Best Starter Wakeboat?

Ok, I think I will have somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-12,000 dollars to spend on a boat. (I would prefer its set up with tower, pp etc but its not nessecary) I am thinking of maybe getting a 2001 nautique or a supra sunsport. What other boats are out there in this range? And Has anyone rode these boats and know how they compare as far as wakes go? I have heard the wake on the sunsport is similar to a launch SSV which is my boat at my parents house... which is 3 hrs away. A friend of mine used to have a 2001 barefoot and the wake was nice but a little washy. Does anyone have any pics of wakes? Any help is appreciated.

http://www.supraboats.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=3630

Here is my 87 SunSport project start to present plenty of wake/surf pics and vids. Thigh high surf wave.

Where did u find your sunsport? I have had a little trouble finding one... looks like u got a great deal on one.

Although I'm a little partial to these boats,

I would definitely check these two out, all fiberglass so no stringers to worry about.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/boa/1302279662.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/1303088081.html

Those look nice are the sunsetters same hull as the wakesetter?

Yes, 95-2004 sunsetter lx is the same hull as the wakesetter vlx thru 04. Also the same hull as the 05-08 Vride.

Also does anyone know anything about the supra mariah boats and the wake they make?

I 2nd the Older Sunsports I have a 91 and love it with the right weight they throw a huge wake

i have a 1989 supra sunsport and if u load it up with ballast or people and get the right prop it sets a tsunami wave and you can get into one set up for way under 12,000... i found mine in michigan on the detroit river earlier this year. i looked for close to a year on craigslist and ebay before i found the one i want. the nice thing about the sunsports is they are huge and have a ton of freeboard and you can load them up with friends and ballast and not worry about takin on water... the thing i am finding out with my boat is that there is alot of propwash for surfing, its great for wakeboarding though... my buddy has a malibu sunsetter and its a great boat as well... what i dont like about it is that they are much lower to the water so if it gets choppy everyone gets wet and its harder to figure out ballast systems... the boats clay found sound like great deals...

supra also makes the saltare which is a very similar boat. in fact i think the only difference is a 454 vs. a 351 ford which is in the sunsport
http://detroit.craigslist.org/boa/1298388999.html

and mastecraft makes a maristar which sometimes you can find for under 12,000 but not to often... they are big boats and throw up a big wake when equipped

This might be a good one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130321478192&viewitem= &sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

that boat is very well done up... kudos to whoever did it...

can anyone confirm the saltare is the same hull? Also would a 454 use less or more gas wakeboarding? Seems like it could runs a lower rpm but would maybe use more gas? Idk???

x star