suggestions for surf boat for +/- $30k?

looking to spend maybe $30-$35k at most on a surf boat. Prefer MC/CC/BU - it will be family oriented - 5 kids 11yrs old or under so I can't count on human ballast. Suggestions?

kind of like the Malibu Wedge - but I've never driven or ridden one, just like the concept of 3 minutes to get 1/2 you're ballast in. Comments?

can anyone comment on the V-Ride series? or compare that with a Super Air 210?

love the picklefork of the MC but can't see spending >$50k (lowest I've seen) for a boat.....

The 2005-08 vride (and pre 2005 vlx) will make a great wave with weight and the wedge. you will be sinkin' that beotch to get the wave you want and you MUST have a wedge. With not all that much freeboard, it can be stressful to drive it weighted like that in chop. You WILL take water over the bow in the SV23 wake hull.
You'll need a 750 in the rear locker and 400 on the seat to get this wave. More people/kids/dogs makes it bigger and better.

As a whole, I'd stay away away from most mastercrafts and nautiques if you're looking for a "surf" boat...

I'd start looking for a Centurion Avalanche, or Enzo, as these can be had for a decent deal and will throw great waves.

Give up on the idea of being able to surf with just the wedge... Not saying it can't be done, it just gets SO much better when you get the boats leaning. Most boats with a deep v hull will make better waves easier than boats with a flatter hull design.

Where are you located? We could probably figure out some ideas for you in your local area..

Or if you want a bigger wake get the 2005 VlX

Malibu does have a great surf wake with the wedge. The V-ride series is essentially the same as the wakesetter model from a couple years ago just without all the high end bells and whistles.

I have also heard that the upper end Tige's have a great surf wake, however I haven't had the chance to surf behind one. The wake for wakeboarding behind the RZ2 was great though with people weight and stock ballast.


My favorite boat though is the MB F21 Tomcat. The wave(on both sides) and wake behind these things is amazing with just stock ballast and a couple people. Over the summer I got spend extensive time behind one and was never disappointed. The wake without any ballast is great for learning as well. However I understand that retail price is a little out of your range. In which case I'd contact MIke Schwenne of West Coast Camps. We sell all of our used boats after the summer. We take great care of them performing maintenance continuously through out the summer. The price on these boats since they are promo boats gets knocked down a $1000 a week. and this is for next years boat 2012.

Anyway I hope this is able to help you.

best bet for $30K is a Centurion Avy (2005-2006) or a Tige 22Ve. Both have a great wave on both sides and a lot of room for 22ft.

IMO, however, with the size of family you have, you need to be looking at a older Centurion Enzo 230/240 or Tige 24 Ve. Both could be had for around $35K.

Pics of the 08 Avy I sold a few weeks ago. Same hull as an 2005-2006 Avy. Wave looks the same on both sides.

Sanger V215 fits right in the price range and is a great performer

-What about a MB B52...you can find one witht the Trippple Up Ballast...thousand lbs in each corner, and 500 in the bow isnt bad for a stock boat..they have downstems on the exhaust and shorter swim decks...super clean wake and very very surfable right out of the box.
-Plus it can still be a 23 foot boat in that price range.
Awsome boats.

I love mine, and have yet to pull a single wake boarder

-I also recommend and AVY, but the ones I have been on have been very heavily bagged to get a great wake. Heavily bag a MB and your wave is crazyness

An Avy would be where to start on the Centurion line. Its got room and throws a mean wave. I have a couple of buddies that have one. If you can jump up to an Enzo 23' or Enzo 24' then all the better! Dont get confused with the 21' Enzo, it doesnt have the deep hull that your wanting. (Though it is possible, just not as big as wave)

I got an Elite "V (Cent) and it works well for me......but throw on my 5 kids.....TIGHT FIT! Sometimes Bigger is better LOL

I have to disagree with dura the 21 foot enzo and falcon throw an awesome wave when set up properly and is one of the best wake board wakes in the centurion line up
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_1062wt_1165

The first question you have to ask yourself is: do you want to have ballast bags on your seats or platform? Most boats will put out a decent wave with ballast sacs on the seats. Our boat is a family boat and we did not want to have sacs taking up all of the seating area.

Of the three boat choices you have listed above I would try the Malibu with a wedge. Then you will have to get a piggyback ballast system for your rear locker (surf side) and a bow sac to go along with the factory ballast and you should have a very surfable wave.

The sanger 215 can be had for that, but very low freeboard, great boat though. Ask Dennis about his wake.

