| You can't beat a nice hot summer's day with the | | | | Alpha 1 engine with 220 horses of pulling power. This |
| spray in your face and a fast boat beneath your feet | | | | boat comes with space under-floor for ski storage and |
| - unless it's a fast pair of skis under your feet! Water | | | | great entertainment from its stereo controller that |
| skiing has been around for over 80 years now since | | | | allows you fit a CD player, iPod or MP3 player. Bayliner |
| Ralph Samuelson of Minnesota first tried a pair of | | | | know how to build boats: they should, having been in |
| snow skis and a rope attached to a boat. | | | | the business over 45 years. These boats are quality, |
| To ski on water you not only need the right kind of | | | | and respond to the helm perfectly. With rapid |
| skis, but also the right kind of boat. A good ski boat | | | | acceleration, they can also turn on a cent piece, and |
| should have small wake and have nippy | | | | are perfect for skiing. |
| maneuverability and turning capability, and in this case | | | | Crownline Ski Boats |
| biggest is not best. The best skiboats have inboard | | | | If it's more power you are looking for try a Crownline. |
| engines although it is not cast in stone, and while many | | | | These boats exude class and quality, and the |
| people ski using general purpose deck boats, the best | | | | Bowrider 240LS is great for skiing. You can choose |
| are purpose built. | | | | your colour and your Mercedes engine up to a |
| Popular Ski boat Ranges in Australia | | | | maximum 425 HP. Add to that an optional fantastic |
| It difficult to single out any of the popular skiboat | | | | Social Swim Transom� entertainment |
| ranges in Australia since there are so many of them | | | | system, and a head with sink and shower, and this |
| and quite frankly they tend to be great boats. It would | | | | baby is great for all day fun. If you prefer a deckboat |
| be easier to single out those slightly less fabulous than | | | | to a bowrider for your skiing, then the Crownline 252 |
| the rest than to pick the best, and you can't go by | | | | EX has much the same appointments with the same |
| price. Australia is a country perfectly situated for water | | | | engine, and a Sony Marine stereo system as standard. |
| skiing, and they know how to build the right boats to do | | | | Crownline sell on quality, and are not cheap, but if it's |
| the job. | | | | the best you want they can deliver. Again, though, they |
| Lewis Ski Boats | | | | are multi-purpose and while very popular and great for |
| If we were to name a few, then of the popular skiboat | | | | the recreational skier, they are not specialist ski boats. |
| ranges in Australia, Lewis must be amongst the most | | | | Skicraft Boats |
| favoured, being one of the major ski boat builders in | | | | If you want a specialist championship standard skiboat, |
| the world. Anywhere there is water skiing you will find | | | | then Skicraft must figure in there somewhere. Skicraft, |
| a Lewis boat, built by Australia�s oldest | | | | based in Bayswater, have been making championship |
| manufacturer. | | | | skiboats since 1969, offering very reliable turning and |
| Although the original Lewis boats were made of wood, | | | | maneuverability, but is also very safe. From the sleek |
| they are now fiberglass that provides a strong but | | | | and fast 202 to the new V-Drive eXV Skicraft are |
| very lightweight boat. Even though the internal stringer | | | | true championship boats. The ExV is an upgrade of |
| system is generally wood, Lewis boats are very | | | | the popular eX2, with a good weight design to switch |
| maneuverable and very fast. The 2280 and Revolution | | | | from skiing to wakeboarding at the flick of a switch. |
| are typical of the Lewis range with their zippy | | | | Skicraft generally build specialist boats, and the V-Drive |
| Mercruiser engines that produce a small wake at | | | | is generally better for wakeboarding. However, |
| speed for a smooth slalom ride, and nice big wake for | | | | wakeboarding boats can be expensive because they |
| wakeboarding at lower speeds. | | | | have to be heavier to generate a good wake. Skicraft |
| Their well designed Wake towers can be pimped any | | | | have developed a wake control technology whereby |
| way you like them, with speakers, lights and board | | | | you can adjust the size of the wake to switch |
| racks. However, the trade-off in having a dual purpose | | | | between skiing and wakeboarding, and all at a price |
| ski and wake boat is that you can get a bumpier ride | | | | well below that of a purpose-built wakeboarding boat. |
| on skis. It isn't always ideal to have a dual purpose | | | | Mustang Ski Boats |
| boat, but if you enjoy both sports then you should get | | | | However, the boat that everybody is waiting to see is |
| enough performance from a good ski and | | | | the new Mustang. Since being taken over by Standard |
| wakeboarding boat to satisfy you. If it's championship | | | | Bank, Mustang is back, and is going from strength to |
| performance you are seeking, then purchase a | | | | strength. Their latest boat, still to be unveiled, is the |
| specialist boat. | | | | Mustang 2008 430 Sports Coupe. How good this will |
| Bayliner Ski Boats | | | | be for skiing we don't know, but it sports Volvo IPS |
| Bayliner is another boat builder with very popular ski | | | | 600 engines as standard, with 418 HP each so is going |
| boats in the 16 - 22 foot range The Bowrider 205 is | | | | to be fast enough. |
| typical of a great skiboat with a fabulous Mercruiser | | | | |