Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

I saw the new Nautique Surf System and I have to say I think they might have some problems with the US patent and trade office.

What do you guys think about the new system?

Looks like Surf Gate.

Yep. Looks like a rip off of surf gate.

Well, surfgate consists of trim tabs that extend horizontally/at an angle. The nautique system extends both to the side and downward. It deploys like a box cutter blade, which is somewhat different than surfgate. That being said, the nautique system, like surfgate, also creates delayed convergence of the wakes, and, thus, the ability to create a wave on one side of the boat or the other. The result is the same as surfgate. At the end of the day, it will boil down to how the surfgate patent is worded.

It's like the whole nautique tower patent. For years, everyone had to pay nautique royalties for elevated tow points, regardless of the specific design of the rear swooping tower. In light of this history, if any company should have to pay royalties for coming up with a slightly different design that achieves the same result as surfgate, it should be nautique.

Bluntly, nautique has to anticipate that it will wind up in litigation with BU. Nautique probably figured that it would go ahead and try to rake in as much profit as possible before litigation ensues and/or it is forced to pay licensing fees to BU. Definitely a risky strategy.

Unlike Malibu, Nautique is allowing dealer to retrofit this system to in-stock boats. Wouldn't be much of a strech to retrofit to other owner boats if the parts are available to order. Patent issues aside. I like the overall stealthiness of the Nautique system better. It could be a more compatible solution for our axis wide swimdeck. Looks like a very clean design: http://nautique.com/models/nautique-surf-system?id=40

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I believe we are all still paying tower royalties still today.... Naut still has their lawyer send out a packet every year trying to get more and more tower retailers to pay royalties.

I have not seen the Malibu patent but I am interested in seeing how this works out. I think naut will have a problem..

Patents like that SUCK. MC owns another stupidly granted one for anchor lights on the tow-point (hence the Axis arm).

Last I heard, no one has found a 'bu patent on the actual surf-gate system. Just patents for the wave logo and name to date.