• Welcome to Jetboaters.net!

    We are delighted you have found your way to the best Jet Boaters Forum on the internet! Please consider Signing Up so that you can enjoy all the features and offers on the forum. We have members with boats from all the major manufacturers including Yamaha, Seadoo, Scarab and Chaparral. We don't email you SPAM, and the site is totally non-commercial. So what's to lose? IT IS FREE!

    Membership allows you to ask questions (no matter how mundane), meet up with other jet boaters, see full images (not just thumbnails), browse the member map and qualifies you for members only discounts offered by vendors who run specials for our members only! (It also gets rid of this banner!)

    free hit counter

Wake Booster VS Thrust Vector Wake

jhholt9

Active Member
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Points
40
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2018
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
New jet boat owner and want to surf... however having trouble deciding between wake booster or thrust vector wake. Just curious if anyone has seen a side x side comparison and/or listed pros and cons of each?
 

Dough

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
422
Reaction score
463
Points
207
Location
Lake Barkley
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2019
Boat Model
Limited
Boat Length
21
Just started selling both of these....
 

jcyamaharider

Event Sponsor
Event Sponsor
Vendor
Messages
5,427
Reaction score
5,079
Points
457
Location
Rosebud, Mo
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2017
Boat Model
242X E-Series
Boat Length
24
Don't forget about the product that has been around for years and is the OG for surfing behind Yamaha jet boats:

www.gantlinproducts.com
 

the MfM

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
1,691
Reaction score
1,957
Points
247
Boat Make
Other
Year
2018
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
Other
The thrust vector wake seems to be a bit of a work in progress.
 

ripler

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
923
Reaction score
1,354
Points
227
Location
Just south of Pittsburgh
Boat Make
MasterCraft
Year
2021
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
20
I can guarantee that the wakebooster was thoroughly tested before release, the other is being tested by the customers.
 

tabbibus

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
2,485
Reaction score
4,223
Points
297
Location
Lake Lanier, GA
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2018
Boat Model
242 Limited S E-Series
Boat Length
24
I say wait a bit. TV Wake is promising but still being tweaked. Only a few reviews of wakebooster out there. Let things shake up first
 

Arcadyus

Jetboaters Lieutenant
Messages
615
Reaction score
611
Points
152
Location
Washington
Boat Make
Moomba
Year
2019
Boat Model
Wake
Boat Length
25
I can guarantee that the wakebooster was thoroughly tested before release, the other is being tested by the customers.
All the customers seem ok with being essentially testers of a new product not yet ready for full production. I wouldn't be one to want to test a product you have to epoxy to your boat.
 

IndySmittyYammi

Jet Boat Addict
Messages
58
Reaction score
105
Points
102
Location
Greenwood, IN
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2018
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
New jet boat owner and want to surf... however having trouble deciding between wake booster or thrust vector wake. Just curious if anyone has seen a side x side comparison and/or listed pros and cons of each?
My experience has been pretty great with the WakeBooster. Takes seconds to install. Just position ballast, go straight, and surf.

You’ll need Gantlin’s custom swim deck back, and a bag for the center locker. From there you just adjust to what you need/like.

I can’t say anything negative about the WakeBooster. I returned the TVW simply due to how well the WakeBooster worked. I didn’t feel it necessary to spend the money after getting the results I did. The Wake Wedge was a non-starter for us. My wife didn’t want something attached to the boat full time that was visible. That was just our experience.

PS - the Slingshot board that comes with the Booster is awesome.
 

jcyamaharider

Event Sponsor
Event Sponsor
Vendor
Messages
5,427
Reaction score
5,079
Points
457
Location
Rosebud, Mo
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2017
Boat Model
242X E-Series
Boat Length
24
My experience has been pretty great with the WakeBooster. Takes seconds to install. Just position ballast, go straight, and surf.

You’ll need Gantlin’s custom swim deck back, and a bag for the center locker. From there you just adjust to what you need/like.

