The most useful first question in a boat search is not “Which model has the longest feature list?” It is “What do we want most from a day on the water?” Anthem’s four boats answer that question in four distinct ways.
ST23: build the day around the next pull
The Assault ST23 is the dedicated inboard V-drive watersports model. Its mission is clear: wake, surf and ski. It is the place to start when riding is the reason the crew leaves the dock and the boat needs to keep watersports at the center of the day.
Think about your usual riders, how often the rope comes out and how much of the day is spent setting up for the next set. Ask Anthem to walk through the exact ST23 configuration you are considering, including its current equipment and operating guidance. Power, ballast, construction details and other specifications should be confirmed for that boat rather than assumed from another model or build.
Explore Assault ST23VF23: leave the agenda open
The Assault VF23 is the outboard choice for recreation, cruising and social days. It suits the crew that might cross the lake for breakfast, stop for a swim, find a beach and keep going when the plan changes. Its role is everyday versatility with people at the center of the layout.
Picture the stops, speeds and passenger mix that make up your usual day. Ask which outboard configuration is fitted to the boat, how it supports your cruising plans and which controls or operating characteristics deserve attention on your water. If watersports are part of the plan, describe the activity and ask what the exact VF23 is equipped to support.
Explore Assault VF23CX23: fish, explore and follow the shoreline
The Assault CX23 brings an outboard center-console format to fishing and exploration. It is the model to consider when movement around the helm, time spent fishing and access to new shorelines shape the day. Social time still belongs in the plan, but the center-console mission gives this boat its own point of view.
The CX23 image below is a manufacturer concept rendering that illustrates the center-console design direction. Final appearance and equipment may differ, so discuss the configuration, fishing priorities and availability that apply to the boat you are considering.
Explore Assault CX23
XR23: tune the ride, then keep the day going
The Assault XR23 is the surf-oriented Forward Drive model for riding and broader recreation. Volvo Penta Forward Drive describes its propulsion architecture. Shape Shift™ is a separate Anthem wave-shaping feature. Keeping those two ideas distinct makes for a better demonstration: ask to see how each applies to the exact boat and how the current controls are operated.
For a day that moves from riding to swimming, cruising and time together aboard, ask how the XR23 changes with each part of the plan. A useful demonstration should cover the exact propulsion and installed equipment, the rider setup, helm controls, passenger movement and the transition from a set behind the boat to the rest of the day.
Explore Assault XR23A simple way to narrow the field
- Choose ST23 when dedicated inboard watersports lead the plan.
- Choose VF23 when outboard recreation, cruising and a social day lead it.
- Choose CX23 when center-console fishing and exploration lead it.
- Choose XR23 when Forward Drive riding and wave-shaping choices lead it.
Then bring your real crew, typical gear and ordinary use cases to a model walkthrough. The right Anthem is the one whose primary mission matches the day you will actually live.
