for 18 people.

Nautique kept all the goodies that made the S23 such a popular model to begin with and just added more space, including a deluxe cockpit lounge that can be configured for catching all the action by day and socializing with friends after. That includes a 12.4-inch Linc Panoray helm display, twin lounge bow seats with even more room to stretch out, a glovebox-mounted wireless phone charging pad, and a riveting JL Audio system with four speakers and a power amp. There’s also an optional M3 upgrade that cranks things up with two additional speakers, a 10-inch subwoofer and a 6-channel amp.

The bottom line is that any of these outstanding watersports tow boats will offer up many years of fun and excitement on the water.