Wakeboarding - June 01, 2018

BOAT DOCTOR /// BOAT DOC SPECIAL

wake-shaping control buttons
so that adjustments can be
made without the need to take
your hands from the wheel.

POWER HEATED SEAT
The “cool” factor of a heated
seat that’s also power-adjust-
able is undeniable. Few com-
forts prove more coveted on
cool mornings with mist rising
from fl at water.

BALLAST SYSTEMS
Most modern wakeboats of er
subfl oor ballast tanks that
can be fi lled with the push of
a button to beef up wakes and
waves. Up to 3,500 pounds can
be pumped aboard the SA 550,
in four locations.

AUTOWAKE CONTROL
While precise adjustments and

custom profi les can be dialed

in manually, Supra’s AutoWake

takes the trouble out of shift-

ing weight or passengers

around by detecting the boat’s

pitch and roll and automatical-

ly adjusting ballast as needed

for optimal wake shape and

size. Settings can be saved as

presets so that AutoWake can

adjust for each rider.

WAKE SHAPING

Wake-shaping devices come

in two forms on today’s water-

sports boats: center-mounted

transom tabs and port and

starboard plates. The port and

starboard plates are designed

to be used for wakesurfi ng.

Once deployed, the plate

changes the direction of water

coming of the boat’s hull on

that side, thereby making a

large, surfable wave on the

other side. Center-mounted

tabs, like Supra’s Smart Plate,

change the hull’s running

surface, which allows them to

adjust a wake or wave’s height

and length. —Garrett Cortese

PHOTOS: COURTESY SUPRA BOATS