I agree with lakesurfer, Avy or Tige 22Ve can be had, great on both sides and good freeboard. The 24Ve is great, but you need a lot more weight. Our 24Ve makes an amazing wake though. Just lots of work and mods to get the weight all the way to the back of the hull in the corners.

Originally Posted by WakeDirt

-I also recommend and AVY, but the ones I have been on have been very heavily bagged to get a great wake.

I dont believe this to be true at all. Most days, I ran my Avy all day long with 1,500lbs custom sac, 250lbs center tank, 155lbs fat brick on swim deck and 400-750lbs of people (or sac if riding with small crew) on surf seat at 11.2mph. It had an awesome wave. Nearly as good as my new Enzo 244.

Full disclosure: the pics above are with my Avy set up with 1,500lbs custom sac, 250lbs center tank, 155lbs fat brick on swim deck and 800lbs on seats and a driver at 12mph. With this set up I ran a little above the rub rail but the water never came in the vents.

Proven 30K or less surf boats are.

Tige 22v or 24v.
Centurion Avalanche C4
Sanger v215
Malibu 21 LSV
Malibu 23 LSV can be a sunsetter.


There are others out there and you can always find a steal on something else. But these work and you can usually find good deals on them. The freeboard or height might be an issue on the avalanche and the sanger. Also, most boats out with enough weight and time spent dialing them in you can get a good wave on. Try to get at least a 330 hp motor. That seems to be the key with us and surfing.

Great surf boat on both sides.

http://www.olingermarine.com/new_veh...44&pov=2347114

you can ask Duffy about Tige 24Ve. If I had a family your size, I would be looking for something like this

http://www.olingermarine.com/pre_own...R0&veh=2344714

It will take more weight to get a "comp level" wave. But for the average weekend warrior, order a custom sac that fill the back locker and the area under the seats. Add some people in it and you will be just fine.

That is actually a 24v. Olinger has it wrong. That is a sick boat though and with custom sacs it will be epic. I have customs for sale if you end up with a tige 24v. The ve is a different model.

No offense to all other brands but i think ive narrowed it down to / hoping to get advice between cc 220 or 226 and 06-09 wakesetter vlx with wedge prefer 23 of course. Assuming I can get either boat at auction/ wholesale price which surfs better and is easier to live with? We dry dock so don't care how it tows. I assume wedge makes ease of use better for fat guy regular surf wake? Do they have dual exhaust? Cc is wrong prop direction and single exhaust isn't it? Is the Enzo alll that? If I went off the cc/bu wagon?

the enzo is one of the best surf boats you can get. I had 2 bu vlx's older sv23 hull and a ndw sv 25 pre 2009 hull with wedges bads all over the place. bags popping out of the rear lockers, people sitting over the side, hanging off the side of the tower and the boat taking on water and there is no comparison to a well wieghted deep v. the bu 247 will kill it but you have a large boat with a lot of weight, it really has to do with the hull shape and the amount of weight . i loved my bu's but we really enjoy surfing and spend 80% of the our time surfing and less and less wakeboarding. (getting older and cant break) and the conditions are not always great for the board. anyways, they are all great boats, but if you plan on surfing, look at the deep v's i just traded in my 09 sz23 enzo for a new 244. i need the space. good luck

Here is the weekend warrior Enzo wave. This vid contains Enzo 230/240/244 and an Elite V. Except for a fat brick on the swim deck, all the weight was under the seats. The wave only gets better if you want to run more weight. Personally, I have never found the need to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=DyAiyrcGF8o

Great video, sick boats, sick wakes. Very cool, I enjoyed that. Looks like you guys had a blast.

Originally Posted by ragboy

Great video, sick boats, sick wakes. Very cool, I enjoyed that. Looks like you guys had a blast.

We had a great time. I am hijacking the thread a little but here are two more vids from the same group of boats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=QCCGXYXPkng



warning: music in 2nd vid is gangster. So I would not play it loud at work or in front of kids.

Originally Posted by bikeman

No offense to all other brands but i think ive narrowed it down to / hoping to get advice between cc 220 or 226 and 06-09 wakesetter vlx with wedge prefer 23 of course. Assuming I can get either boat at auction/ wholesale price which surfs better and is easier to live with? We dry dock so don't care how it tows. I assume wedge makes ease of use better for fat guy regular surf wake? Do they have dual exhaust? Cc is wrong prop direction and single exhaust isn't it? Is the Enzo alll that? If I went off the cc/bu wagon?

Not sure about the CC's but if you get the Malibu try and get a 23 footer. The bigger the boat the better for surfing.