I've been looking into the wave atris 335 lately because anyone who spends much time on the water knows that finding a solid, reliable tender is way harder than it looks. It's one of those boats that seems to pop up in conversations whenever people talk about stability and speed in a compact package. If you're tired of the typical inflatable that bounces around every time a small ripple hits the hull, this model might actually be what you're searching for.
Most of us want something that's easy to move around but doesn't feel like a pool toy when you're actually sitting in it. That's a tough balance to strike. You want it to be light enough for one or two people to handle, yet sturdy enough to carry a decent motor and a couple of friends without feeling cramped or unsafe. From everything I've seen, the wave atris 335 hits that sweet spot pretty well.
What Makes the Design Different?
The first thing you'll notice about the wave atris 335 is that it doesn't look like your standard pointed-nose inflatable. It uses a catamaran-style hull, often referred to as a tunnel hull. This design is a game-changer for stability. Traditional V-hull inflatables can feel a bit "tippy" when you step on the side tubes to get in or out, but with the twin-hull design, it stays remarkably flat.
Because the boat is essentially sitting on two "skis" with an air tunnel in the middle, it traps air as you move forward. This creates lift, which helps the boat get on plane much faster than a standard inflatable. If you've ever sat at the back of a small boat with the motor screaming while the bow points toward the sky, you know how annoying that is. This design solves that by keeping the boat level and pushing it up onto the water surface with much less effort.
Handling the Chop
Honestly, the way the wave atris 335 handles a bit of rough water is probably its biggest selling point. Most small boats under 12 feet long are a nightmare in choppy conditions. You end up getting soaked, and your back takes a beating from the constant slamming against the waves.
The tunnel hull acts like a shock absorber. Instead of the flat bottom of the boat smacking into every wave, the air trapped underneath cushions the ride. It's not going to make a massive storm feel like a pond, but for those days when the wind picks up and the bay gets a little messy, it makes a world of difference. You stay drier, and you can maintain a higher speed without feeling like the boat is going to shake itself apart.
Speed and Engine Choice
When it comes to powering the wave atris 335, you have a bit of flexibility, but there's definitely a "best" way to do it. While you could probably get away with a small 6hp or 9.9hp motor if you're just puttering around a quiet harbor, this boat really comes alive with a 15hp or 20hp outboard.
Because the hull is so efficient, a 20hp motor makes this thing fly. We're talking speeds that'll put a massive grin on your face. It feels more like a go-kart on water than a utility boat. And because it stays so stable even at high speeds, it's actually a lot of fun to drive. You can carve into turns without that sliding feeling you get with some flat-bottomed ribs. If you're planning on using it for more than just a short trip from the dock to your mooring, definitely consider going with the maximum rated horsepower. You won't regret having that extra grunt when you've got a full load of gear or a few passengers on board.
Practicality for Fishing and Diving
If you're into fishing or diving, the wave atris 335 is a bit of a hidden gem. The stability I mentioned earlier is a massive plus here. You can stand up and cast without worrying about losing your balance, which is something you just can't do comfortably in most boats this size.
The open deck space is also surprisingly generous. Since the tubes are large and the beam is wide, you have plenty of room for tackle boxes, coolers, or dive tanks. The flat floor is a huge bonus too. There's nothing worse than trying to balance on a curved inflatable floor while you're trying to rig a line or pull on a wetsuit. Having that solid, flat platform under your feet makes the boat feel much larger than its 3.35-meter length suggests.
Durability and Materials
Now, let's talk about the build quality, because no one wants a boat that's going to spring a leak the first time it touches a barnacle. The wave atris 335 is usually built with heavy-duty PVC or sometimes Hypalon, depending on the specific version you're looking at.
The seams are welded, which is a big deal. Glued seams can eventually fail, especially if you live in a hot climate where the sun beats down on the boat all day. Welded seams are much more permanent and can handle the pressure changes that happen when the air inside the tubes heats up. The transom is also heavily reinforced. Since this boat is designed to handle those larger 20hp motors, the back of the boat needs to be stiff and strong. You don't see the "transom flex" that plagues cheaper, low-end inflatables.
Setting Up and Transport
One of the things people worry about with these types of boats is how hard they are to set up. If you're not planning on keeping it on a trailer, you're going to be inflating and deflating it fairly often. The wave atris 335 is pretty straightforward in this department.
Using a high-pressure electric pump is a must. Don't even bother with a foot pump unless you're looking for a serious leg workout. With a decent electric pump, you can have the whole thing ready to go in about 15 minutes. It's light enough that two people can easily carry it from the truck to the water's edge. If you're on your own, a set of foldable launching wheels on the transom is a life-saver. You just wheel it down like a wheelbarrow, flip the wheels up once you're floating, and you're off.
Is it Right for You?
So, who is the wave atris 335 actually for? It's not the cheapest boat on the market, but as the saying goes, you usually get what you pay for. If you just need something to row out 50 feet to your moored sailboat, this is probably overkill.
However, if you want a boat that can act as a primary vessel for exploring coastlines, a stable platform for fishing, or a fast and fun tender that can handle some chop, then it's a fantastic choice. It bridges the gap between those tiny, flimsy inflatables and the much larger, heavier, and more expensive rigid-hull RIBs.
It's really for the person who values performance and stability. You're paying for the engineering that went into that tunnel hull, and in my opinion, it's worth it. There's a certain peace of mind that comes with knowing your boat isn't going to flip or get bogged down just because the weather changed slightly.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the wave atris 335 is just a fun, capable little boat. It doesn't try to be something it's not. It's a rugged, stable, and surprisingly fast inflatable that makes getting out on the water a lot less stressful. Whether you're zooming across a bay to find a secluded beach or just cruising around the lake at sunset, it does exactly what it's supposed to do.
It's easy to see why they've become so popular lately. They solve a lot of the common complaints people have with small boats. If you get a chance to take one for a spin, I'd highly recommend it. Just be prepared—once you feel how stable that catamaran hull is, it's really hard to go back to a standard V-hull inflatable. It just feels like a much more "grown-up" way to be on the water.