Hey Guys I need your opinions on the best Vdrive boats out there in the 15-20k range. Here's what I've gathered so far... <BR> <BR>-Mastercraft 205V...any years better than others? <BR>-Mastercraft Maristar 1998+ ...any good? <BR>-Correct Craft sport and super sport nautiques 1994+..are these mostly direct drives? <BR>-Nautique Excel...any good? <BR>-Sanger 210V..don't know anything about these <BR>-Supra Launch...Any hull changes thru years? I LOVE my buddy's 04...would have to be older tho <BR>-Malibu Sunsetter Vdrive..hard to find <BR> <BR>Please add to the list and give your opinions! <BR> <BR>-Alex

alex this gets discuss pretty often on here youve got a good list so far. regarding the super sport starting in 1995 it was a v drive. i picked mine up for 18,500. keep in mind this is the same hull as the SAN up until 2007 when the hull was changed. the 205v is the early x-star( year 1999 or 2000 i believe). probably gonna cost a little more b/c you cant get a mid 90s 205v. when i was shopping i think the 205v were in the low-mid 20's. if it were me(based on ur price range), id search for a supersport

Super Sport Nauty! I'm biased, but in all honesty you won't be disappointed with the SSN, 205V, or the 210V (I'm not too much a supra/malibu fan, but I guess they'd be alright too). <BR> <BR>Check Correctcraftfan.com, planetnautique.com, and onlyinboards.com for the Super Sport if that's what you decide to go with. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by sinkoumn on August 05, 2007)

I used to own a 2000 x-star, which is the 205v. I think it is one of the best wakes. Tiques tend to have a slight trough before going up the wake.

can't do much better than finding a 96 or 97 VLX. <BR> <BR>got ours for 16k. <BR> <BR> <BR>look at this one. <a href="http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/9/89234199.htm" target="_blank">http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/9/89234199.htm</a>

Thats one helluva deal

^^ id be on my way to california for that one.

that's a sunsetter though. arn't they DD?

^that's what I thought too. <BR> <BR>I'd also like to see the interior of the sunsetter, something is wrong if it's that cheap. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by sinkoumn on August 06, 2007)

They made lots on Sunsetter VLX's throughout the years. Some years they were on the wake hull and some they were on the diamond hull. However that one listed above is essentially the same as a pre 05 wakesetter and current v-ride. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&amp;page=hulls" target="_blank">http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&amp;page=hulls</a>

Alex... The 97 clint posted is a nice boat. I beleive it was a rental though. I started looking into that one, but once rental popped up, I stopped inquiring. If that kind of thing doesn't bother, it's a great buy. I just bought my 2000 Sunsetter(check out my profile) 1-1.5 months ago. No complaints.... Great boat. Plenty of room to add weight. <BR> <BR>Good Luck

might be a bit out of your price range but this thing is sick!! <BR><a href="http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2234&amp;sort=&amp;pagenum=1&amp;yr start=1925&amp;yrend=2008" target="_blank">http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2234&amp;sort=&amp;pagenum=1&amp;yr start=1925&amp;yrend=2008</a>

no, a VLX is a VLX, not a direct drive. <BR> <BR>2001 was the only year that the sunsetter VLX was on the diamond hull. <BR> <BR>here is what the inside of 96 and 97 vlx's look like. <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/485558.jpg" alt="Upload">

Wow guys thanks for the responses. The Malibu VLX's look really nice for the price since you can get em more than 10yrs old. My concern with those is I hate the wake on my neighbor's 06 wakesetter vlx...would they be similar? It seemed like it had a huge trough and was too rampy....I like a steep, firm wake. <BR> <BR>The nautiques look like the next best option in my price range but I've never rode behind one before. Matt mentioned there is a trough behind them which I really don't like. I do REALLY like the way they sit up high in the water though...looks like you can weigh the heck out of em. <BR> <BR>I would prefer a mastercraft because my current boat is a ProStar 190 and I like the wake if I weigh the heck out of it but its still a little small and there's no room in it. The 205's seem really hard to find. <BR> <BR>Could you guys give me your experiences with the wake shape on the Sunsetter vs 06 VLX vs SSN? <BR> <BR>(Message edited by salomon16 on August 06, 2007)

I have a '98 Nautique SS and I have never noticed an abnormally large trough. Even without ballast it throws a nice enough wake to do most tricks on.

