Which boat for $60k or less
I am looking for a boat to buy, Brand new with a price of $60k or less out the door. Wakeboarding is our only priority. Needs: auto ballast, speed control, kicking stereo.
Its used in saltwater almost 100% of the time so the diamond stitching and all the fancy billet is actual worse for me. I was looking at a malibu Vride or Axis a22. But How are those supreme and moomba boats? The wake shape really isn't a major issue. As long as its clean and BIG, we can adapt to anything really. The boat is gonna be slammed with weight every time we board so the Prop change is a must. The thing is we are in our 20's and I'm splitting it with a buddy i've know forever so The biggest engine options and all the options aren't in our price range. Also, how is the market for used boats now? We plan on flipping this thing, keep it for a couple years then sell or trade for a new one. A salt water boat isn't worth keeping once its paid off. That doesn't mean we trash it, we take excellent care of our stuff so the buyer would be getting an excellent boat. Open to any idea's, setups, and suggestions. |
I'd add MB to your list. The 21 footers come with 1800lbs of ballast stock. For 60k OTD you can easily have extra ballast plumed in as part of the deal. A22 is an awesome choice though.
Used boat market is amazing these days IMHO. I've read of multiple people's boat going up in value according to NADA over the past 6 months. |
Not sure about the stitching and I don't think they have a ton of billet but the MB 21TWB or 21 tomcat would be at the top of my list. You should be able to get the bas one for 50-55k. Add closed cooling or if you can swing it do the 409 upgrade which has partial closed cooling factory. Also, the complete base boat comes with pretty much everything:
Tower Swivel Racks Bimini Tower mirror arm(I think) cover Perfect Pass 343 PCM motor 1800 pound dual purevert ballast with no pumps Wetsounds stereo with sub/amp SS rubrail and popup cleats bow fill in cushion I probably forgot some stuff but it is close and here are the reasons I would choose over anything else in that price range. -Better fit and finish then any of the others in that price range -more interior room then any other 21' boat -high freeboard so can add lots of ballast and it keeps a dry ride(might be important in a salt water environement) -Macking stock wake -solid stock surf wake and great surf wake with added ballast -In a lot of cases can custom order and pick your own colors and addon's -No need for any options other then heater, wake plate, tower speakers and closed cooling -good rough water ride with deep V all the way to transom. -Probably can be had for 55k for base boat with tandem trailer. |
I think if you turn your deal sniffer on, that you may even be able to get an MB TWB 23' with the 409 for under the $60k bar. The 409 isn't necessary (we run the 343 at 4,000' and above) but if you were running salt, I could see how the partial closed cooling of the 409 might help on resale.
|
I don't know wear a MB dealers in in socal, orange county area though. I have a malibu/axis dealer right down the street on PCH and another in riverside, A Tige dealer in corona, and a correct craft in corona. There is a boat show end of MAY so I will definitely check them out there.
Another thing is, how much are galvanized trailers compared to stock steel ones? Is it cheaper to sell and buy, or to just order a galvanized from the beginning? |
Just order the boat with a galvanized or aluminum trailer from the get go. The galvanized one shouldn't be much more if any then a standard painted trailer.
|
I would buy a MasterCraft saltwater series. Get a year old x2 or x15. As far as I know they are the only ones making a true salt water friendly wake boat (I could be wrong).
|
How far is lake elsinore from you? California Skier in Lake Elsinore is an MB dealer it looks like.
|
Elsinore is about an hour away.
The x2 if I remember is a 20 footer? Thats a tad too small for us. |
Well i built an A22 online and it would be this: white on white on white
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...3at10413PM.png Do you guys think this setup would would be under $55k (no stereo and just necessities) Then run the 750 bags in the rear, axis bow bag up front Wetsounds system with alpine amps (install myself) How is the base engine with 5 blade prop with full weight? are the 400 bags better? I will build other boats also! |
I am not sure on the price but if the axis you just built there is over 55k with or without a trailer that is too much for that boat in my opinion. The very base boat besides the plug and play should be no more then 50k with a trailer when compared to others.
One thing cool about MB is you might be able to work with them and have them do the interior all white with jsut solid vinyl panels instead of the fancier vinyl they offer. |
I would look at both the Axis and MB if you absolutely have to have brand new!! Your gonna take a major hit because of the salt add it being brand new and your gonna get hammered. You might want to look seriously at a 2 or 3 year old Salt Water Edition something. Of course unless you have to have the warranty. Good luck with your purchase. Also not sure what water your on but you might want to be looking at a bigger boat than something in the 20 to 21 ft range.
|
Quote:
|
For that kind of money you could get a pimped out Moomba and that would be where I would at least start, but depends on the dealers you have in your area. If I had a good Moomba dealer that would be a good start. While you are there, that same dealer may carry Supra and you would be close on the money to get a Supra too. Might have a spend a few more bucks, but depends how you option it, you might be close to $60K. With the Supra you would be getting a boat that competes more with the big boys and priced far less. Might be an easier flip 1-2 years later.
