Surf, ski, wakeboard? Whatever your watersport of choice, or even if you want to do all three, the new Varatti Z22 from Floe International has you covered. The Varatti has a cathedral hull design that can run shallow for skiers or produce a surf wake when loaded up.
It all starts with the Varatti’s Control Center. The 12-inch touchscreen and Intelligent Steering Wheel let you set the boat to your sporting preferences: You can deploy the Quick-Load ballast system with its six pumps and be surfing in under three minutes. You can shape the wake to match your ability and style for both surfing and wakeboarding, or you can minimize the wake for slalom skiing. Using the presets, you can set it up for individual riders with one touch on the steering wheel or the screen.
Varatti powers the Z22 with a MerCruiser 6200 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline inboard engine, which delivers 370 hp at a maximum 5,400 rpm. The rig provides smooth power, whether at low surfing speeds or faster skiing speeds. With the Mercury power, Varatti offers a joystick steering system. Mercury Joystick Piloting control for inboards employs bow and stern thrusters to give the boat 360-degree maneuverability. Traditionally, single-inboard tow boats are notoriously touchy around the dock, but the Joystick Piloting system makes docking and loading on a trailer into non-issues. Plus it provides an added safety element for tow sports. When a rider falls in the water, the driver can use the joystick to do a tight 180-degree turn and return to the rider far more quickly than when using the steering wheel alone, and without having to cross the wake and jar the passengers.
The Varatti has a pickle-fork bow with crowd-pleasing open-bow seating. A full windshield protects the dual console in the main cockpit. Cockpit seating features rear-facing lounges for spotters, as well as full transom seating and a sun pad over the engine compartment. Boarders and skiers will love the built-in transom bench seats and the large extended swim platform. The Varatti comes in multiple color options with a stylish metal-flake two-tone gelcoat design. For entertainment, a Rockford Fosgate stereo system comes standard.
High Points
- The Mercury Joystick Piloting system makes for easy dockside handling and allows fast safe returns to downed watersports riders.
- The standard Rockford Fosgate stereo system pumps out premium-quality sound for the crew.
- The Intelligent Steering Wheel lets you set the wake for your riders with the push of a button.
- Quick-Fill ballast system can be quickly loaded or drained for surfing, wakeboarding or water skiing.
- Offered in a variety of gelcoat colors and graphic styles.
Price: $110,000 (base)
FLOE International - McGregor, Minnesota; 612-834-1248; floeintl.com
