WOW Big Shark

Insanely bright with its high-visibility mix of red, yellow, and the requisite mouthful of pearly white teeth, WOW’s Big Shark definitely won’t be creeping stealthily through the water to any ominous theme music. Instead, the first of two shark-themed models in this year’s roundup is almost impossible to miss. That’s the idea. Sure, those highvis colors may catch attention on a crowded website catalog page, but they also stand out on increasingly crowded waterways, keeping the Shark—and its riders—more visible while underway.

A modern twist on the banana tubes of old, the 10-foot-9-inch-long Shark positions its two passengers in a line, riding atop this fish’s back bronco-style between dorsal and tail fins. EVA foam pads are stitched onto the heavy-duty nylon cover in each seating area for comfort and to prevent wear, but our riders would have preferred for the coverage to extend the length of their inner thighs. Smaller riders especially found the seating position to be too wide, with their skin susceptible to chafing over time against the exposed nylon. However, the padded, double-webbed grab handles with EVA foam knuckle guards placed in front of each rider offered secure, comfortable handholds.

Old-school banana tubes tend to roll, but WOW wisely added large wing-shaped side pontoons to increase the Shark’s stability, for boarding both at rest and while underway. The main body and wings easily inflate and deflate via two-part, plug-style speed valves. Like the bananas of old, the Shark tracked relatively straight within the boat’s wake. It resisted the driver’s attempts to make it skid via an S-turn, but offered a fun, enjoyable ride that should satisfy kids and adults alike. A suggestion? The molded, EZ Tow connector below the Shark’s chin keeps the bow from submarining when underway, but consider adding WOW’s Tow Boss rope system; its large, inflatable bobber at the midline will keep the towrope from getting caught in the water, greatly improving the ride. $279.99; wowwatersports.com