WaterSki Magazine

If you think the cost of a new ski boat has priced you out of skiing, check out the Centurion T5. For a hard-core ski boat at a budget consumer’s price, this boat truly shines. It’s a boat devoted solely to three-event skiing, and its deeper-than-usual V hull allows its owner to ski and recreate beyond the confines of small private lakes and into public water-ski civilization. Aside from its reasonable price, its USA Water Ski record-approved tow boat rating is certain to attract serious skiers. Even the simple styling suggests “classic ski boat.” But the Centurion T5 doesn’t just look the part of a hard-core ski boat — it acts the part, delivering small, soft wakes that will welcome skiers of all abilities.

Whether you’re just learning the course or preparing for a tournament, chances are you’ll find something you love about the wakes behind the T5. For one, Centurion makes two-person training sets much more enjoyable with an optional passenger-side ballast tank that balances the boat and optimizes tracking. Perhaps its most appealing feature, though, is that it caters to almost any level of skier — beginners through advanced skiers can easily slice through these wakes. As in past years, we were impressed right away by the lack of spray behind this boat even at short line lengths.

HANDLING
The T5 is a light ride, so our testers were pleased to find its tracking ability was above average. Its turning performance was respectable, and its responsiveness out of the hole and especially its midrange acceleration were outstanding. Because it’s a compact direct-drive, you can count on the T5 to offer excellent maneuverability around tight docking situations. The T5 doesn’t have your typical ski-boat running surface either. Its deep-V design can handle rough conditions better than your average ski boat.

This boat doesn’t waste any time announcing exactly what it’s designed for — small-group water-ski sets. The clean, sleek lines and understated graphics are reminiscent of traditional ski boats, and the interior design sticks to the essentials. On board, you’ll find exactly what you need for an early morning slalom set with a couple of ski partners. Extra room in the open bow will come in handy when the morning glass is gone and it’s time to tool around the lake with a full crew. We wish there were a little more room for our 68-inch ski in the rear storage locker, but considering the boat’s size, the walkways on either side of the engine box were noticeably spacious.

Base price: See local dealer

Length: 20 ft. 8 in.

Beam: 93 in.

Seating capacity: 8

Fuel capacity: 32 gal.

Test Prop: Acme 13 x 12 4-blade

Test Engine: MerCruiser Black Scorpion MX 6.2L, 340 hp

Top Speed: 45 mph 5,300 rpm

Accel. To 30 mph: 4.1 sec. 96.8 ft.

Accel. To 36 mph: 5.4 sec. 159.1 ft.

Noise Levels (db): Neutral 68 D 70 R, 36 mph 94 D 94 R

Phone: 209.384.0255
Web: centurionboats.com