DISCLAIMER - I am partial to Supra cause I own one, but the other options you could look at are MB, AXIS |
Quote:
We ride at marine stadium in long beach and the max limit is 23ft. We also do Havasu trips so a 20 footer is way to small for there. We usually have from 3-8 people. I've also noticed that the people selling 2-3 year old bolts think they are going to get their money back. 09 nautiques for $70k is ridiculous. There aren't really any used Core wakeboard boats for sale in my price range. |
I keep my A22 in havasu and am there quite a bit. The boat does pretty well in the crazy chop (much better than my previous 21ft vdrive). If you haven't already, check out Paradise Watersports in Murrietta. They have Axis, Malibu and now Moomba.
BTW- the Axis handles very well with only one tracking fin. If you can drive one with two fins and one with one fin, it would be beneficial. |
are you dead set against used? Me, personally, I'd take this boat over a brand new A22 any day of the week: http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/...lx-wwake-hull/
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
I have a lot of experience in salt and have had an x2 that I use exclusively in salt for 6 years now. Will the boat be used in choppy conditions? Will it be trailered, kept on a lift or in the water? All of these things make a difference.
- I would stay clear of carpet - Don't get a boat that has any chrome, it will start pitting extremely quickly. BTW the billet aluminum, like what master craft uses, will last just fine. - Make sure the boat has closed cooling - Look at things with deeper Vs and higher freeboard if you go out in any chop - Don't get a boat with too much vinyl (all of them have too much vinyl imo but try to stick to the simpler ones) - Make sure all the hardware is stainless and wiring is tinned I personally would never get a malibu for salt water. I know I'm a MC owner but I actually prefer Malibu's wakes over MCs. However, they are not built for saltwater. The construction is not all fiberglass (won't take pounding well), there is a lot of chrome, the hulls are very flat, and they have carpet. The best bets for a salt water boat are MC and Nautique. |
Green house is the local centurion dealer now.
|
Quote:
We ride in a section of the harbor so the chop is only from other boats or wind. If I had money pouring out of my pockets I would for sure buy either a Mastercraft or Nautique but that just isn't the case. I am going for the most plain jane boat I can and i HATE chrome so thats not an issue with me haha. |
I run in salt 100%, my boats never seen fresh water. I have a 07 xstar ss with the captain crusader. Never had any problems from the salt. I know that axis also makes a salt package, but know nothing about it besides the engines closed cooling. My friend had a 07 X-14 that added the closed cooling after they bought it. Even with them flushing the engine and scrubbing every inch after use the boat seemed to break down every other week, and there was rust every where.His boat now seems to be completely ruined.If your running in salt get a boat thats built to withstand the salt.
|
Chrome and stainless steel are 2 different things. Also Stainless steel can be all different qualities. Sounds like you are looking for the right things. If I were you I would talk to the Axis, MB and Moomba dealers. Also Centurion if you can get an Avalanche or Enzo 211 for around 60 but I don't think you can. Go test drive each one, then see if they can price you out the exact boat you would like. I would think the base MB 21(either tomcat or TWB), a base Axis and a base XLV would all be in the 50-55k range with a tandem galvanized trailer. The Mobius LSV would also be a solid choice and should be a little cheaper. Just remember that you will have to add closed cooling to those assuming you can. You may also look at adding zinc's to the prop shaft and rudder or to the transom. I would also consider installing a quick connect flush kit with a transom connection if you dont' get fully closed cooling. Another nice add on would be to install a fresh water washdown tank kit. This way people can wash the salt off themselves and their gear before putting it in the boat. I think they even have 5 gallon buckets with a pump and hose attached if you don't want to permanetely install something in the boat. Hell you could probably make one for not too much.
