First time boat buyer help

Well im getting ready to make my first boat purchase and need some help. Im really wanting a 2011 axis but just dont think i can budget it so as far as used boat what is considered "good deal"......Make, model, year, hrs and around $25- $30k range?

I would personally go with a quality older boat versus a newer 2nd tier boat. Just my two cents. You could get a decent SAN for that money.

Originally Posted by SamIngram

I would personally go with a quality older boat versus a newer 2nd tier boat. Just my two cents. You could get a decent SAN for that money.

so is axis a bad boat?

No its not a bad boat at all but for 20k less you could have a boat that will do everything you need and more. I agree about finding a SAN it will be a pro level wake with extra weight and good for beginners with little to no weight. My first boat was a 95 super sport I bought for alittle less than 20k and now I have a 06 supra 24V and I would go back to an older SAN in a heart beat, not that the boat I have now isn't great but a San just does the right.


http://onlyinboards.com/Advanced-Sea...ords=&State=-1

another vote for a SAN, I have seen many 210's with low hours on onlyinboards from 2002-2004ish in your price range.

not sure where your located, but it says this SAN only has 121 hours.
http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=27682

Originally Posted by gotwake133

not sure where your located, but it says this SAN only has 121 hours.
http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=27682

Digital gauges and GT40 equals no way to prove that. It is almost a guarantee those gauges broke at some point, and did not register hours. There was a similar boat on PlanetNautique recently, and after being questioned the owner fessed up that "he wasn't positive it was only xxx hours."

Thats one of the main reasons I want to avoid the digital gauges, it's to easy to be duped on the boats that have them. I do agree though with everyone else, the 210 Nautique is a great first boat buy. It does everything you need for a wake boat to do, and the prices are fairly affordable.

i did see that boat but im in GA so its a little far

If you do get a SAN correctcraftfan.com is hands down the best group of people online as far as forums go, Nothing but good people and solid advice. Good luck!

Originally Posted by brucegoose23

so is axis a bad boat?

No, I was referring to the "Big Three" plus maybe Sanger. I meant to say that I would buy an older boat that was higher quality when it was new versus a newer boat of lesser quality. Just my opinion.

You have an absolute ton of options in that price range.

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=26597

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=27651

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=27562

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=27466

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=27694

Those are just a few of the boats on onlyinboards.com that would be an excellent first boat in the 25-30k range. There are a ton more on there to choose from as well. Scour various cities craigslists as well. Also if you bump up your search to 33k on onlyinboards it brings up a few more really nice boats.

How are you going to use the boat? Cruise, wakeboard, surf, party? Do you need something that rides well in rough water or is wake a priority over ride? Do you have any size/weight constraints? Length, width, weight for towing, etc? Are there any features that you consider a must have?

You should be able to get a '04-'05 Master Craft X2 in that range. The last of the old hull before it went X1. Clamping racks, killer bimini's, auto ballast and Master Craft cruise. That is my boat of choice. That or a older Malibu VLX. SAN's are great, too. Just depends on your choice of wake. SAN's make my knees and back hurt just thinking about them. LOL!

....And FWIW, the Axis is a sweet boat for a great price. I wouldn't consider it second tier at all. Especially when compared to the older boats like a SAN or X2. It may lack some options compared to the newest offerings, but they're half the price with all the wake and performance of the competitors. If I were in that market it'd be a no brainer for me. That, or I'd step up to the VTX or VLX.

X Star 205v hull
X2 205v hull
Sante 210
VLX
VRide.

The Bu's will be the wider boats but all throw a wake you will be happy with. If you need a bigger boat.

Tige
Supra
Moomba
Centurion
MB

The main priority will be wakeboarding.....i rode in a supra santera all summer and had a great wake once we sac'd it out but the hassle of dealing with pumps and sacs was a pain in the A** so auto ballast is a must. My only complaint on the supra was the ride in rough water. It would about beat your brains out.

Looking for/ must:
22ft or less 10-12+ person
Auto ballast
tower and racks
bimini
v-drive
wake to ride quailty about 50/50


The boats ive got my eye on at the moment is the 04 supra above and 2006 centruion avalance for $29K...also considered the 02 x-star but i dont think im diggin the yellow

The Avalanche will have the best rough water ride out of the buch by quite a bit and will throw a sick surf wave.. The wakeboard wake is pretty good too but it's sensitive to where you place weight in the boat.. I'd go with the Avy for sure if you're looking for rough water ride.

10-12 people in an xstar,x2,x1 will be tight good news thats a crap load of ballast and the wake will be HUGE. Other than that your price range if you need that size I would look elsewhere. If you could find a good deal on a Tige 22Ve with ballast it will throw a great wake and the space inside will fit your people. The Av is pretty spacious as well.

What altitude will you be doing the majority of your riding?

Here are the boats I would consider and a quick explanation why. Keep in mind anything 22 feet or smaller is going to be fairly cramped with 10-12 people but if the only time you do that is when partying then who cares. Also, as far as ballast goes I wouldn't worry too much on what

Mastercraft
Xstar/X2/X1-well built, great wake ability, good resale, small, will be real tight with 10 people.

Nautique
SAN 210-Same reasons as xstar but more effecient. Requires less weight then Xstar for a pro level wake.

Malibu
2001-2004 VLX/2005-2007 Virde-Same as the Xstar and 210 but a little bigger. This would be on of my top choices.

Supra
21v-very deep, lots of hidden ballast options with playpen seating, a little bigger then the above boats.
2001-2006 22SSV-Good wake, a little bigger then the Xstar or SAN. Not sure if you can get these with the Playpen seating or not.

Moomba
2006-current Mobius LSV-good size, ballast easily upgradable, capabable wake maker. Only problem is without playpen you will have to have lead or a bag in bow.
2004-current XLV-Bigger then you mentioned but not that heavy, very deep, playpen, tons of room, good wake, can easily hide 2000-2500#'s of ballast.

Tige
2003-2006 22V-good all around boat, lots of room, good rough water ride. Will have to custom plumb in ballast.

Centurion
Avalanche-good room, great rough water ride, great surf wake ability, touchy wakeboard wake.

I would recommend the Sanger V215 but I am guessing there aren't many in Georgia.

Correct Craft or Sanger!

I would go with that 04 Supra.

Thanks brett thats the kind of info ive been looking for.... sanger is very rare around GA.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/boa/2242657480.html
I just found this on CL. Its alil more than im looking for but seems like a good deal to me and its only about a hr away

whats yalls opinions on a 2000 supra launch for a low budget boat

It will be a good low budget boat. You are going to need sacs though to get a good wake out of it. We actually had a 2000 supra launch and traded it in on our Axis.

How much weight did yall run and where were the sacs?

550 up front in the bow, 200s on each side of the engine and the factory ballast full.