SEA RAY - SLX 260 SURF

A luxury bowrider with a surfable wave that simultaneously pleases a family crew and a sports crowd.

- Pete McDonald

Several years in, it’s safe to say that wake surfing is one of the most engaging watersports that people enjoy on the water. The thing is, most people want to enjoy it as part of their boating experience, not as their only experience, so they’re not looking for a dedicated surfboat. Boat companies looking to accommodate that crowd have sought to build recreational boats propelled by jets or forward-facing drives to make them safe to surf behind. The catch-22, as we have learned, is that many “surfable” runabouts do not produce a wave strong enough for a weekend warrior to surf easily. Sea Ray’s new SLX 260 Surf, however, delivers on that promise. During testing, expert rider Cody Prizer discovered that the SLX 260 Surf produced a strong wave with a pocket that extends far behind the boat, so surfers of all ability levels can enjoy it.

How did Sea Ray achieve this in a traditional luxury bowrider? It starts with swapping out the Mercury Bravo Three for a forward-facing Bravo Four S drive. Otherwise known as a tractor drive, the forward-facing contra-rotating propellers pull the boat through the water rather than pushing it like a regular sterndrive. This setup moves the props 26 inches forward of the transom under the boat, safely tucking them out of reach of any surfers or swimmers working around the swim platform. Sea Ray also incorporated an 1,800-pound ballast system completely under the deck rather than in stowage lockers, as you'll see in some converted runabouts. Add in the customized Wakeworx surf tabs that help shape the wave on either the port or starboard side.