Boat Test: 2026 Montara EVO 25

Overview

Pardon the comparison, but Montara’s original Surf Boss was a bit like Frankenstein’s monster. It stitched together the wake-boosting hull, inboard power and extras of a wakesports boat with the passenger-friendly space and profile of a pontoon. The result was a monster alright, but in the best sense. It delivered a monster wake from a party-friendly platform. The Evo 25 is the next “evolution” of this hybrid creation. It’s got a tough act to follow: The original (Montara Surf Boss 2.0) was Boating’s 2023 Boat of the Year.

It’s not a pontoon. Sporting a 10-degree deadrise, its aluminum monohull is shaped like a wakesports flagship and places an emphasis on displacing water. Topside, the open-deck layout is a mix of pontoon and wake styling, designed to comfortably carry a passenger load of up to 16. Power is provided by an Indmar V-drive. The result is the luxury of a tri-toon melded to a wake and wave machine. The magic formula for the latter will be familiar to the board-sports crowd. An additional 4,200 pounds of ballast, housed within a pair of lengthy subfloor bags that span nearly 12 feet in length, settles it deeper into the water to further build and clean-up its sizable wake. Fine-tuning shape and length falls to a trio of transom-mounted surf tabs. Dialing in this potent combination for both captain and rider is distilled into a few taps on the Evo’s intuitive helm touchscreen. Input crew load, allow the ballast to add additional weight, then choose your sport—wake, surf or foil. Lastly, choose how tall and aggressive you want the wake to be, pick the rider’s preferred side and activate. Our pro test rider, Weston Koritko, summed up the result as a fun, accessible surf wave with a nice curl, wide pocket and plenty of push. The lip also features a nice curl that that provides plenty of pop for aerial maneuvers. Balance the load, increase the speed, and wakes clean up nicely for wakeboarding.

Engine

When not in surfin’-safari mode, the Evo proves surprisingly light and nimble. Its hull shape and combination of prop, rudder and tracking fins produces handling much like its dedicated wake-and-surf counterparts. Handling is further enhanced by Montara’s switch from cable to hydraulic steering. Low-speed handling is aided by standard stern thrusters. Controlled via intuitive icons on the touchscreen, they can be used to crab the boat sideways to port or starboard in Burst mode, or in Dock mode keep the power on for 90 seconds to hold the boat against the dock while passengers load or unload. Like most wakeboats, acceleration is the priority. Our test boat’s 6.2-liter 465 hp PCM inboard easily pulled riders out of the water en route to an 8.2-second time to 30 mph. Top speed maxed out at 39 mph.

Interior and Accessories

Topside, a classic pontoon layout comes into play. It starts with perimeter fencing, a mix of modern, angled modules at bow and stern corners and artistic aluminum tubing backed with color-matched panels in the midsection. The bow gate props open via a nifty magnetic catch. It’s simpler than the lift-and-lower style common on many pontoons. Step through and a pairing of heavily bolstered 5-foot-long couches await, wrapped in a rich, mocha and bronze vinyl that’s more elegant and less sporty than the original. An array of six cup holders are nestled into lumbar cutouts port and starboard. One of four sound system controls is at the ready. Montara takes the unique approach of having individual volume control in multiple zones throughout the boat. Keep the bow mid-volume for relaxation, softer for the captain, and crank things up aft. The captain smartly has override control. The bow is also where you’ll find the “basement,” a mega in-floor locker literally three padded steps below deck level that combines ample storage with access to batteries and electronics. 

A new 5 ½-inch elevated helm also makes its way to the Evo, its dash designed to accommodate that offset 15-inch touchscreen and elevated tail securely mounting the captain’s seat atop a platform rather than on a pedestal. In addition to surf and wake features, the touchscreen can control all ship systems, lighting, display navigation chart and even high-resolution video feed captured by cameras mounted on both tower and transom. Soft-touch buttons add redundancy and quick access to commonly used features such as bilge, blower and lighting. Across, passenger seating is rounded out with an L-shaped bench that segues into a variation of the split-back lounge design popular on pontoons. Enjoy it as back-to-back couches, pivot individual backrests forward, or lay down for a large reclined sun pad. Like forward, multiple cup holders line the lumbar cutout and plenty of storage is found below all seats. 

Read Next: Montara 2.0 23 CWDH

Other wake monsters lurk. Paradigm’s 266 Surf (well-equipped at $350,000 with a 430 hp, 6.2-liter Volvo Penta Forward Drive) likewise combines a wake bottom with a pontoon deck and offers 3,500 pounds of hard-tank ballast and wake tabs. Its primary difference is all-fiberglass construction and that Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive can be trimmed for load, conditions and higher top speed. One thing’s for certain. Both boats are a monster mash-up ready to redefine multiple categories.

How We Tested

• Engine: PCM 6.2L inboard
• Drive/Prop: V-drive/OJ 15.5″ x 16.5″ 3-blade nibral
• Gear Ratio: 1.72:1 Fuel Load: 46 gal. Crew Weight: 525 lb.

High Points

• Stern thrusters simplify docking, hold the boat against dock when loading/unloading.
• Huge “basement” service access, stowage.
• Additional standards include four-zone Polk audio, docking lights, and 35 cup holders, and a rugged, 4-mm-thick aluminum hull.

Low Points

• Running angle can be significant.
• We discovered over-long speaker-mount screws and unprotected electrical connections beneath the split-back seating.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation