Direct Drive Boats vs. vDrive Boats (wakeboard boat vs ski boat)

What type of inboard boat is right for you?  There is no one perfect answer to this question as every boat owner has unique needs and engages in different activities.  But generally speaking, if you water ski, get a direct drive inboard boat, if you wakeboard, get a vDrive inboard boat.  But for most of us it’s not that simple.  My guess is that 90% of the inboard wake and ski boat buyers out there do some sort of combination of wakeboarding, skiing, and other sports.

So, where does that leave you, the one considering a new or used inboard boat?  Hopefully, these articles can help.

vDrive Boats – vDrive boats came on the scene as wakeboarding and similar sports created the need for larger wakes that the direct drive boat was not suited for.  Because the motor is located in the rear of the boat, vDrive naturally produce larger wakes than their direct drive counter part.  vDrives are generally considered the best type of wakeboard boat.

Direct Drive Boats – Direct Drive boats are the traditional inboard boat.  Originally built for competition water skiing, they are designed to create the smallest wake possible in most cases.  However, with the recent explosion of wakeboarding, that currently does not always hold true.  There are many models of direct drive boat that will get the job done for wakeboarding as well as water skiing.  Direct Drive boats are generally considered the best type of water ski boat.