What are the Best Used Wakeboard Boats (15-20k)?

(paleotm) · (paleotm) **Join Date: Apr 2009** 04-22-2009, 12:09 PM

I've been wakeboarding behind a 1986 ski nautique with 500 lbs. of lead under the back seat. I get a great wake, but my wife is tired of slalom skiing through big waves, so we are looking for a good boat with an automatic ballast that will work for both wakeboarding and slalom...emptying lead bricks each time is not an option! I'd love to get a few suggestions of a good used boat that may work in the 15-20k range.
Thanks!

(dubwake21) · (dubwake21) **Join Date: Mar 2008** 04-22-2009, 12:24 PM

If you are happy with your boat, and the wake that you get with 500 lbs, why not switch out the lead for a ballast and pump and save yourself money and headache of a new boat search.

(paleotm) · (paleotm) **Join Date: Apr 2009** 04-22-2009, 12:38 PM

We want a bigger boat with an open bow for the family anyway. Also, don't want to deal with independent ballast bags, etc. Ready to upgrade!

(bill_airjunky)

86 Nautiques weren't exactly known to have great ski wakes. I see them referred to as "curbs" a lot.

What kind of budget? Any size/weight restrictions? What area are you in?

What about the early 90s Sport Nautiques? Or the early/mid 90s MC PS 205s?

(paleotm) · (paleotm) **Join Date: Apr 2009** 04-22-2009, 1:08 PM

Thanks. I got about 15-20k. No size or weight problems. I'm in central Alabama. Do boats that early have towers and automatic ballasts?

(xbones) · (xbones) **Join Date: Mar 2007** 04-22-2009, 1:16 PM

How much you wanna unload that 86 for? I'm in the market and local ;)

(migs)

late 90's sangers or centurions - I would think would be in that price range and awesome boats.

(xbones) · (xbones) **Join Date: Mar 2007** 04-22-2009, 1:45 PM

Sent u an email.

(jhebert) · (jhebert) **Join Date: May 2007** 04-22-2009, 1:50 PM

air nautique, direct drive 98-through present, will produce good slalom wakes un-weigheted, and good wakes sacked out for wakeboarding...get a very nice one for 18-20k

(trace) · (trace) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 04-22-2009, 2:09 PM

MC PS205's are one of the best crossover boats, and well within that range these days. Same with Sport/Air Nautiques, Malibu Sunsetter LX, etc.

You won't find a boat older than about '98 with a tower, or about '00 with ballast. The factory ballast systems were pretty much worthless anyway until fairly recently.

You can also find some nice V-drives in that range, but they won't ski as well as a DD obviously. Just make your wife quit skiing, and get a V-drive. ;)

(bill_airjunky) · (bill_airjunky) **Join Date: Apr 2002** 04-22-2009, 2:33 PM

About the only boats you will find for under $20k with a factory tower & ballast are Moombas...... or maybe a few well used boats from other makers. You may very well find a few with towers (older designs), but no ballast.
To stay in that budget, I think your going to have to work for it..... ie; install a tower &/or ballast system on your own.

EDIT: Nautiques appear to be a good choice to check out:

I found these in about a minute using http://www.crazedlist.org to search Craigslist in the south.

96 Nautique with tower for $13k
2000 Pro for $25k
2003 Ski/Air for $24k

(Message edited by bill_airjunky on April 22, 2009)

(dh03r6) · (dh03r6) **Join Date: Mar 2007** 04-22-2009, 4:19 PM

Im looking to downgrade to something smaller then my 99 Tige 22i if you would like to work something out

(ccrider) · (ccrider) **Join Date: Apr 2005** 04-23-2009, 6:51 PM

i just picked up a 99 centurion elite v drive for 16k. it has a small factory ballast tank (about 30 gallons) but with side sacs and a 600pound sack up front, the wake is pretty nice

(nick_in_ssp) · (nick_in_ssp) **Join Date: Aug 2006** 04-23-2009, 7:39 PM

Late 90's Malibu VLX is got to be one of the best boats for under $20K. I got mine for under that and have seen a hand full more for under 20. The ski wake isn't the best, but the room and over all feel is a true wake boat. With a little work.

(jixxxer) · (jixxxer) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 04-23-2009, 9:41 PM

bought my 97 prostar 205 in great cond. loaded with extras for 18k last year (awesome wake).

(skier12) · (skier12) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 04-24-2009, 7:35 AM

Here is a great boat and it's in your price range, although not in Alabama. Personally I think Air/Sport Nautiques are the best option for your price range, they have built in ballast and have decent ski wakes. I've got an older sport and they're great crossover boats, which is why CC still builds this exact boat.

http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4489&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1925&y rend=2010

(ttuclint) · (ttuclint) **Join Date: Sep 2003** 04-24-2009, 7:37 AM

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/8/689180.html?1240549670

(bmartin) · (bmartin) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 04-24-2009, 8:34 AM

You can probably find some Moomba Mobius, Centurion Eclipse (Cyclone), Elites, and Tiges less than 10 years old in v-drive or d-drive configurations with some level of auto-balast in that price range with some searching. The Sport Nautiques / MC 205s are great hulls, but you will probably have to go with older models that will predate factory auto balast, but there are probably some out there that might have that as an aftermarket upgrade.

(malibupilot) · (malibupilot) **Join Date: Nov 2005** 04-24-2009, 11:49 AM

I used to own a Toyota Epic. The boat was super solid and engine/trans was flawless. It had a decent wake with the ballast filled and a great ski wake without. If you are hardcore and want to add 2000lbs, then its prolly not the boat for you. I had an X22...

Also, if you need parts they are not hard to get. The engine is the small Lexus V8 with 300hp.