best boat 25-30K - No V drives

need ideas on good wakeboard boats 2000 and newer, must have ballast system and tower, price limit is 30k. V drives need not apply. :-) I'd like a decent wake for the slalom course. but 80% will be wakeboard use.

Prostar 205 is a great combo boat.

get a brand new mobius ls for 31500... probally better then that if you work the right deal!

00-02 Air Nautique - great crossover boat. You can find one from those years in your price range.

Here's an example I just found in boattraderonline:

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/6/9/10170569.htm

Good luck!

(Message edited by monair on March 16, 2006)

What TB said. the hull is the same as the xstar turned x2 turned x1. The slalom wake is awesome too(AWSA approved).

Prostar 205 has factory ballast?? what year?

Sorry missed that. No factory ballast, but you can install your own pretty easily(they say).

A moomba outback got great revews you can get one all loaded up for about 29,995

I have a 2000 PS205 DD and have an 1100 lb ballast system, all hidden

Used: Late nineties Prostar 205 will probably be in the mid twenties. Supra Launch DD, Supra Sunsport/Launch SS up to 2003 might be under 30k out there, Correct Craft Air Nautique DD. New, Mobius LS or Outback LS.

Not 2000 or newer, but a sick boat:

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/8/278203.html?1142308813

Yeah, I saw that MC... nice boat! I'm also limiting my search to open bows.

Go for a late 90s early 00s air nautique, same hull as the SAN. My 00 is still running strong.

Check this one--

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/0/8/83258408.htm

Swerver,

Have you looked at the Centurion T5? It is awsa approved.

Tim

Where do you live Swerver? I have a 99' Sport Nautique Direct Drive with tower and ballast for sale.

Mastercraft X-9. Love mine 00 or 01 around $25

I live in Riverbank, CA

I have not looked at a T5. But I guess I will..

whats the diff between x-5 and x-9?
why doen't MC put factory ballast in the 197? is the 197 the same hull as the x5? I never liked the 197 though... I guess I should stop asking about a boat I dont like! :-)

Im selling a Calabria SLC to buy.... something.... See the SLC for sale in the less than 5 years for sale section.

Malibu made a DD Wakesetter from 2003-2004 and it is on the same hull as the 1998-2002 Sunsetter LX. They are essentially the same boat on the wakeboarding specific hull of the past VLX and now current v/i ride. Neither of them will throw the as good of slalom wake as the diamon hull versions of those boats, but they will throw a great baording wake.

If you are looking for something a little larger, I would reccomend the Sunsetter LXi, it is 8" longer then the sun/wake setter LX, but it only comes on the diamond (ski) hull.

Look at MOOMBA's website or a local dealer to you. I bought an LSV, louve this boat. My buddy with a mastercraft said dollar for dollar, he takes my boat anyday!

the x5 is based off the 197 hull. It just has tower and ballast added. The 209 is longer and wider. I have heard the x9s wake isn't all that great, but I have never ridden behind one. The 205(as I said before) is the same hull as the x2. It is one of the best boarding wakes out there. THe ski wake is really nice as well.

have you slalomed behind a V-drive? if not, you might want to before completely ruling them out. V-drives still ski better than 95% of I/O's.

You can get a brand new T5 for right around 30K loaded. Check it out here
http://www.centurionboats.com/boats/air_warrior_t5.html
I have a 2004 and love it.

i had a 2000 X-5. it was based of the 195 hull and was great for wakeboarding and slalom skiing.
the X-5 was never based off the 197 hull. when the 197 hull came out they dropped the X-5 and started the X-7. the 2002 X-5 i think was based off the 190 which had a closed bow.

my bad. Either way you are going to sacrifice Wakeboarding wake for ski wake with the 190, or 197. The 205 gives the best of both worlds. IMO.

(Message edited by psudy on March 20, 2006)

How about a Calabria Cal-Air?
I wonder about both the ski and boarding wakes... both are classified as "recreational"?! It has 700lbs ballast, and small beam, its light at 2400 lbs.

Also, opinions on the ski wake of a nautique 206?

I have to disagree with Paul on the slalom wake on the 205. I spend 80% of my water time in the slalom course and the 205 is probably one of the worst slalom boats I have ever been behind. The wake is HARD and unforgiving. My friends had a '99 and it was no fun. They currently have an '03 X-7 and it does have factory ballast. The slalom wake is great, haven't done much boarding behind it, but have made a nice surf wake with it. No real experience with the T5, but my Eclipse LaPoint has a good slalom wake and I have been able to create a decent wakeboard wake with it. My favorite crossover direct drive would be the Sunsetter LXi. The Diamond hull has an amazing slalom wake for the size of that boat. With a wedge I would assume it could make a very good wakeboard wake as well.

206 has a good slalom wake, not my favorite, but very good. The small Nautique d-drives have always been knocked that they are really hard to weight properly to make a good wakeboard wake though.

(Message edited by kstateskier on March 20, 2006)

Yeah, I have a strong memory of NOT liking the slalom wake on a 205 for slalom... prob 98-2000 era..

You Can Get a new sky supreme 220sp direct drive with a hard tank ballast system for around 34K out the door

Compared to a 190 or the like, its not going to be the same, but for a boat that can produce an awesome wake for boarding I would say its pretty good. I too spend a great deal of time in the course. I run it with my xstar/2/1. The wake is not that bad. There is a noticable bump at 32mph @15off on the old 205 DDs, but when you get into 36mph passes it goes away especially at shorter line lenghts. It is also important to point out that we only ran it with two peps in the boat. I imagine if you had five or six it would suck.

What boat are you compairing to a 190?

the 205.

Paul, you are my hero if you can consistantly ski behind your X-Star! I used to ski the 205 from 36/22' into 36/32', and it never really got very friendly to me.

I really don't think the wake is that bad @ 36/15 or less. There is a nice bump if you go slower. I grew up skiing with a bunch of egotistical lunk heads though. If you complained about the wake, or used it as an excuse, you would get endless amounts of S#4t, and consistantly boat checked on pick up.

yeah.. after 34 or so, most wakes disolve to white wash... im thinking of 10 mph slower though.. 24 26 28... those are the speeds that I ski at.

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/8/288925.html?1142899379

At those speeds, wake isn't really a factor.

I can't believe that nobody mentioned a DLX Sanger. You could almost get a new one for that price. The slalom wake isn't fabulous (I wouldn't know personally, never skied behind mine, but friends that own Malibu Responses said it wasn't fabulous), but the wakeboard wake when weighted is awsome. Not to mention that are really manuverable and drive great. Definitely not to be overlooked.

I'd say the 205 MC is going to have the best wakeboard wake of the group. I was suprised to see how flat the wake behind my X2 (same hull, but v-drive) was at ski speeds, but again, I've never skied behind it.

I have a malibu response lx. I dont know if they ever offered the MLS with it, but it has the wedge. I ride with the wedge, 400lb sack, 100lbs of free weights, and 3-4 people. I can do Raleys and whirlys no problem. The boat is also a tournament level ski boat. Not to mention it throws some nasty double ups.
That wake is with 1000lbs ballast, wedge, and 3 people.

sorry the first one didnt work, not sure how much ballast but I had at least 4-5 people and a 400lbs sack. I can't remember because I stopped sacking out my boat mid summer when I realized I didn't need much.

(Message edited by malibuboarder75 on March 21, 2006)

many many many guys in Oz use resonses or have in the past and what leo said is exactly right it would definitely be a good otion for what you want

I concur with Paul and TB. I have a 205 and love it. Loaded down the wake has a great shape and good size. If you have any questions let me know.