I can’t say anything negative about the WakeBooster. I returned the TVW simply due to how well the WakeBooster worked. I didn’t feel it necessary to spend the money after getting the results I did. The Wake Wedge was a non-starter for us. My wife didn’t want something attached to the boat full time that was visible. That was just our experience.

PS - the Slingshot board that comes with the Booster is awesome.
2 pins and the Wake wedge comes off the boat faster then the Wake booster. Don't want to take it off....... leave it on all day long. When up on plane the Wake wedge has no effect on the boat.
 

Rod5

Jetboaters Commander
Messages
548
Reaction score
469
Points
177
Location
Marietta GA
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2022
Boat Model
255XD
Boat Length
25
I’ll soon have all 3 and will report comparisons as well as pros and cons to each. Currently we’ve been surfing with 2 wedges (one for each side) for 2 years now. I received the Booster a Couple months ago and have surfed it a few times. Lastly I’ve pre-ordered the TVW back in May and hope to play with them soon...
I also look forward to testing in combination the TVW and Booster together if there is clearance and they don’t interfere with one another.
 

Ziess21

Jetboaters Commander
Messages
298
Reaction score
352
Points
197
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2014
Boat Model
X
Boat Length
21
I just tested the 21' Wakebooster version this morning, it was a brief demo but I was very impressed.
 

JeffVans

Jet Boat Junkie
Messages
381
Reaction score
334
Points
137
Location
Zion Crossroads, Va
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2016
Boat Model
242 Limited S E-Series
Boat Length
24
@IndySmittyYammi and @Rod5 Have you noticed a cut down on the spray with the wakebooster like the TVW is supposed to do? That's one of the reasons I went with the TVW but it hasn't come in yet (late order) so I'm still doing research.
 

JetBoatPilot

Event Sponsor
Event Sponsor
Vendor
Messages
3,125
Reaction score
3,385
Points
347
Location
Panama City, Fl
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2016
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
19
One thing I have noticed about the booster is that if you add ballast the wave gets washy. Just our first observation but the reason I make the point is that the wave looks good without it but you may not be able to add wave height if you're not satisfied with the wave height as it is. We could be wrong about this and if it is proven otherwise we'll retract but wanted to be sure to add our observation.
 

BoaTN

Jet Boat Lover
Messages
20
Reaction score
10
Points
72
Location
TN
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2018
Boat Model
242X E-Series
Boat Length
24
I picked up the wake booster last week and we spent all last weekend surfing. It was a lot better than I had expected and worked great. Played with the ballast and found with 2 adults on board, and 1 surfing all tanks full made a really nice wave. Had to reduce the ballast a little with more people on board. We've not seen any unwanted spray - sun glasses stay dry until I fall in the water. The board is nice too. This is the best picture I could find of the wave right after somebody wiped out, the rope is kicking up a little water. I'll try to get a better picture this weekend. I see no reason to make any further modifications. My boat is stock other than JBP lateral thrusters and Yamaha wake booster.wave.jpg
 

MidnightRider

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
956
Reaction score
1,312
Points
207
Location
Zumbro Falls, MN
Boat Make
Malibu
Year
2013
Boat Model
Wake
Boat Length
20
I just tested the 21' Wakebooster version this morning, it was a brief demo but I was very impressed.
Any Ballast on board? What was the people weight?
 

IndySmittyYammi

Jet Boat Addict
Messages
58
Reaction score
105
Points
102
Location
Greenwood, IN
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2018
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
@IndySmittyYammi and @Rod5 Have you noticed a cut down on the spray with the wakebooster like the TVW is supposed to do? That's one of the reasons I went with the TVW but it hasn't come in yet (late order) so I'm still doing research.
So, the spray situation is interesting. In our experience, there is still a little bit of spray with the Wake Booster when going in a straight line, or if you have to run the wheel away from the surf-side during a run. There seems to be zero spray if you use a slight turn toward the surfer.

