2011 Supreme V226

One of the more rewarding aspects of life as a reporter and writer is revealing to readers things they might not have known otherwise. In hard news, it’s getting the scoop before other news outlets do. In the boating press, it means introducing readers to boats they might not have been aware of. Take the Supreme V226, for example. You might not have heard much about the company before. However, it’s worth checking it out, particularly if wake surfing is your thing, because the company’s latest model, the V226, throws some bomber wakes. Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., Supreme builds five V-drive models and one direct-drive. The V226 is of course a V-drive that comes standard with what you need for wakeboarding and wake surfing, including GPS speed control with auto launch and a tower with swivel board racks that accommodate surfboards and wakeboards. For creating monster wakes, the V226 comes with triple ballast tanks, two in the rear and one up front. For tuning the wakes, Supreme fitted the transom with a Bennett wake-enhancement tab, and for those who want to pull children on tubes, it also comes with a retractable ski pylon just aft of the rear bench. “The Supreme V226 is a colossal wake surf monster that’s taking the surf world by storm,” said Karl Koster, president of parent company Kal Kustom Enterprises. “The new V226 utilizes intelligent design and the industry's deepest V hull for an incredibly comfortable 15-person seating arrangement that feels more like a 24-foot boat. Load up one side or the other for one of the greatest surf wakes out there. Each Supreme is hand-crafted to provide the most comfortable and spacious interiors while providing superior wakeboarding and wakesurfing performance.” Base MSRP is $69,995, which doesn’t get you a trailer, but it does buy you ample power in the form of MerCruiser’s 330-horsepower 5.7-liter Black Scorpion, featuring digital throttle control and an easy-drain oil system. The easy-drain system is neat because it lets you change the oil in much the same way you would on a car. The drain fitting on the oil pan features an integrated hose that you pull through the hull drain plug, so you don’t need one of those messy pumps that draw oil out through the dipstick tube. Inside, the V226 comes fitted with a standard depth finder, and the dash is wrapped with custom vinyl. A JBL stereo and amplifier with remote control and six speakers is standard, as is a swivel driver seat with a flip-up bolster. In terms of convenience features, the V226 delivers. One amenity is the stainless pull-up cleats, which are great on a towboat because they don’t snag tow ropes when you make a hard turn to pick up a downed boarder. Dual fuel fills mean you can fill up the boat and the truck from the same side, regardless of what kind of truck you drive. Up front in the pickle-fork style bow, the standard filler cushion creates a nice “playpen” for the kids. The bow is unique because of a few other features, too. The lounge seats can be used facing forward or aft. Then there’s the carpeted locker beneath the center front cushion. It provides a lot more stowage than you’re used to seeing in the bow of a tow boat. Add to that the forward “platform,” which is fitted with a rubber mat for sure footing. Even better, the V226 offers ample cockpit room. Supreme says it offers more than all 24-footers on the market today, but that would be difficult to verify. It is certainly roomy, and it comes standard with snap-in carpeting and thick 24-ounce vinyl throughout the interior. Less sexy are some of the construction details, but they are important nonetheless. For example, the V226 hull construction is 100-percent fiberglass—no wood—and has a deep 18-degree transom deadrise. That enhances passenger comfort on rough days because it cuts through chop better than a hull with a flatter bottom. Supreme has been building boats for longer than most people realize. The company may not be a household name, but it’s interesting to note how well Supreme has soldiered on in the face of the Great Recession that has sidelined a few of its competitors. That’s a testament to the company and its products, and the V226 is just the latest example. https://www.boats.com/reviews/supreme-v226-stealth-bomber/