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We demoed a 2023 R8 surf last night and the surf was great, however the wake wash for a slalom skier was worse than my Tige 23zx wake boat. Any recommendations for the skiers riding in a surf boat? I have searched this forum before asking trying to find out. Thanks for your input and ideas to try before I demo this boat again. It had some issues with electronics which is why there will be another demo.

I don't have any experience with a R8, but I noticed that the wake is much more substantial than the wake behind a dedicated ski boat, or smaller runabout/bowrider. We came from a 19' Rinker, and the wake wasn't too bad to go in and out of, however with our 242, it was something to get used to for sure. I would say that obviously the longer the rope, the smaller the wake will be, so make sure you're using the full 75' of rope when skiing. My daughter got outside the wake on our Cobalt for the first time over Memorial weekend, and she had trouble getting back in. I told her it's just something she's going to have to get used to. Go faster/turn into the wake harder to get back in.

I still slalom ski, not doing the slalom course that much anymore. Use to have a smaller mastercraft and missing that ski wake. Currently slalom behind Cobalt A28, can still cross the wakes fairly hard, but much worse on the knees. The new surf boats are going to be hard for much fun with slalom in my opinion. Would be ok for teaching someone to slalom as long as they are not trying to cross the wakes.

FYI the new Radar slalom skis are amazing, just got a new one last year

It's just not the best boat for water skiing, but at least it's not as deep a V as the R7 was My 210 is nowhere as nice to ski behind as a 23' ski boat, but it also handles chop on a big lake way better and is more functional for how we use the boat.

Nauti's advice about using the full rope, doing what you can to reduce ballast, etc. sounds on point.

Jbyrd65 - I’m curious, did you end up getting the R8 Surf? How is the skiing? I also demo’d an R8 Surf last weekend and felt like I was getting air every time I crossed the wake on my slalom ski.

Lfeni wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 8:20 am Jbyrd65 - I’m curious, did you end up getting the R8 Surf? How is the skiing? I also demo’d an R8 Surf last weekend and felt like I was getting air every time I crossed the wake on my slalom ski.

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So glad you found us Lf…..

Let us know if an R8 works out for you.

And welcome aboard mate.

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Lfeni wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 8:20 am Jbyrd65 - I’m curious, did you end up getting the R8 Surf? How is the skiing? I also demo’d an R8 Surf last weekend and felt like I was getting air every time I crossed the wake on my slalom ski.

Was it set up to surf (i.e., was the ballast empty and were the surf gates retracted)? It's hard to get a boat that makes a good wave for surfing and also makes no wave for skiing, and Cobalts do seem biased toward the surfing side of the spectrum.

My kids and I slalom behind our R7, though we always kind of slow down going over the wake. These are definitely NOT designed to be good slalom boats. The wave is nice for getting air on two ski's, we do try to avoid this on one ski though. I am not sure i have ever seen a good slalom boat over 20ish feet. Honestly I am not sure they still make good slalom boats.

The boat was set to ski with empty ballasts and surf gates retracted. I currently ski and surf behind an R5 Surf, and the skiing is definitely better on the R5 than the R8. Trying to decide between the R6 Surf and R8 Surf - I think surfing will be better on the R8 but I expect skiing to be better behind the R6. Haven’t had a chance to take an R6Surf for a test run yet.

I take our skiers on our Bennington tritoon. R8 surf def not conducive to serious water skiing.