To accommodate the demand for a controlled wake many ski boats are designed to enhance the shape of the wakes their boats create. Various approaches and devices help affect a larger wake from a boat with most wake boats today carrying inboard propulsion engines that keep the propeller under the boat, away from the rider.

Ski boat manufacturers offer various options to create propulsion, hull forms and wake shaping control systems that allow for all types of tow sports, waterskiing, knee boarding, wakeboarding and wake surfing. Today's sophisticated control systems with multifunction displays allow the operator to set speeds and wake shapes for individual rider's preferences. Some even have remote controllers that allow the rider to manipulate aspects of the wake while riding.