Foundations
Built on Passion, Driven by Purpose. Centurion Didn’t Start in a Boardroom—It Started With a Love Story and a Need for Speed. From the Beginning, Centurion Was Built on Something Deeper Than Fiberglass and Horsepower—It Was Built on Determination, Family, and the Drive to Create Something Better.
Rick Lee, a race boat enthusiast with a need for speed and a knack for vision, fell hard for a rancher’s daughter in Merced, California. Winning her heart was one thing—winning over her father was another. Encouraged to find a career worthy of Pamela, Rick turned to the only thing he could sell with true conviction: boats. What started as a sales job quickly turned into something bigger. Rick’s talent for innovation outpaced the inventory he was selling, and before long, he and Pam founded their own company: Centurion Boats. The name was picked off a list for its strong start. Only later did they realize how perfectly it captured the grit, power, and warrior spirit that would define the brand.
The People
People With Purpose. By 2014, Centurion Founder Rick Lee Knew the Company’s Future Didn’t Hinge on How to Build Boats—It Depended on Who Would Carry the Mission Forward, and Why. The First Answer to That Question Was Shane Stillman.
Rick had known Shane since the slalom skiing days at Lake Don Pedro, where Shane—a young, toe-headed kid with serious talent—was already making waves. Decades later, Shane returned with a deep well of experience in towboat manufacturing and a passion for water sports. In his mid-40s, he was ready to help Centurion grow—not just for himself, but for the long-term success of its people, partners, and community. “Shane was the first of a new generation of leaders,” says Amy Mauzy, VP of Marketing. “His presence opened the door for others—like me—to join the mission.” Amy came onboard in late 2014, choosing to stay rooted in Merced, the place her family has called home for six generations. Just a year later, Correct Craft CEO Bill Yeargin invited industry veteran Paul Singer—formerly of Malibu Boats—to breakfast at the Big Bear Diner in Madera, CA. That meeting marked the beginning of Paul’s influential leadership at Centurion. Another key “who” arrived in 2015: Daniel Indelicato, hired by Shane for Product Development. With experience in towboat sales, a marketing degree from Chico State, and a passion for competitive water sports, Daniel brought energy and innovation. He rose to VP of Production in 2022 and became Centurion’s President in 2023, following Paul’s retirement. “Because we are a 50-year-old company who has succeeded in remaking our success over the last decade,” Daniel says, “we have a unique bond as a team. At the end of 2015, our profitability was under 1%. By 2019, we were over 10%. We’ve gotten there as one team with one goal. And the ‘whos’ behind that success go far beyond the front office—the real power behind making life better is the men and women who build our boats.”
Innovations
Innovation That Moves the Wave Forward. Centurion’s Legacy Is Built on Visionary Innovation That Started With Rick Lee’s Groundbreaking Creation: The Wave, the First-Ever Wakesurf Boat. Centurion Followed That With RAMFILL, a Massive Fast-Filling Ballast System that Maximized Hull Displacement Especially in the Brand-Bolstering 2016 Ri237 Introduced in 2015.
At Centurion, People are the foundation, but Performance is the heart of the mission to Make Life Better. Shane Stillman and the Product Development team took innovation to new heights with the 2016 Ri237, a wake surf boat designed from the water up—deep seating, aggressive stance, RAMFILL, and QuickSurf Pro made it a game changer. The 2017 Ri257 pushed limits even further, introducing the revolutionary Opti-V hull. This hull created the longest, cleanest surf wave seen, carrying up to 18 riders and 5,150 pounds of ballast. Unveiled at the 2016 World Wake Surfing Championship, it combined innovation with wakesurfing empowerment in a memorable adaptive exhibition, surfed by Grant Korgan. In 2018, the Fi23 debuted with the Opti-V hull and a sleek wide bow, appealing to riders who wanted both wake surfing and wakeboarding performance. That year also saw the Silent Stinger Wake Plate—a patented trim tab that dampens engine noise while tuning the boat’s running attitude and wake shape. The Ri line continued evolving with the 2021 Ri245 and Ri265, though COVID delays meant the Ri237 and Ri257 stayed in production alongside them. Demand for water sports boats exploded, leading to a major expansion: a new 160,000-square-foot facility in Valdosta, GA, dedicated to building Supreme Boats and freeing Merced to produce 5 Centurions daily. This growth paved the way for the 2022 Ri230—the official tow boat of the IWWF Wakeboard World Championships and the Centurion World Wake Surfing Championship. Supreme’s new S220 and S240 models, built on the EZ-V Hull, offered wake surf performance at entry-level prices, meeting soaring demand. In late 2023, Centurion introduced the Predator Power Tower by Roswell—a transformable tower with a 9-foot convertible bimini, blending shade, towing functionality, and trailering ease on premium Ri Series boats. Also in 2023, the Fe22 launched as a stylish, high-performance, lower-price alternative to the Fi Series, appealing to both new buyers and returning customers. Today, Centurion’s model line includes the premium Ri Series, the entry Nv Series (expanding for 2026 with the 24-foot Nv243), and the upcoming Fe23 and Fe25—giving buyers a clear path up the lineup. New technologies like the RAMFILL Boosted Ballast System, Knob Ops System Controls, and Fast Mover Ballast System keep performance sharp. Centurion honors its past by continuing to push boundaries, delivering cutting-edge innovation that drives the future of wake sports.
Giving Back
Waking Waves of Positive Change. Centurion Is a Faith-Based Company Driven by More Than Just Building the World’s Best Water Sports Boats—We’re Committed to Making a Difference. We Wake Waves of Positive Change in Our Families, Factory, Community, and Beyond.
But most importantly, we empower our family of owners and ambassadors to create those waves in their own lives. A wave of positive change doesn’t have to be grand. It might be teaching a neighbor to wakeboard, helping a spouse master the launch ramp, or sharing the joy of wakesurfing with a child for the first time. Change starts small—like a single drop stirring a still lake—but those ripples grow.
At the same time, Centurion supports big waves of change too, like our Salute to Service events that honor the men and women who serve our nation—law enforcement, firefighters, frontline medical workers, and military personnel—by giving them a worry-free day on the water. We recognize that freedom to enjoy water sports comes thanks to their sacrifice. That’s why we build specially equipped Centurion boats flying flags of appreciation, offer special pricing and incentives for service members and veterans, and partner with organizations like Operation Get Out, Operation Wake Surf, Knot on Call, and Wake for Warriors. Building boats with the best waves is what we do. Honoring those who protect our way of life is our privilege and purpose. Centurion’s Salute to Service shines a spotlight on heroes who make our lifestyle possible. This faith-inspired mission fuels everyone at Centurion—from the factory floor to dealers and partners—reminding us all that making life better means giving back to those who give so much. This is our Salute to Service
Design Your Dream Boat Online
Or visit one of our dealers!
Centurion Boats is a manufacturer of industry leading wakeboard and wakesurf powerboats. When you visit one of our many dealers, you can test-drive our different models so that you can decide exactly what you want on your custom boat! Additionally, you can design a boat online, outfitting it with an array of different options to suit your sport or leisure needs!
