To Wedge, or not to Wedge...That is the question.

packbacker1981 03-15-2007, 12:25 PM

Well, I tried to purchase a Centurion. Had everything worked out, colors, options, everything. Then when it comes to the paperwork the dealer says they made a snafu, and the price has to go up almost 3500 dollars. Uh...no scrap that. So now I am down to my local Malibu dealer and have decided on a VLX. Great boat, great demo, great service. Price is good too!

. So now I am choosing options. I need to know which wedge is better, power or manual, or any at all. It seems that it is mostly personal preference, but some have it, some have manual, and some have power. I just need to know if it is worth having it and if it is which one and why, besides resale. Also is there any must have options for the VLX? I am considering the 340 Monsoon, but is there any difference between it and the 320 other than 20 horsepower? Here is a list I am looking at.

320 horsepower
front, rear, and center ballast
swing away board racks
titan tower speakers
6 speakers in boat
dual batteries
wedge?
bimini tower for illusion x
perfect pass (not pro) still digital in dash
pop up bow light
pull up cleats
depth finder
fiberglass swim platform
custom colors

Thanks for the help. Let me know what you think.

(wink_vlx) · (wink_vlx) **Join Date: Jun 2006** 03-15-2007, 12:41 PM

Next ?, what are you looking for in this boat? Will you be a hardcore wakeboarder or more of a family boat? Either way I would suggest any wedge purely for resale. If you plan on boarding quite often and will eventually add weight I would suggest the 340 motor.

(hawaiianstiln)

well, I Think it's an extra $2,000 for the power wedge right? To me, that's not worth it at all. I ride on my buddy's 23LSV and he has the power wedge. It's awesome and you can definately change up the wake by trimming to certain locations. However, I just don't think it's worth it (not yet). I'm hoping they eventually drop the price on that and then it might be worth it. I would upgrade the engine before I upgrade the wedge. My two cents.

Think of this...You are already stopped while someone is strapping on their gear, filling ballast, etc....So, someone on the boat has time to pinch the two pins in and push the wedge down.

(longgonebon) · (longgonebon) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 03-15-2007, 12:48 PM

Packer... the boat dealers are hurtin a bit from what I can tell. I'd beat them down on price and get the 340 and powerwedge, if you plan on having the boat for a long time I'm guessing you will appreciate having both. I don't have a vlx, but did demo the vtx and was going through some of the same decisions you are on that boat, the 320 is weak imo.

(danadog) · (danadog) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 03-15-2007, 12:48 PM

Look into the new free floating wedge.
Also check out www.themalibucrew.com
Do a quick search and you will find a lot of talk of it.

(tyboarder03) · (tyboarder03) **Join Date: Nov 2003** 03-15-2007, 12:49 PM

free floating wedge looks way better than the manual wedge, but I still wouldn't pass on the power if you can get it

(wakeworld) · (wakeworld) **Join Date: Jan 1997** 03-15-2007, 12:51 PM

You should definitely read this...

http://www.wakeworld.com/getarticle.asp?articleid=992

(atropine) · (atropine) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 03-15-2007, 1:12 PM

The folks at themalibucrew.com will give you some more experience with the power vs free-floating wedge. I have always been told that the power wedge cannot be added in the future, so if you think you may ever want it you have to get it now. I think I would be tempted to go with the floating wedge, from the reports I have heard on themalibucrew. If I were you, I would ditch the Titan tower speakers, and use the money to buy a set of Wetsounds Pro 80's or NVS Addictions. I have the Monsoon 340 in my 23LSV, and I think it does a great job. I run the stock MLS (1250 pounds) plus an additional 1000 lbs of water ballast, plus about 400 lbs of lead. I have been told that the torque numbers of the Monsoon and the Hammerhead are very close. I have never driven a boat with the HH, so I can't say from personal experience.

(kevin_lsv23) · (kevin_lsv23) **Join Date: Oct 2006** 03-15-2007, 1:28 PM

If you just want a bigger wake the new floating wedge works great. Low maintenance also. If you want to try to shape the wake then the power wedge would be the only option. The standard wedge is either up or down.

(iagainsti) · (iagainsti) **Join Date: Apr 2004** 03-15-2007, 1:33 PM

I have an 06 with power wedge. My only complaint is its hard to tell what position the wedge is at from the gauge alone. Its just not very accurate on my boat. I've heard great things about the floating wedge especially when turning the boat, it finds the optimal downward angle for each situation on its on.
Do not skimp on the 340Monsoon. I have the 340 and wish I went with the HH. The 340 is fine until you load the boat down with peeps and lower the wedge. I probably just need to reprop but dont feel the 320 will get it done on this big of a boat.

(Message edited by iagainsti on March 15, 2007)

(jon_a) · (jon_a) **Join Date: Feb 2003** 03-15-2007, 2:06 PM

If you plan on taking a lot of people, a lot of ballast, and/or wakesurfing, I would go with the monsoon. The monsoon has the ETX/CAT (see here: http://www.indmar.com/ProductLine/Malibu/Monsoon-340/index.html).

Cleaner exhaust, a little better on the gas, 20 extra hp, and actually a bit more power than the previous year's 340s.