Here are some more pics. I ran across it tonight on craigslist. <BR> <BR><a href="http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/370446634.html" target="_blank">http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/370446634.html</a>

Good value v drive? Check this : <a href="http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/5/6/89513756.htm" target="_blank">http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/5/6/89513756.htm</a> <BR> <BR>I have the same boat but mines branded maxum. Excellent wake, loads of storage, standard options inc heater, shower, depth etc.

There's a screamin deal on a V210 near us. Looks nice and from what I hear a great boat. With more info. it might be worth the drive. <BR> <BR><a href="http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/390184537.html" target="_blank">http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/390184537.html</a>

How are the wakes behind those? Does anybody have one of these? It looks like it'd sit real low in the water...

Ahhhh yeah Bayliner made an inboard V Drive I forgot about that.

11500 for a V210 is a GREAT deal if it's not beat to hell. <BR> <BR>Alex, <BR> <BR>The V210 has a great.

hey has 21 offers on that boat, he will prob sell it for 15k. I offered him cash and he turned it down! <BR> <BR>and its in imaculate condition too! sucky! some ones gonna get a killer deal! <BR> <BR>guy said he was taking bids now.

If you want a little newer, I sold my '00 Centurion Eclipse V-drive with PP, 315HP MPI, Tower, rack, some ballast, with about 500hours for <$20K. It threw a respectable wake and you can find some other similarly equipped v-drive Centurions in that price range.

my buddy has the v210. its a 96 too. great wake when weighed down

Are you sure you rode behind a 06 VLX, cause that wake is steep and very firm. <BR>I could see it having a huge trough and rampy if you were running it at 30 mph with no weight or a diamond hull. <BR> <BR>I had a 95 sport nautique for a brief period of time and it had a great wake with about 1K lbs in it. But had a even better ski wake. The nauty's wakeboard wake is steeper than an older VLX. I like the nauty's wake a bit more, but I like the older Bu's interior way more. V210's &amp; 205 V's are great too.

The 05+ VLX with stock weight + manual wedge does have a bit of a trough. Malibu stopped using the manual wedge and only uses the power and FF wedge which I have heard has eliminated the trough problem. <BR> <BR>The wake will be a lot different on a pre 05 VLX, but I am bad at describing wakes so I will let someone else do that. I used to be a big fan of the pre 05 VLX wake when using stock ballast (900lbs.) and the wedge. However, I have fallen in love with the wake of those boats with the stock tanks (250lbs each) removed and replaced with Fly High 750's and no wedge. With 1900lbs of ballast the wake is killer at 75' The only problem is that you have to get used to riding at 24mph or add weight up front to be able to ride slower. With the added weight, and no wedge the wake shape and size is completely different. I think its a lot "harder" and I get a ton more pop then stock ballast and wedge.

Machew, Yah I'm sure it was an 06 VLX. I'm not sure if we were riding the best setup but my neighbor said it was...Full stock ballast and manual wedge down with only 1 or 2 peeps at 23.5mph. The Wake was big and firm..but VERY rampy. I think I might have been too far back at about 90'...the wake seemed better right in front of where I was hitting...maybe it was washing out..

with stock ballast, 90ft is too far back. 75' is better in my opinion.

more info for you <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/3183/483258.html?1186171568" target="_blank">http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/3183/483258.html?1186171568</a> <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/487369.jpg" alt="Upload">

We got a 95' Supersport nautique, which is v-drive, with 300 hours, in nearly perfect shape for 18k, then with tower, ballast, speakers etc etc etc.... we're at 22k <BR>best money even spent

This looks like a pretty good deal on a basically new Moomba <BR> <BR><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-Moomba-Outback-Wakeboard-Boat-Practically-New_W0QQitemZ260149468795QQihZ016QQcategoryZ63686Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-Moomba-Outback-Wakeboard-Boat-Practically-New_W0QQitemZ260149468795QQihZ016QQcategoryZ63686Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem</a>

Leonard, that Moomba is a direct drive.

Oopps! sorry bout that. Same hull though and still a good deal for an 06