Enter the new Falcon V Air Warrior. Centurion Boats, founded during the glory days of slalom skiing, reinvented its original Falcon V-drive, though the similarities between the two generations end in the spacious layout of the cockpit. It's like comparing Adam West as Batman in the 1960s with Christian Bale now. One was a campy, clumsy breakthrough role that introduced the idea to everyone. The second is streamlined, cool and definitely in tune with the times.

But as Boating World discovered during a long test with dealer David York of Action Marine on Lake Webster, Massachusetts, the Falcon V Air Warrior actually plays the two roles of ski boat and wakeboard machine pretty convincingly, and at a decent price. At $46,847 (with options), it comes in at a good $10,000 to $15,000 under some of its higher-end competitors. Centurion is actually one of those brands that deserve a "most improved" designation. When I tested one about 10 years ago, it felt like a cheaply made direct drive, full of rattles and too many rough edges.

The new Falcon V, by contrast, is tightly built, with an ICS unibody system that minimizes shakes and shivers, and has zero-wood construction belowdecks to eliminate any chance of rotting stringers. This Air Warrior has a step across the walkway between the cockpit and bow areas, with a built-in cooler, but it really adds to the boat's structural stability. You'll also like the beefy steel frame around the engine, the most substantial engine frame I've seen on an inboard. It points to Centurion's seriousness in building a strong boat.

Mind you, it's a boat designed for a small inland lake like Lake Webster. Like the first V-drives and most direct drives, it has a relatively flat hull, so even minor wakes feel like speed bumps. Many competitors are building deeper-V hulls for larger lakes and even ocean running, but this Air Warrior needs to be in flattish water to get the most from its hull. Centurion also builds a direct-drive version for more hard-core boarders and slalom skiers. Standard power on the Falcon V is a 315 hp MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI. The test boat is powered with the upgraded 330 hp MerCruiser Black Scorpion, giving it a top speed of 42 mph, and a 0-to-20-mph holeshot of 3.8 seconds.

But for boaters who have a serious wake fetish, and still want to use their boat for family fun, the Falcon V works great. We ran it through various wakeboard and slalom ski speeds, using the ballast tanks and trim system. It takes a little finessing to get an optimum wake, but this model should serve every family member well. At a wakeboard speed of 18 mph, we tried to vary the wake with only the trim plate, but it had minimal impact on the wake's shape. But when we added the 25-gallon ballast tanks, which take about three to four minutes to fill up, the wake moved around with the touch of the trim button.

We then moved it forward, giving it a big, steady-barrel shape for wake-surfing. Centurion offers the optional Sideswipe exhaust system to ensure you're breathing more fresh air and less exhaust fumes. Then we moved the wake backward, and varied the steepness for wakeboarding. From there we used the trim and throttle at 28 mph, smoothing down the wake and eliminating the roostertail for slalom skiing.

The verdict? The Falcon V delivers a versatile wake that should appeal to any kind of watersports junkie.

But it also offers a great cruising experience. The seating is strong throughout the boat, including the 21-inch by 45-inch seats in the bow (with an 11-inch by 22-inch cross-seat at the point), a left lounge that measures 19 by 78 inches, an aft lounge measuring 21 by 72 inches and a full-beam aft sunpad. The space in the bow, on the other hand, is definitely for kids, with the 17 inches between the seats being a knee-knocker for adults. The seating throughout the boat is soft, with a cushioned lip on the edge of the seats.

The test boat has off-white and light-tan upholstery, with black piping. The seams are triple-stitched. Another plus is the black carpeting inside the storage lockers under the seats. There are two storage spaces on either side of the engine measuring 30 by 52 inches with a depth of 28 inches – ideal for wakeboards.

Both spaces have detachable panels next to the engine for quick access. There's also a hatch under the aft lounge that's convenient for quick vital-fluid checks. The passenger console contains a cavernous space for slalom skis, PFDs and other gear. Of course, you could also get a board rack on the Double Up tower to carry the wakeboards or skis. 

Tower design has become an art these days, especially with many mainstream sterndrive builders adding them for styling. The black Double Up by Skylon is extremely cool in its minimalist design and sturdy enough to pull even the big boys. The Falcon V also has a ski-tow pylon bolted to the engine frame for slalom skiers. The 26-inch by 65-inch swim platform has a rubberized coating to keep water warriors secure while they're putting on gear.