And as a representative of the boating industry, most dealers on not hurting this year. However, a good dealer will work with you on price.

(auto) · (auto) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 03-15-2007, 4:35 PM

I would look at it for resale. I as a BU fan and boat owner was not convinced of the power wedge over the regular. I took a ride on a 247 with the power wedge, and it does make a difference. My new 07 was ordered with the power wedge. Also get the 340.

(dadthedriver) · (dadthedriver) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 03-15-2007, 5:43 PM

I have an 06 VLX 320 and power wedge and turned down exhaust. When I order the 08 I am getting the Hammerhead and the power wedge and the exhaust. I have just changed the Prop on our 06 to the acme 1234 or was it 1235 I think that will make the boat come out of the hole alot faster with all the weight we add. I dont care about top end because all I need is 25 mph and we are good.

(rallyart) · (rallyart) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 03-15-2007, 7:01 PM

There is value in the EXT/CAT and low CO.

(lfshane132) · (lfshane132) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 03-16-2007, 7:02 AM

power wedge because u can shape the wake by putting it at halfway down will make a really steep wake putting it all the way down will mellow it out, etc and manual wedges are a pain to put up and down but wedges do eat gas

(lfshane132) · (lfshane132) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 03-16-2007, 7:04 AM

oh also the 340 will help on gas because the boat will get on plane faster...sounds crazy but trust me it does help but only when wakeboarding

(deltawake) · (deltawake) **Join Date: Sep 2004** 03-16-2007, 7:42 AM

1) Get the power wedge. I recently had the 2007 Free Floating wedge put on our 2004 LSV. It is a huge improvement over the old wedge, but the power wedge gives a capability that is absolutely invaluable if you care about wakeboarding and wake shape. You will kick yourself forever if you don't get the power wedge. If you're not a hard core wakeboarder, just get the free floating wedge. It's simple and works very well.

2) I would get at least the Monsoon. See Ben Carroll's post. We have the Monsoon on our LSV, and it is more than adequate until you have a pretty full boat. Then it has to work a bit harder to get out of the hole. We run the stock prop, because we sometimes have to run a bit to get to wakeboarding water. If I was mostly on a private lake, I would run a less pitched prop, and it would pop out of the hole very nicely, even full.

(desertcajun) · (desertcajun) **Join Date: Feb 2007** 03-19-2007, 10:35 PM

I have the new 2007 247 rx and I can tell you we have been out for a month now with this boat with all different skill levels. The power wedge is insane!!!! The different shape and size of the wake has been limitless!!! I would never use anything else... Upload

(projectely4) · (projectely4) **Join Date: Apr 2003** 03-20-2007, 6:21 AM

i would agree that the power wedge is insane. insanely stupid. save your money and use water weight. the wedge is just gonna rip your transom apart. wake plates are much beter for shaping the wake. i think mastercraft offers them. haha

(faceplanter69) · (faceplanter69) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 03-20-2007, 7:10 AM

The power wedge on the Malibu's are soooo much better than the older wedge's. If you go with a BU buy newer and get the power wedge. If you decide to go with an older BU the wedge doesn't really do that much and makes your boat drive really lousy. Older Bu's I prefer to use ballast instead of the wedge.

Centurion's I don't know much about though. If they have a power wedge like the newer Bu's I would look at the power wedge for sure. It does make a difference

(clubmyke) · (clubmyke) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 03-20-2007, 9:35 AM

get the monsoon and the wedge...it will help with the resale value..

(mikel) · (mikel) **Join Date: Nov 2004** 03-20-2007, 1:32 PM

Billy, really good, quality post. I am going to nominate you for poster of the month.

Mike

(atropine) · (atropine) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 03-20-2007, 7:51 PM

Peter-
What was involved in putting on the new style free-floating wedge? Did you have to fill in the old holes and drill new ones? What was the total cost, if you don't mind me asking?

packbacker1981 03-21-2007, 6:35 AM

Well I am definitely going with the 340 Monsoon. I have been on the malibu forum and the consensus on their seems to be the free floating wedge does really good without spending the 2000 extra dollars. I'm still considering the power but my thing is that I love wakeboarding and I am pretty good at it, but I am never going to be pro. I am going to board a lot, but it will also be for my wife to board, and my little boy and girl. I want a great wake but would it be worth having the power so my kids could learn better on a mellower wake or just do the floating wedge and be happy. I know the power will be better resale, but I am planning on keeping this boat a long time, so I am going to get what I want now and not drown myself by trading in 5 years.

(wakeworld) · (wakeworld) **Join Date: Jan 1997** 03-21-2007, 9:03 AM

If you have kids, I would say that's even more reason to get the Power Wedge. I have kids, so I'm constantly putting the Wedge up and down. They don't need it, but I like to use it, so the Wedge button gets a workout. Plus, if they are running at low speeds, you really don't want the Wedge down because it makes it a lot harder to get them a clean wake.

deltahoosier 03-21-2007, 1:50 PM

What is the lifetime expected out of the drive for the wedge? How much will the repair bill be? Everything on boats usually break at some point.