After reading the Wake Tractor thread my mind couldn't help but explore how a center/forward drivers position slalom boat might be configured.
@Edbrazil mentioned he had approached Rob Shirley with the center drive idea way back. Don't know what his version would have looked like but I'm guessing not like the one below?
Benefits...moving the driver, passengers and fuel load forward should allow the engine mass to be moved backwards to keep everything balanced. This would also allow more passengers in front of the pylon and be a more social arrangement.
I am not an engineer or much of an artist but before you reach for your barf bags consider how strange a crew cab short box truck looked when they first came out. Now it is a long box regular cab truck, that used to be the norm, that looks odd to the eye.
Could be easily optioned with ballast for other large wake sports.

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in about the normal inboard engine location. With a gear unit to re-direct to a drive shaft that
was at a flatter angle than the typical inboard.
I remember Rob's reply about a center-drive boat: "Show me an order". Of course, in those
days, I/we didn't have the buck$ to fund an R&D experimental boat. But, I sure liked my center-
drive Crosby twin rig that I had in the late 1960's--early 1970's. Although it was a good bit of
a beast in the handling category.
Not a mechanic but I play one at home
Consider how much weight (all approximate) is being moved forward and how far in both configurations,
1) Driver with helm, throttle, seat and windshield - 250 lbs 5' forward.
2) Lets say 2 spotters - 350 lbs 3' forward.
3) Fuel tank, filler hose and 10 gallons of fuel - 75 lbs 9' forward.
So lets estimate that there is 675 lbs that has been moved on average 4' forward.
To keep the boat balanced the motor would need to be moved back approx. 2'-3' which is probably very close to configuration #1 above thereby necessitating a V-drive configuration.
Have never had the privilege of skiing an Infinity, why did it just fade away if it was such an awesome boat?
While I understand people want more seating for cruising and general use; I would rather have more storage space than seating. I always find myself with more gear getting in the way than people. Just think, how many people with a removable backseat keep it in?
I do like the idea of that wrap around seating behind the driver. That would store a bunch of skis and proved a lot of usable seating while someone is in tow.
Would that cause problems for people driving on the left side?
Not a mechanic but I play one at home
@keithh2oskier - maybe one of those odd looking center console boats that mastercraft used to make? Csx220
Not a mechanic but I play one at home
I joked about not being able to see the hot girls in the bow seats if the driver was in front in a previous thread but realistically, this style of boat would make driving a chore instead of a joy.
If this is the boat you are referring to and my memory is correct they had the molds made up by a place in Florida but they accidentally left them out in the sun warping the mold. So an entire run of hulls were warped causing the chime lock issue. The recall essentially put them out of business.
@Jody_Seal , why did your several kicks at the front/center drive never make it to the water?
Lack of perceived market?
Unconventional looks?
Lack of funds to experiment?
Bigger fish to fry! onset of the Wakeboard revolution, more return on the investment for wakeboard technology. Ski boats were on the decline as primary focus on them was waning.
http://www.epicmarine.com/history.html
One model had a warped mold and they did spend a lot replacing those boats, but I think they simply had trouble breaking in to the market and then faced a tough economy post-dot com bubble. Marinized Lexus V8 and beautifully built, from my recollection.