All purpose puller and lake cruiser

[cooperfly]

Currently have a 225 CCR Crownline that I ski with and started wakeboarding behind. I also started pulling my kids on skis and kneeboard.

Looking for a boat that can handle chop and also a good puller. We do not ski all day long but normally in the am and afternoon. I have never owned a direct drive but have drove a couple. But also want to be able to go up and down the lake without getting beat to death.

Any suggestions

[Chattwake]

If you wakeboard alot, got with a vdrive 23footer. Something like an LSV, 230, or X35/45. What are you looking to spend and where are you located?

[cooperfly]

Located in Iowa - lake get's pretty rough during the day

Looking at 20 - 25K spend

Just started wakeboarding but the kids are starting more watersports. So I wanted a larger boat to handle the chop but do not want to give up the watersports.

[Chattwake]

That's a pretty tough price range for a vdrive. 25-30k would be better. A wakeboard boat typically has a much deeper v than a ski boat and can take chop pretty well. An older malibu 23 lsv would probably be close to your price range and ride fairly well.

[cooperfly]

Thanks for the info and reply

[cooperfly]

found a couple 01's and the newer ones are pricey. not sure I am a fan of the large wing / tower on the newer ones.

looks like a nice boat

[brew]

[Chattwake]

The OP stated that he wanted a dd type ski boat. That's why I referred him to a vd because they ride much better than the typical dd, which are usually cross overs or true ski boats and have flatter hulls than the comparable wakeboat.

I never said that a vdrive will ride as well as an i/o in chop. I agree that an i/o will ride better than a typical vd in chop.

[brew]

Gotcha, I read ski boat and was thinking I/O.

Definitely stay away from direct drives. I had a D/D Mastercraft as my last boat and it beat you up when the water got rough. A vdrive will be an improvement, but ride quality will still suffer for the most part.

[cooperfly]

I am open to all suggestions, I have owned outboards and I/O's and have done watersports behind all of them. Just looking for that overall boat that has everything for running up and down the lake to pulling kids and me.

The vdrive has me interested but I do not want to get beat to death on a choppy lake

[Chattwake]

Your problem is the price range. If you want a nice vdive that's going to ride well, be reliable, have perfect pass, you should up what you're willing to spend a bit.

A Supra 24ssv is a nice big boat that handles chop well, that will throw a great wake, and can pull anything you throw behind it. It won't be the best ski boat because it will have a larger wake even with no ballast.

If you don't like the malibu illusion tower, check out an older mastercraft x30. It is an pretty good all around boat. It doesn't have the absolute best wb wake, but it's still plenty nice.

There are some older cross over nautiques that would probably make you happy. You can probably find an older Super Air 226 for a reasonable price. Check out www.planetnautique.com and look over the classifieds.

[cooperfly]

what can you tell me about a Mastercraft 230 VRS Maristar - year 2000

[brew]

To be perfectly honest if wakeboarding doesn't rank very high on your list (which it doesn't appear to) of things to do, you would be much happier with a nice I/O. Plus you can get a newer, fairly nice I/O in that range.

As far as V-drives, in that price range you can find X-Star's, SAN 210's, Wakesetter's, etc. from 98-01 that most people on this board would be perfectly happy with. However, none of those boats are going to be good open water cruising boats. They will get you from point A to point B, but you're not going to want to run up and down the lake on them.

[Okie Boarder]

You might consider sticking with the boat you have and try weighting it for a beter wake. The only caveat would be if you want to surf. If you want to get more serious about watersports, the "tow boats" are the way to go. No matter how you slice it, they will have a rougher ride and you won't be able to fly across the lake like you're used to. Most of the people we know with inboards don't do that anymore and they will cruise across the lake like we do...kinda slow and easy.

[Grit dog]

[Sandbagger]

I have a 07 VLX and it is an OK rough rider at best. On really choppy days I can cruise comfortably at 20 to 25 MPH, any faster and it can beat you up pretty good. But, I do not do that much cruising anyway, if we are running the boat we are wakeboarding, if water is rough I will let the kids tube. Oh yea, if you mainly ski, a vdrive probably will not make you real happy, stick to a direct drive.

[cooperfly]

I did try to surf last year for the first time and I was hooked. I am not a big wakeboarder but just starting to learn. The other advantage of the boat as they must have a lower profile as everyone I have contacted is stating that they will fit under a normal garage door.

But ride and overall purpose is my main concern. The kids are doing more watersports so I want to stay with something that can keep them progressing also.

I appreciate all the feedback and help

[Okie Boarder]

If you're wanting to get more serious, allow the kids to progress, surf, and start having a larger percentage of your time used doing watersports, you're probably ready to transition to an inboard. Just be aware that you will deal with a rougher ride "cruising" across the lake when it is choppy.