Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

So we have a '16 A20 and love it. We have surfed it the last two summers and are really looking forward to this summer (wakeboard also but there is no way I use it to its full potential boarding). When we have is loaded down (for us that's all the plug and play, plus 550s in the rear lockers, and an additional bow bag with another 500 lbs on the seat cushions with usually 4-5 people in the boat) the thing is really fun. What I am curious about is - is it THAT MUCH better the longer the boat when it comes to surfing? We have the dare to compare event coming up and will be out on a T23 and A22 for giggles, but I am thinking that once I do that I am not going to want to surf the A20 anymore because my hunch tells me it will be unbelievably better with the bigger boats. I have seen tons of photos and videos that people have posted but can people chime in on what it's like in real life with these waves. With the bigger boats (when weighted in proportion to what I do now -likely 800s in the lockers and extra bow wait for a T23 style boat) would I see a pocket double the size of what we have now? I have seen some folks able to play in a wave that is at least 20' where they can get a really nice push. Where if I am 20' I am waving to the boat since I am out of the pocket falling into the water cause I lost the push. It seems the height of the waves is comparable with the majority of these boats in the Axis line, but that can be played with the speed, wedge/no wedge, etc. Not really looking for "how do I weight the boat" more so people that have ridden both that can comment on the length and height of the wave.

Again just throwing this out there before I head to the event to hear some real world experiences before I hop in the new boat with the new 410 motors. I have to imagine someone on here started with the A20 and then upgraded to something larger. The wife who is half of my weight can fly all around the wave no issues currently, and I can to especially now that I have a board that fits my weight. Just really curious if the better is definitely better in this case, especially now since we likely will be keeping in on the boat lift all the time and not really towing much if at all which was a huge deciding factor when we got the A20 originally. Any insight would be awesome. As always its much appreciated.

You just can't compare a 20' Axis to a T22 or T23. It's not in the same class of surfing, not even close in my opinion. The T23 is the Axis surf gold standard and the A24 would be second in my opinion. Hull volume (displacement) is the key since the hull shape is already proven.

So it will live up to the hype and I will want to have a different boat after I go to this event is what I am hearing.? Kind of what I thought but it never hurts to ask. So with your comment of T23 wins the gold, A24 the silver are the T22/A22 comparably in bronze then? Or does one of these in the 22' category surf better than the other or its just you want a traditional bow or not?

With the folks with a T23 then, slammed with weight, how far back off the boat can one really get and still stay in the pocket? Some of the videos people seem to be 30'+ off the platform which is insanely cool. Would make spins and tricks so much easier to learn and progress. True? Or is my distance estimation totally off?

About 90% of the videos youre seeing are GoPros with fisheye lens or cell phones. You're not going to stay in the pocket 30' back and chill as a grown adult, not going to happen. Most people actually ride around 12'-15' back with 20' being pretty far back. How far back you can surf depends on a handful of factors: body weight, board, ability, wave push, wedge or no wedge, ballast plus crew (small crew might need/want extra lead or floor sacks), and speed.

This is my 2016 T23


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I agree 100 percent. Watch drone areal videos on YouTube and no one ever looks as far back

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gibbs thanks for posting the photos. How far off the boat would you say the curl begins? I am trying to gauge the depth from these kinds of photos. Is that the 20' range that AJ made note of being pretty far back?

Found a good YouTube (thanks r33) which had a lot of overhead shots and the 20' seems to be spot on. Just seems so much further back when the photo comes from the boat versus over head. I will have to get my buddy out soon to grab some video with his drone so I can see what the distance is on the A20 that we have.

Gibbs, do you care to tell us once again what the exact setup you are running in those pics? Also do you deploy the wedge? Thanks!

My buddy (6'4"-6'5" by the way) looks like he's 30'-35'feet back. He's only about 20'-25'.

That's awesome AJ and really helps a lot. The point to make here is that one is able to surf roughly an additional 10' further back with the 22-23' boats. That's really where I am going with this and what guys are saying as it doesn't even come close to draw a comparison between my little A20 (which I love) and the T23/A24.

Now I just need to be able to justify a new T23 with the Supercharged 550 to the Mrs. I can sell the T23 just fine, especially with not having to trailer as much anymore, but the beef cake engine that might be a harder sell. Might have to throw in a new purse for her or something that she cares about. Cause if/when the T23 happens I will likely be doubling the ballast from what my A20 currently has, plus it is just down right fun. Drove a '15 MXZ24 with the supercharged engine last summer and the thing planed out in what seemed like a count of 1 in my head. But I am sure the new 409 motor with the right prop will do just fine since my 350 does just fine with the set up we have.