Looking at a 2002 Malibu Sunsetter 21 or a 2001 Tige 21v Riders. 75% of my time will be spent cruising around the lake with old folks and grandkids. The other 25% will be with the kids and grandkids wakeboarding and skiing. I have a lake house with a boat house. Lake Gaston in North Carolina. <BR>From what I've read, the Tige would do better in the chop cruising and carries more. It weighs more, but I don't know if that is a plus or a minus. Tige has been bashed on this site, and it has a Mercruiser 315hp. <BR>The Malibu has a flat wake with the Diamond hull, so I guess wouldn't be to good for the wakeboarders, but I like the Malibu, mainly since it is the only boat I have ridden in and skied behind and seems to have a good reputation. <BR>Looking at these two also because they are the best for the money I have found in the price range. Want to stick to the major brands only.

so what's your question?

looking for input on the boats I am considering and any other models of the major brands that would fit my needs.

Bayliner.

Different years sunsetters were on different hulls. Some were on the previous VLX hull (now V-ride). The Sunsetter LXi is 8" longer the then sunsetter LX. Here is a list of the hull charts for differnt years of Malibu's. <BR> <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&amp;page=tech" target="_blank">http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&amp;page=tech</a>

as clint said, it actually sounds like you would really like an i/o. <BR> <BR>you will definately get more bang for your buck that way in terms of the things you say you are looking for....room, comfort, chop handling, etc. <BR> <BR>

yea that sounds like a pretty goood idea. we have a sea ray 185, the wake is decent for wakeboarding and a little big for skiing although we never have less than 5 people in the boat so it could be better with just a few people. its great for what we use it for. im no parks bonifay or sammy duvall so i dont need the best wake out there! <BR>you can get a brand new i/o right now for around 20-22k. but act quick, prices will increase when it reaches summer. also, some of sea ray's new boats look pretty good also, they just added new graphics. <BR>check out parkerboats.com they are a great company and we found them the best boat company we had visited in the whole of orlando. <BR>hope this helps