Wakeboarding Behind a V-Drive Versus a Sterndrive

What type of boat is safest for wakeboarders? This video breaks it down for riders. Watch Content Editor Brandon Judd's analysis of wakeboarding behind a v-drive versus a sterndrive.

[Jsf]

"You will never have any fun, and you pretty much suck if you don't spend 120k on your boat" That's the message I got. I'll keep my 20 year old direct drive that's been paid for since the day I pulled it home. Guess I'll just suffer through in ignorance.

[seahorsecowboys]

V-drive $120k, .. avg stern drive run about $30k....Guess he forgot that in his sales pitch ....

[TheStephenspann]

If the only thing you are going to use your boat for is wakeboarding, and in water where your draft isn't an issue, sure a V drive is great. They pretty well suck at everything else when compared to a sterndrive. Like.... controlling the boat in reverse, top speed, fuel economy, being able to survive hitting a stump or beaching.

[windowsvistasuxalot]

I face planted behind a 130K Tige last week and behind a 5k Personal Watercraft this week. Hurt the same on both crashes. Wake to wake was much more fun behind the Tige. But I had helluva fun behind both.

[Spineshot]

Ha, "The boat plains out faster" it doesn't plain out at all, it's plowing water the whole time, that's why it's got such a huge fucking wake.

[DustyBoi]

What about the new Bryant 233surf edition with the volvo reverse prop? can it hold its own with the v drives for wakeboarding and surfing?

[viperfanatic]

Because apparently every stern drive is a 16 foot v6 Bayliner. Lol. My stern drive puts out just as good if a wake as a 100k v drive for 10k

[christophergregg]

Bayliner had the drive trimmed up while trying to plane! False advertising boating mag!

[ipfreely]

I wake boarded behind a Jet Ski for years V drives are nice but not absolutely necessary

[roncook]

Did they think we wouldn't notice that the stern drive was trimmed way up when comparing bow rise? Bow rise is the same, throttle control is the same and you obviously don't have the boat running and in gear when you got someone in the water off the stern. V drives have one advantage, their wake is more suited for water sports. You decide if it's worth the extra 50k

[danjones]

This message brought to you by Malibu. Honestly inboards are expensive. I bought a 13 year old v drive last year for over market, but mostly to surf safely. After almost landing on by buddies stern drive prop earlier that summer, I decided if I or my kids were to ever surf, v drive was the way to go. That, and I can pretend to be a big shot with my used boat that cost the same as a used runabout. But hey, if you are just learning to wakeboard (not surf), Just get a boat and get out there. you can wakeboard behind a friggin jet ski if you want.

[Qbhoy]

Was a bit of an unfair planing test with the out drive trimmed right up....!

[jshoop]

This vid is such a spin. Malibu, MasterCraft, (Ski) Natique all have their roots in slalom ski boats designed to make no wake. Sterndrives are better at everything and shape an amazing wake with little ballast

[wizard-kkbc]

He acts as if people in a stern drive just can’t turn off the engine while people get in the boat and that you can’t evenly distribute the weight to prevent the boat from rising

[paulchen]

V Drive more Powerfull ? Depending on the engine you put in.

[jshoop]

Biased!
I'd take a stern drive with a fin and surf wedge over a v drive for the following reasons:
-Late 90's and newer stern drives have extended planes and decks that cover the out drive
-Stern drives sit about 15" lower in the water than a v - drive prop
-Stern drives act as a power wedge when slightly trimmed up - this pushes the boat lower into the water, displacing more surf wake while also rolling a larger wave behind the boat
-Stern drives can throttle the bow up to clear waves/rough water
-Stern drives turn and maneuver much faster, which reduces cycle times, which leads to more time surfing
-Stern drives are plentiful and significantly cheaper than v drive boats
-Stern drives also come with powerful engines. My 19' Sea Ray has a 350, which is plenty of power for a 19' boat
-I can create a smooth, sizeable, wake board wake by moving weight 2/3 to the front and slightly raising the trim

[YINONhadar]

No question that today’s wake specific boats are the thing however with the right setup you can to a degree have a decent performance out of a stern drive. Our Bayliner flight series got the tower, has no list when towing a100kg person, through a two feet wake and with a home built wake shaper gives a smooth long wave for surfing.
If you get a$30k boat you may need to add another $10k to set it for wakeboarding (swim platform to distance the prop, wake tower, ballast, 5 blade prop for max torque etc)
Enjoy your time in the water and be safe.

[reidjordan]

I own a V-Drive boat and I love wakeboarding behind it rather than an outboard, but they act like it’s the greatest boat ever, they aren’t. They’re a wakeboarders dream and that’s it, that’s really all they offer

[MykelDH]

Don't forget when the storm rolls in and fills up your boat and you capsize or sink your $120k boat

[murraycrow]

Wake boats are really, really good at spoiling everyone elses day on the river/lake due to the wakes they create.