Hey WW, I’m looking for my first boat. I grew up wakeboarding behind the family deck boat, then some friends’ Tige 20v, and a 22ve. We started surfing the 20v in 2006, back when it was an all-hands-on-deck effort to get a surfable wave. Life happened, I was out of the game for a while, but I’m now in a position to buy a boat for my young family. Here are my conditions of use:
65k budget, less is of course better
Less than 23’ per association regulation
Integrated ballast and surf system (i.e. no suck gates, no throwing tsunami pumps overboard)
Clean low-speed wakeboard wake to teach my young kids how to ride
I’d like to believe we’ll be 50/50 wake/surf, but the reality is we’ll probably be 30/70.
We might occasionally ski, but the slalom wake is not a consideration.
Boat will live on a lift, so it’s more of a tow boat than a house boat. Lots of storage is appreciated but not critical.
Typical crew will be 4 adults and a 2-4 small kids.
Tower will probably never be folded.
I’m mechanically inclined, but I’ll be learning how to work on this boat.
I will be teaching my wife how to drive a boat in whatever we buy.
We plan to keep it for a few years until we’re comfortable with ownership, then trade up to something like a used G21.
I realize this is the worst time in history to buy a boat, but I’m not getting any younger so want to pick something up this off-season. I was focused on ‘12-‘13 SAN210’s for a long time based on what I’ve read here and on the other forums - I’ve never even been in a Nautique, but everybody’s comments on build quality, wake, and versatility attract me. I’m also considering slightly newer A22/T22’s. I sat in a ‘20 T22 yesterday, and I thought it was ok, but I’ve read that the build quality wasn’t the same even two years ago.
Questions:
1. Visiting the Nautique dealer seems like a pointless endeavor since they can’t show me a boat that’s been out of production for seven years. How do I even know what I want if I can’t sit in, drive, and ride behind these slightly older boats? Does demoing a ‘20 A22 or T22 mislead me when I’m realistically looking at a ‘15 or ‘16?
2. Are there any years to avoid on the Axis boats?
3. What other models should I consider? Craz? NXT22? Tigé something?
4. Word is the wedge sucks gas. Realistically, how much more gas vs a 210/Craz/NXT22?
5. Is there a real difference between a paddle wheel vs GPS speed control?
6. How much should the dealer network guide my decision when I have an out-of-warranty boat? There is a Nautique/Supra dealer on my lake, and Malibu, MC, and Tigé dealers close by. I have casual friendships with a few people at the Malibu and MC dealerships.
I appreciate any insight you guys can provide.
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