UPDATED March 21, 2018
The Centurion Ri257 is a giant of a watersports boat that makes a statement with how big it is, how many of your family and friends it can carry, and the sheer size of the waves it can create. It’s no wonder this boat was chosen as the official tow boat of the BoardCo Rocky Mountain Wake Surf Open, as well as the official Pro and Outlaw tow boat for the 2017 World Wakesurfing Championship presented by GM Marine.
zachstovall.com +1 407-492-8774 1877 Karolina Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789
At over 25 feet long and displacing more than 6,000 pounds, you can bet the Ri257 can push a lot of water when called upon to do so. Total ballast capacity is 5,550 pounds. With the new Opti-V hull, which is softer-riding and more efficient in addition to wake- and wave-enhancing, plus QuickSurf Pro, all that water can be shaped into a wave or wake that is ready to meet the needs of the rider at the moment. That means this boat can produce waves that work for riders of all levels, from beginners to surfers who can execute at high competitive levels.
The waves and wakes produced are truly pro-level. Riders behind your boat can perform a wide range of tricks and moves because the wave the Ri257 and its systems help you create can pretty much handle it all. Tweaking the center tab allows you to customize it to your liking — and to the riding styles of your crew. After our testing and riding of the Ri257, we can say this boat offers a wave boasting plenty of size, power and pocket for any level rider. The wraparound seating features rear-facing backrests for spotters, and a slide-out bench with backrests too.
Underway and cruising, and with the ballast tanks drained to empty, we found the Ri257 fun to run. It topped out at 34.3 mph, powered by a 450 hp PCM engine. We recorded a most economical cruising speed of 20.1 mph while burning 7.4 gph for a thrifty net economy of 2.37 mpg. The Ri257 roared to 20 mph in 8.2 seconds, and we clocked time to plane at a swift 3.9 seconds.
If you want to be able to create monster waves and also have the most control over the shape of waves and wakes — and you want all your friends in on that action — then make a beeline for Centurion’s Ri257 at the next boat show.
High Points
* We’ve already said it, but it bears repeating that the wave generated by Centurion’s Ri257 proved giant and ridiculously fun.
* QuickSurf Pro, Centurion’s integrated surf system, really shines aboard this bigger boat and makes transfers from one side of the wake to the other easy for riders.
* New Opti-V hull design offers exceptional balance for a symmetrical wakeboard wake and, thanks to less resistance on the running surface, better fuel economy.
Price: $179,907 (as tested without tax/dealer prep/shipping)
How We Tested
Engine: 450 hp PCM H6DI
Drive/ Prop: V-drive/16″ x 15″ 4-blade Nibral
Gear Ratio: 1.72:1
Fuel Load: 90 gal.
Crew Weight: 365 lb.
More Information
Centurion Boats – Merced, California; 209-384-0255; centurionboats.com