Again, I like the MB for your situation because it has more freeboard then the others unless you consider an XLV, has a deeper V then all the rest for rough water, has the most interior room of all those boats, probably even compared to the XLV, requires the least amount of weight for a macking wake, all the ballast is under the floor unless you add some weight to the bow, as well as being the nicest. It also has a carpet insert that you can leave out of the boat if you dont' want the carpet or choose to take it out to clean. It will also probably be easier to work with MB on some custom touches if you do or don't want certain things on the boat. Really though, all those choices are good. Go ride/drive a couple and see which you like the best. |
Quote:
|
Jordan - The axis with the SS engine looks like a solid boat. It's nice a simple which is good for salt as most wake boats have gotten way too gimmicky plus I really like that tatami mat that they have. I would take a look at the boat and make sure everything is stainless or anodized aluminum. If you keep the boat outside I would buy an aftermarket cover from skiboatcovers.com in sunbrella with gore tenara stitching.
|
Personally I would find a good reasonably priced used boat that fits all your needs, and run it till it dies. I can't imagine taking a bigger resale hit than a new boat that has been driven in only salt and slammed with weight its whole life. Not in any way, shape, or form am I doubting the OP will take care of the boat and baby it, just saying with all the other boats in the used market, unless its priced pretty low, I would never buy a 100% salt boat that has always been slammed with weight. Just my .02.
|
Quote:
|
I think everytime someone posts a new boat buying thread...the second poster always will say "add MB to that list. Its a great price for how awesome the fit and finish is, and the pure vert is awesome...blah blah blah."
rant over |
Quote:
The whole wake boat market is ass backwards if you ask me haha. |
the whole 15 year loan thing makes sellers think their boat is still worth what they owe after paying three or four years of mostly interest.
|
Quote:
|
What about Supra? Just throwing it out there. You might be able to get a Launch 21V for $60K. I can't say for sure. But that's the impression I once had (maybe prices have gone up).
|
I just realized that anybody who recommended MB with (or because of) the PCM 409 prolly messed up, given that they're switching over to indmar. Dunno what the closed cooling options will be on those boats.
|
Quote:
I have a Mastercraft cover in the sand color. I used to have a black one and I was having the vinyl problems too but the sane is perfect. However, after two years the stitching is having problems and I will probably only get another year out of it. I will definitely be buying the waterline ski boat covers one when this one dies. The sunbrella and gore tenara stitching are exactly what you need for a boat thats kept outside in FL. |
Jordan. Im in SoCal, hit me up and you can come ride and drive my A22 and we can sit and talk about the options I went with and left out.
I picked axis because of the wake. I liked that it was new for 50k, warranty, fully customizable ALL HIDDEN ballast on switches, seating configuration and options. Simple layout,, simple clean lines. You can go with the tsunami mat instead of carpet since your in salt water. Its a 22 footer with more room inside than the Vride 21 or MB 21's (contrary to some belief), has a solid solid wake that is not finicky and easy to tune. my set up real quick: 4000 lbs (3400 water on switches all hidden, 650 lead hidden), no wedge, 335 motor, single stock fin (imo no need to have 2, the axis handles amazing, and just like Ed, I have to make sharp turns where I ride) OJ cinco prop (had OJ core, love this cinco so much). Plain white exterior, grey interior, ordered new, no system (put in my own), no heater, no shower, no LED's everywhere. Definitely go test drive, thats the best part. Paradise has the vride, axis, and moombas you were inquiring about. come out, lets go ride and talk, I am about an hour from you. |
I would definitely consider looking at the new Moomba Mojo. I've driven it and boarded behind it and it's a great boat. Can't beat the price and it's a HUGE boat with a great clean wake that only gets bigger with weight. It depends on where you live, but I know Axis and Moomba have really good dealer networks which is in many cases the deciding factor.
|
Quote:
How long does your boat take to plane with all that weight? The stadium is only about 1/2 mile long so it's only a short distance till i have to turn around the other way. I love how the axis boats look super dark and storm troopers out compared to everything else. |
Quote:
|
jordan. I ride in canyon lake in the backwater which is pretty short, not sure the length, maybe 1/2 - 3/4 mile? Its only an hour from huntington, so you should come out and ride. Never ridden the stadium but it sounds like you have to turn often just as we do. Full ballast, 4 adults, gear, full tank takes about 18-20 seconds or so. with only 2 adults in the boat and everything else the same, it planes noticeably faster.
The vride has one of my favorite wakes, and it was a boat we looked at. 3 problems. 1 it is not as big in the cabin space and it definitely is smaller in the bow cuz of the traditional bow. 2. no bow ballast, you can add it, but trying to get 1800 lbs up there all hidden, without having to have fat sacks and pumps was not going to happen, and that was a deal breaker for me. 3. it was another 5-6k more than a comparable a22 |
There is a new posting on www.themalibucrew.com.its on o7 247 lev with 55hrs on it http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/...7-81-55-hours/
|
I dreaming right now but is a flat color gelcoat possible? I think the axis a22 would look pretty MEAN with a charcoal grey base and black accents all flat color with everything else all flat color also. It would look like a military aircraft carrier cruising down the lake.
All these bling boats with fruity colors are looking a little too flamboyant for me. |
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 9:16 PM. |