Recreation
Gen 2 Surf System
MasterCraft's integrated surf system, built on four pillars—hull design, customized weight, a custom wake-shaping device, and unifying software—that fills tanks and bags and deploys the shaping device for a chosen surf side in minutes.
Gen 2 Surf System is a term from limnology — the scientific study of inland waters. The detailed explanation below covers the definition, why the concept matters to lake water-quality interpretation, and how it intersects with the LakeGrade rubric. Reading Gen 2 Surf System alongside the LakeGrade rubric helps make the rubric's structure intuitive — each grading parameter maps directly onto an established limnological concept.
The per-lake pages on LakeQuality always show the specific Gen 2 Surf System value for that lake, so you can move from the general concept to the specific lake without leaving the site.
What It Means for Your Lake
MasterCraft introduced the first-ever wake-shaping device, called Surf Tabs, in 2009, winning the NMMA Innovation Award in 2010. The Gen 2 Surf System that followed is built around four key components needed for a wakesurf session: superior hull design, customized weight, a custom-designed wake-shaping device, and software that ties everything together easily. MasterCraft engineers differently shaped devices for the port and starboard sides of each model to account for engine torque and each hull's unique needs. Because the software unifies the system, the driver simply tells the boat which side to surf and it fills all tanks and bags and deploys the Gen 2 wake-shaping device in minutes. The Gen 2 system shipped on nearly all MasterCraft models from 2014 to 2021 (except the ProStar).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is gen 2 surf system?
MasterCraft's integrated surf system, built on four pillars—hull design, customized weight, a custom wake-shaping device, and unifying software—that fills tanks and bags and deploys the shaping device for a chosen surf side in minutes.
Why does gen 2 surf system matter for lake health?
MasterCraft introduced the first-ever wake-shaping device, called Surf Tabs, in 2009, winning the NMMA Innovation Award in 2010. The Gen 2 Surf System that followed is built around four key components needed for a wakesurf session: superior hull design, customized weight, a custom-designed wake-shap...
Related Terms
A boat-mounted device that redirects water flow at the transom to shape a clean, surfable wave on either side at the push of a button, eliminating the need to physically lean and re-weight the boat to switch sides.
An aftermarket device mounted on the transom or hull that disrupts and shapes the water flow to clean up the wash and lengthen the pocket.
Added weight (water-filled bags or hard weights) placed in the boat to sink the hull deeper and build a bigger, more defined wake.
MasterCraft's 2009 wake-shaping device, recognized as the first-ever production wakesurf shaping tab and the predecessor to the Gen 2 Surf System.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.