2011 Malibu Wakesetter VLX

Boats that are designed for wakeboarding and wakesurfing almost exclusively employ a V-drive configuration and have inboard engines. This places the engine in the stern, which frees up more seating space inside the boat and adds weight to the back of the boat for the larger wakes coveted by wakeboarders and wakesurfers. V-drives are also generally bigger than direct-drives in terms of length, beam, dry weight, and passenger and ballast capacity, this is because wakeboarders and wakesurfers need more displacement to generate bigger wakes in order to perform tricks. In the sport of wakesurfing, it's absolutely essential to have adequate displacement because the surfer needs to be able to let go of the handle and be propelled solely by the power of the wave generated by the boat. Wakeboarders also generally prefer some sort of elevated tow point like a tower so they can stay up in the air longer and land bigger tricks.

Some are even designed to combine the best parts of wakeboard, wakesurf and water-ski boats to create a water-sports compromise. Often referred to as hybrids or crossovers, these inboards are a great fit for boaters whose family and friends like to do a little of everything, from water-skiing to wakeboarding to wakesurfing. Typically hybrids include a tower, ballast, wake-shaping plate and removable center-mounted pylon. The running surface of a crossover can be unique in that it starts with a deeper V than most slalom boats and finishes flatter than most wakeboard boats to optimize the wake for each sport at its respective speed