Anthem’s Kalon 23 rates as the most unique boat I’ve tested. It looks like a tank and is built like one too. Beaching? No problem. The keel is 1 inch thick. Plus, there is a bow door. Dubbed the Sport Ramp, this patented powered door lowers at a button push, reinventing access from the water, beach, dock and trailer. The Sport Ramp also grants the Kalon 23 accessibility for a wheelchair.
The Kalon 23’s layout resembles that of a pontoon boat. The bow features long lounge chairs port and starboard that convert into a wraparound playpen. A table sets up for snacks or stows away for space. A huge locker stores multiple wakesurf boards, water skis and more. Boarding doors are on each side near the Kalon’s tower base. At the transom, the Kalon features two massive lounge seats above the swim platform, under which is a massive board storage cavern.
Another unique feature is the patented V3 Flash Fill Ballast System. Three tanks are welded into the frame of the boat, and they drain and fill with a proprietary valve system that is fast and convenient. The entire system fills in under three minutes without needing the boat to be underway.
With wakesurf tabs mounted at the transom and intuitive control from the helm touchscreen, the Kalon 23 ensures riders can get up and go in no time. The wave is long with a solid amount of push, and can be tweaked by adjusting the tabs. Once you find a ballast, speed and tab setting you like, save it to a custom profile. You can quickly transition to wakeboarding with a tap on the screen, and the Kalon’s 450 hp PCM powerplant proved powerful enough to pull a barefooter during our test.
At the helm, we found a plush, adjustable seat and clean sightlines all around. The 12-inch touchscreen allows for easy control of navigation, ballast, surf systems, speed and more. A thruster makes it easy to maneuver the Kalon 23 around docks or at the ramp. RGB lighting throughout and a bumping Rockford Fosgate sound system represent two more ways the Kalon 23 takes the fun to the next level.
High Points
- Military Spec build sets new standards for ruggedness and durability.
- Versatile and comfortable bow door is a smash hit.
- V3 Flash Fill Ballast System is slick, uses minimal plumbing, and needs no winterization.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $268,000 (base MSRP) |
| LOA: | 23’0″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft: | 2’4″ |
| Dry Weight: | 5,900 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 10/1,325 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 103 gal. |
| Available Power: | PCM V-drive inboard 405 hp to 630 hp |
