We Say: Bigger can indeed be better with respect to watersports boats, as the Centurion Ri257 revealed during our test. Displacing 6,000 pounds, the 25-foot Ri257 is rated for a crew numbering 18 and can carry over 5,500 pounds of ballast. So, while it won’t fit into some garages on a trailer, this Centurion can produce some big, bad wakes and waves. Pro testers from our sister publication Wakeboarding rode behind the boat and noted that using full ballast for surfing could create long, mellow waves or steep ones. For wakeboarding, our riders noted that only partial ballast was needed in order to create a massive wall of water, enabling aspiration toward —and execution of — pro-level riding.
Centurion incorporates multiple wave- and wake-enhancing features such as the Centurion Articulating Tracking System, which aids in maintaining course. The QuickSurf Pro makes shifting the wave from side to side easy. The Ramfill system fills the ballast in 45 seconds, a fast time.
Our test boat was powered by a 450 hp Pleasurecraft Marine H6DI turning a 15-by-16-inch Acme prop through a V-drive transmission with a 1.72-to-1 reduction. With a crew of two, empty ballast tanks, and 68 gallons of fuel in the tank, we achieved a top speed of 38.4 mph. Best fuel economy came at 3,500 rpm and 22.6 mph, where we netted 2.94 mpg.
Who’d Want One: Boaters seeking to carry a big crowd, make big waves, and do both in the finest style.
Another Choice: Be sure to check out Malibu’s Wakesetter 25 LSV ($158,672 powered by an Indmar 6.2L Monsoon 450L).
Bottom Line: $164,959 (without tax, prep, license); centurionboats.com
How We Tested
Engine: PCM H6DI
Drive/Prop: V-drive/Acme 15″ x 16″
Gear Ratio: 1.72:1
Fuel Load: 69 gal.
Crew Weight: 410 lb.
Ballast Tanks: Empty