Of course, the best thing about inboards is the superior driving experience, and the Falcon V is no exception. It's tricked out with rack-and-pinion steering, a tilt wheel, a drink holder near your feet and a well-placed armrest and throttle position on the right. Centurion even built versatility into the driving experience.

My co-pilot, York, who stands 6 feet, 5 inches, doesn't have any trouble fitting into the adjustable helm seat (which measures 17 inches across, 19 inches deep and 19 inches high), with his line of sight just below the windshield. At 5 feet 10 inches, I also have clear vision, and I use the bolster when I want to see over the windshield. The console has 5-inch recessed Faria gauges that are easy to read.

Centurion offers a long list of options, including an upgraded "amphitheater" tower stereo system and Kicker woofers (though the test boat's four-speaker system with Sony CD player and iPod adapter in the glove box are enough for this middle-aged man), a bling billet accessory system and even an underwater transom light.

The test Falcon V has the optional retractable cleats. Given my druthers, I'd go for the Perfect Pass Wakeboard Pro and the depthfinder/temperature gauge to trick out the console and make the towing experience even better.

The Falcon V comes with a choice of 16 gelcoat colors with 10 accents. The test Falcon has the standard Air Warrior white hull with black trim and Centurion logo. A color-coordinated trailer is standard with every Air Warrior. 

Personally, I'd like to see a pair of stereo speakers up front for acoustic enhancement. Other than that, the only feature I'm not sold on is the center step/cooler on the way to the bow. Centurion built it into the boat to enhance structural integrity, but the finished fiberglass cooler with drain is nice for a social gathering.

Plus, Centurion used the rubberized nonskid deck on top to prevent slippage. But there's something about the big hump that hurts the aesthetics of the interior. On the positive side, though, that hump also helps separate the bow from the cockpit, especially when a center cushion is added, turning it into a playpen configuration. That's great if you want to take a nap at anchor, or move smaller kids into their own play area.

Play is where this Falcon V Air Warrior excels. It's not as serious-looking as the top-priced wakeboard boats, which perform great but can cause cardiac arrest if you spill some soda on the carpet or get a ding in the fiberglass.

But for a reasonable price the Centurion offers the wake versatility that every family enthusiast craves, even if that experience is dramatically different from person to person.

By delivering a truly satisfactory experience for both wakeboarders and slalom skiers, it'll keep the focus on family fun, not feuding. And with a spacious cockpit for 10, now everybody can have a turn without having to compromise.

Test Data

Performance data was gathered on Lake Webster, Massachusetts, in slight chop with a 330 hp MerCruiser Black Scorpion, two passengers on board and a half tank of fuel.

Top Speed 42 mph

0-20 mph 3.8 seconds

Decibels @ Idle 59 dB

Decibels @ 30 mph 88 dB

Decibels @ WOT 99 dB

Double Up tower, dual rear ballast, Air Warrior in-gelcoat graphics, color-matched trailer with swingaway tongue, snap-out marine carpet, driver seat with bolster, convex solid glass windshield, courtesy interior lights, built-in insulated cooler, rack and pinion steering, tilt steering wheel, skier/rider mirror, polished aluminum tow pylon, stainless steel comfort-grip handrails, fiberglass swim platform, ACME propeller, tunable rudder.

Sideswipe exhaust system, SwitchBlade wake enhancement system, RightSurf system, Bennett trim tab, Sony CD stereo with 4 interior speakers, Kicker ABYC-approved amplifier, Skylon in-box subwoofer, amphitheater stereo system, Sony large remote for stereo, iPod or MP3 adapters, Perfect Pass Wakeboard Pro, swivel board racks, underwater transom light.

LOA 20'9"

Beam 8'6"

Weight 3,780 lbs.

Fuel 41 gals.

Base Price $42,995

(w/315 hp MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI)

Price As Tested $46,847

(w/330 hp MerCruiser Black Scorpion)

Hull Warranty Limited Lifetime

Centurion

2047 Grogan Ave.

Merced, CA 95341

(209) 384-0255

www.centurionboats.com