Boats

Centurion Vi22 Boat Test

Clean, low profile lines are just one reason to consider this watersports boat.

By Garrett Cortese

Updated: October 16, 2019

While it’s hard not to notice a bright-pink boat with metal-flake treatment, what really sets Centurion’s 2020 Vi22 apart from other wake-sports boats are its ultraclean lines and lower, sportier gunwales. The Vi22’s style hearkens back to another era. Take off the tower, and the Vi22 would look like a beefed-up version of an early ’90s ski boat, and in the opinion of this 30-something editor who grew up on those boats, that’s a good thing.

From the bottom up, the Vi22 possesses the distinct advantage of running on Centurion’s Opti-V hull. With 20 degrees of deadrise, and designed specifically to push more water at wakeboarding and wakesurfing speeds, the Opti-V hull shapes up sizable and symmetrical wakes and waves. Add in the 2,850 pounds of subfloor ballast, plus another 1,750 of optional plug-and-play ballast, and this boat displaces serious water. Wakes and waves can be tweaked with the push of a button, thanks to Centurion’s QuickSurf Pro system tabs on each side of the transom, as well as the center-mounted Stinger Wake Plate.

The Vi22 is outfitted with Spradling upholstery, Gatorstep-lined floors, and customizable seating options. Courtesy Centurion Boats

Inside, the Centurion boasts Spradling upholstery, Gatorstep-lined floors, and customizable seating options with room for 12. At the helm, the captain utilizes a 12-inch touchscreen dash to control major functions, including Ramfill ballast, speed control and much more.

When testing the Vi22’s wakes and waves, we ran the boat with a driver and a crew of two. For a 22-foot boat, it produced a solid wave with plenty of size and push for a variety of skill levels. Add more crew, and the wave will grow even bigger. At wakeboarding speeds, the clean, consistent wakes provided a punchy platform with a solid lip for catching air. Thanks to the PCM 409 powerplant, the Vi22 planed without a problem, and with Centurion’s QuickLaunch technology, bow rise proved minimal, providing us with clear sightlines at all speeds.

The helm features a 12-inch touchscreen dash to control major functions. Courtesy Centurion Boats

Centurion’s Vi22 is a great boat for the watersports family that doesn’t need as much size or space as a bigger boat.

High Points

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: This boat looks gorgeous, thanks to its clean lines and lower profile.
Rear wet/dry storage lockers are easily accessible from the swim platform and great for storing life jackets, ropes and other requisite watersports items.
Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel make it a breeze for the driver to adjust the boat’s speed and the Stinger Wake Plate’s position.

Clean lines and a lower profile means the Vi22 looks as good as it performs. Courtesy Centurion Boats

There are multiple places to stash boards and gear. Courtesy Centurion Boats

Low Points

Passenger capacity is lower than similarly sized boats in the market.

Toughest Competitor
Malibu’s 22 LSV is a similarly sized and versatile multisport machine worth looking at, but it will be more expensive when optioned out similar to our test Vi22 ($112,000 starting).