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- WAKE magazine, by Jayden Bradley
Ski craft has had the right idea for a number of years now and dedicated itself to making the right boat for wake boarders nationwide. Many wake boarders and retailers alike have been under the impression that bigger is better for wakeboarding, and while that isn’t always the case, it certainly rings true in this instance.
The 22 foot Century is a boat that has been designed for a purpose and around a certain type of lifestyle. Wakeboarding as a sport is at a point where it demands products specific to its make up that will help the sport progress.
Ski craft has a reputation for the highest quality finishes and the Century is no different. We started by looking at the interior of the boat and gave it the once over, and were impressed with what we saw
Roomy is the only real way to describe the interior. The Century has more room around either side of the engine hatch than any other inboard ski boat I’ve seen before. A mammoth rear storage locker finishes the dry section of this boat before stepping over onto the oversized and carpet-finished boarding platform that has become a design feature of all Ski craft boats.
This is the first time that Ski craft has developed a walk through bow, and with plenty of room up in the well laid-out front section we will see a heap of people walking on through to relax up front.
The sides of this boat sit very high, which makes for a feeling of safety the moment you sit in the boat, and once it’s in the water the stability only adds to these feelings of confidence.
There is also a good amount of storage under the observer’s seat and this extends up into the bow making it long enough to fit boards, paddles or whatever else takes your fancy. The overall feel to the inside of the boat is roomy and cleverly designed.
The Engine
The standard engine in
the Century is the Me cruiser Vector 5.7 litre, and this would be well
suited to the average family or recreational group. If there is often
going to be a group on board or extra weight for wakeboarding, then an
upgrade may be a good option.
The model that we were using had a little touch of extra power with the
Mercruiser 315hp Magnum under the engine hatch. This fuel injected
engine was perfect for wakeboarding on the day and provided us with more
power than needed with only a small crew on board. There are another two
options in the Mercury range that you can upgrade to, but obviously with
bigger engines comes more numbers on the bill.
As with all the Skicraft boats, the Century has the right mechanical
setup to perform on cue in any setting you put it in. When it comes to
the power you need, the Century delivers. The engine sits very low
inside the boat and gives you the feeling of an even roomier interior.
On the Water
After a good look through
the boat we finally got to head out for the smooth waters of Bundalong,
where the Murray River meets the Ovens, to see how this boat handled on
the water. Traditionally this area is known for its awesome conditions
and perfect environment for all skiing, wakeboarding and footing, so we
figured we couldn’t go too far wrong. Unfortunately, on this given day
the sun was not interested in sticking its head out and so we made the
best of some gray conditions and dropped the boat in the water anyway.
The wakes will not disappoint the wakeboarders. With such a large boat,
there is always going to be a sizey wake kicking around, but until I
jumped in I really wasn’t sure just how big. It has a great tabletop
type shape and will provide a great kick in the way that other Skicrafts
always have.
Behind the Wheel
There is a large amount
of space to stretch your legs out which makes the driving position
fairly comfortable. Visibility is good above all the dials and through
the windscreen. The wheel sits at a comfortable position when the seat
is adjusted right forward or back for the bigger drivers on the day.
For a big boat it is surprising just how well the Century cornered and
how responsive it was to every direction change or variation in speed.
Not only did it respond well, but it was very easy to handle as well.
The hand throttle is in a very comfortable position and drops in and out
of gear smoothly every time. There is very minimal noise to be heard
from the engine at idle and at speed it is still possible to be having a
relatively normal conversation with the person sitting next to you.
All in all, the Century has many of the handling characteristics of a
larger boat but was still enjoyable to drive through a tight environment
like the Murray River.
Overview
Over the years Skicraft
has developed a reputation for their high quality finish, and the
Century is no different. Whether you are buying a boat for social
purposes only or to help in your quest to become the next Australian
wakeboard champion, Skicraft boats are not to be overlooked and the
Century is right at the top of a long list of quality products.
Everything Skicraft set out to achieve in the design process it has
nailed, and we are quite sure that a new standard has been set in the
Skicraft wakeboard line.
The long and the short of this one is that Skicraft has designed a boat
perfect for wakeboarding, and with the wake’s size and shape it will
satisfy every rider.
Specifications
Length 6.6m (22’)
Beam 240m (8”)
Dry weight 1290kg
Weight on trailer 1690kg
Fuel tank capacity 110 litres
Viewpoint
Team Rider Troy Roker
The Skicraft Century is a good all-round wakeboard boat, from beginners right up to the pros. When the Century is loaded up for wakeboarding the mighty Mercruiser still gets it on the plane with ease. The wake it puts out is very big, and it has a nice shape. It’s also a very nice boat to drive and doesn’t feel like you are behind the wheel of a big boat. In fact, it handles just like its little brother, the Senator. I am looking forward to riding behind the new rear-mount Century which is due to be released later in the year, and this boat is sure to have a lot going for it.
Boat Review by Jayden Bradley courtesy of WAKE magazine
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