I’m personally not affected by the little bit of remaining spray. My wife however, did notice it and wasn’t comfortable until she put on a pair of shades.

There’s a part of me that wonders if a combo of the Wake Booster and TVW will be incredible. We’re pretty happy with our setup, but I could see us adding the TVW down the road.
 

Shady28

Jet Boat Addict
Messages
145
Reaction score
83
Points
97
Location
Minnesota
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2018
Boat Model
242X E-Series
Boat Length
24
I'd second the others experience with the Yama Wakebooster. 3rd weekend on the boat, first time surfing. No expertise driving, setting up ballast or seating in the boat and had kids and 250+ lb adult surfing ropeless. Friend was up and ropeless on our first pass. He was on a friends Supreme the weekend before and preferred the Yama push and wave better and video between him surfing both boats proved it out (also a new boat owner and first time out, so Supreme wasn't tuned in either).

Assuming things can only go up from here as we dial the ballast and seating in the boat in.

*Ballast setup 100% locker, 100% surfside rear and 50% non-surf rear. (3 adults + 5 small kids in boat)

+running thrust vectors and lateral thrusters.
 

Arcadyus

Jetboaters Lieutenant
Messages
615
Reaction score
611
Points
152
Location
Washington
Boat Make
Moomba
Year
2019
Boat Model
Wake
Boat Length
25
I'd second the others experience with the Yama Wakebooster. 3rd weekend on the boat, first time surfing. No expertise driving, setting up ballast or seating in the boat and had kids and 250+ lb adult surfing ropeless. Friend was up and ropeless on our first pass. He was on a friends Supreme the weekend before and preferred the Yama push and wave better and video between him surfing both boats proved it out (also a new boat owner and first time out, so Supreme wasn't tuned in either).

Assuming things can only go up from here as we dial the ballast and seating in the boat in.

*Ballast setup 100% locker, 100% surfside rear and 50% non-surf rear. (3 adults + 5 small kids in boat)

+running thrust vectors and lateral thrusters.
We need videos. Stoked you got a 250lber ropeless. When that supreme is tuned it will throw a monster wave. I saw one last week throwing a wave that was all of 4 and a half maybe 5 ft tall..
 

swatski

Jetboaters Fleet Admiral 1*
Messages
12,806
Reaction score
18,566
Points
822
Location
North Caldwell, NJ
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2016
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
My experience has been pretty great with the WakeBooster. Takes seconds to install. Just position ballast, go straight, and surf.

You’ll need Gantlin’s custom swim deck back, and a bag for the center locker. From there you just adjust to what you need/like.

I can’t say anything negative about the WakeBooster. I returned the TVW simply due to how well the WakeBooster worked. I didn’t feel it necessary to spend the money after getting the results I did. The Wake Wedge was a non-starter for us. My wife didn’t want something attached to the boat full time that was visible. That was just our experience.

PS - the Slingshot board that comes with the Booster is awesome.
I missed your Booster posts last week, we were on vacation. Looks really good, as you also showed in the other thread!

The combination of Gatlin custom swim deck bag and another big one in the center locker, plus whatever else may be to fine tune - seems to be the winning combo! We find it to work best with the Wedge as well. The Wedge is a bit of a pain to mount on the go, and to switch sides you basically need two... but we love it as all surf regular (one of us was forced to go regular, lol, she is the youngest) and we just leave the Wedge mounted, extended flat, for days with no ill effects.

I don't understand the @JetBoatPilot repeated comments on the Booster wave getting washy with ballast, I have not seen or heard this yet from anyone else.

It might be JBP is a wake surfing expert and knows what no one else does, but still his Booster comments smell a little bit like a slick snub to steer people into buying into his TVWs.
Well, good luck with that but maybe we can start with a SIDE-BY-SIDE comparison, TVWs vs no TVWs surfing?

--
 
Top