Want To Buy Mailbu Wakesetter (Help Please)

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Hey,

So I am currently on deployment and want to do my best to search the *USED* Boat selection for a Malibu Wakesetter. My budget is 25,000-30,000 I'd like it to be no older than a 2000. I have been searching through onlyinboards.com and boatboss.com I live in Jacksonville, NC not a big area for Wake Board Boats.

Where would you guys recommend searching? For the budget set is there a different boat you would suggest? I picked the wakesetter off of reviews/ability to upgrade/reliability/wake size/looks. I just think wakesetters are sick and I had the opportunity to ride behind a few and loved them every time.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mgs917 · Addict Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 532 City: Spartanburg

boattrader.com, craigslist.com, ebay.com. I found my boat on craigslist. If you go to google and type in searchtempest, you can use that link to search all of craigslist. That way you do not have to go through city by city.

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

At that price I would also really consider the following:

Mastercraft X-Star/X-2 (2000-2002)
Super Air Nautique 210 (2001-2003)

All three boats will be EXCELLENT options. The wakes may actually be a bit better than the Wakesetter (Hull was changed in mid 00s).

Good luck with your search!

Some other tips (I just went through a similar search with a slightly higher budget):

Use the trailer as an indicator of exposure to Saltwater. Avoid salt water boats like the plague. No matter how much of a financial discount you get.

A well maintained, higher hour boat is typically a better buy than a so-so maintained low hour boat, especially at that age

Pay to have the boat inspected by a knowledgable dealer

Certain states have higher demand than others, and thus prices will fluctuate by upwards of 10-20%

TAKE YOUR TIME AND FIND THE RIGHT BOAT FOR YOU!!!! I had a deal fall through on a beautiful VLX. It was used in brackish water, I tried to justify it but in the end the concerns were simply too great. I was so dissapointed.

A few weeks later, a beautiful, well maintained Axis A22 with all the options I wanted popped up in my back yard. Pulled the trigger 1 week later.

Well worth the wait. Again, DO NOT COMPROMISE until you know its the one for you.

Good luck!

CincyVLX · Criminal Joined: 18 Jan 2012 Posts: 85 City: Cincinnati

That price range should get you a very nice Wakesetter. I paid less than that for my 2001 VLX.

If you are set on getting a malibu, log on to themalibucrew.com. There is a TON of great information on there, and often a few used boats in that price range.

FlyZone CR · Posted: Nov 07, 2012 6:38 am Post subject:

Don't forget onlyinboards.com. And everything that BrtnDan said.

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Awesome, thanks guys. Always good to get advice from those of you who were in the same situation!

augie · Criminal Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 54 City: KC

you should be able to get into a 2004 wake setter vlx for 30k. There's a price jump at 2005 because of the hull change. If you can get a 2005 for 30k, take it.

You make also want to look at malibu vrides. vride = previous model wake setter. In the used market it's hard to get more quality and bang for you buck than a used vride. you might be able to pull a 07 vride for 30k if lucky and will spend less on repairs than a 03-04 wake setter, and the boats are basically identical.

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

If you get the V-ride, know that the hull is the same as the 2004 VLX, which is a thinner boat and thus, has less room for people

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Awesome, great advice! Thanks.

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

Also, get an Axis

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Haha, Axis = No Bu

Just kidding Axis makes a sick boat as well. Just not sure if I'll find in my price range.

tdickman4 · Criminal Joined: 07 Oct 2012 Posts: 82 City: Cincinnati

Axis is just malibu's cheaper model, like supra's cheaper model is moomba. Moombas are nice and you can find them easily in that price range you are looking for

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Hey,

Thanks for that advice, it seems like every Axis is find is in the 60k proce range... I can find Moomba's pretty easy but they usually are direct drives and I'm not the biggest fan of that. Any ideas?

mgs917 · Addict Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 532 City: Spartanburg

Are you sold on the wakesetter, or are you willing to look at other boats? There are plenty of SAN 210 vdrives in the 20000-25000 range. Also moomba lsv's. And some of the early x-star/205.

jtryon · Criminal Joined: 27 Apr 2011 Posts: 54

FlyZone CR · Posted: Nov 21, 2012 10:36 am Post subject:

Sorry for the hijack, but what are base-msrp's for 2013 A20 and A22's?

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Don't know for certain but from what I have seen it's been around 55-65 K

mgs917 · Addict Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 532 City: Spartanburg

You should be able to find something like this in your price range. The seller says he would take 20000 for it on a buy it now. If I didnt just buy a boat for close to the same price and it was closer to me I would seriously consider this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-Mastercraft-X2-Ski-boat-/140890170257?pt=Power_Motorboats&hash=item20cdb56391#ht_1524wt_1167

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Yeah, I spotted that one a while back. It's a nice boat, hopefully I'll find something along those lines available when I get back from deployment.

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Yeah, I spotted that one a while back. It's a nice boat, hopefully I'll find something along those lines available when I get back from deployment.

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

Tell ya what. Just buy my Axis a22 for $45k

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

I would love to, just a bit out of my range!