It’s too easy to grab words like innovative or outstanding and apply them to new boats tested for published review. But if we were forced to use just one word to describe Centurion’s all-new Fi23, that word might be effortless. That’s because operating this super-wide-bow boat, with its 4,750 pound ballast capacity, to thrill and challenge watersports crews of all levels proves as easy as pushing some buttons. Do so and you and your crew will be set to have a blast.
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The Centurion Fi23 is perfect for the family or crew who wants to pick and choose its options on a boat built on a killer hull design. Our tester came equipped with Ramfill, a system that fills ballast in less than 90 seconds. The new Split HD Touch Vision dash enables you to control as much as 4,850 pounds of ballast, along with the two-second transfer of QuickSurf Pro and fast, flat takeoffs of QuickLaunch. The Fi23 comes sized to hold a bunch of your friends and their gear. The surf wave is one pros would love, but it’s also one that can accommodate newer riders, so don’t be intimidated by the awesome capability. Have a couple of top riders in your crew? You’ll also want to consider the Centurion Articulating Tracking System (CATS), which uses hull deflection to help customize waves and wakes.
The Fi23 is the big brother to the Fi21 in the all-new Fi line, and its pro-level wave will have you grinning from ear to ear. As mentioned above, the wave is effortless and makes surfing a breeze for all levels of riders. The farther back you go, the more fun you have because you never feel like you need to pump hard or get on the gas to get back forward. The Fi23 wave is a giant playground. By tweaking the center plate, the wave shape can be customized. Closer to 100, it is more mellow; closer to zero, it is steeper. At 60, it had tons of push and a really fun shape.
With 550 hp providing the push, the Centurion Fi23 topped at 41.2 mph, racing to plane in just over 4 seconds with the ballast empty. It accelerated to 20 mph in just 7.2 seconds. If you’re considering a watersports boat built to a high standard that doesn’t sport the highest price, consider racing to see a Centurion Fi23.
High Points
* Opti-V hull capitalizes on the balance and hydrodynamics created by the flat, triangular transom pads for clean, powerful waves on both sides of the boat.
* QuickSurf Pro, Centurion’s integrated surf system, really shines on the bigger Fi23, making fast, 1.8 second transfers from one side to the other possible.
* The Fi23’s available 2500-pound RAMFILL System fills in 90 seconds.
Price: $161,858 (as tested without tax/dealer prep/shipping)
How We Tested
Engine: 550 hp PCM XR7 6.2L
Drive/Prop: V-drive/17″ x 15 1/2″ 4-blade Nibral
Gear Ratio: 1.72:1
Fuel Load: 10 gal.
Crew Weight: 565 lb.
More Information
Centurion Boats – Merced, California; 209-384-0255; centurionboats.com
