Clean wake

[RS]

I ride on the sea as I live on a small British island near France (Jersey - the real Jersey!). I am looking to import a wakeboard boat from the US and my price range is up to $35,000 ($25k-$30k would be better).

I need to find a balance between a boat with a nice big clean wake for those glass mornings and something that doesn't bounce around too much when the conditions ain't too perfect. We ride when it's not perfect which is why finding this balance is important. Bounce from swells rather than just wind chop (even small ones) is particularly annoying but there's not much you can do about that.

I have ridden behind an '00 SAN, an '04 SAN, an '04 avalanche, an '02 x-30, old model x-star, x-5's and various modified ski boats including the 17ft outboard behind which I landed my first back roll.

In terms of how the wake feels I prefer the MC and the SAN's to the centurion but I'm not sure whether these are the best boats for all conditions on the sea. The centurion has a very smooth ride even in rougher water but I felt that I would punch through the wake sometimes a bit easier rather than riding up it.

Is getting an SAN for the sea a stupid idea?

[absolutofft]

I guess with living in jersey you don't have to pay any import taxes.

I have heard the SAN's are better in the rough stuff than the old style x-stars (x2). I think tiges are also supposed to be pretty good in the chop but if you have already rode behind a SAN you probably will be pretty set on that. There was a guy who was riding behind a big crownline boat with lots of weight in that threw off a VERY nice wake. Maybe you could look into that as it would be much better in the chop. I think the model number was a crownline 225br.

http://www.crownline.com/models04/models.php?id=225_br_04

[chavez]

RS, look at Tige, Sanger, and maybe a better weighted Centurion. All do well in the rough stuff.

[RS]

absolutofft - yeah, ur right - no import taxes which is why sourcing from the US should be cheaper and give me a lot more choice.
I'll look into that Crownline.

chavez - I think you might be right about the weight in the centurion as it just had stock ballast onboard. Not the way I'd set up the boat...maybe I can persuade the owner to dump some weight on or just bring a few oversize individuals with me next time I ride with him!

[Ralph]

I have a Sanger V210 which throws an awesome wake, similar to a SAN but a bit more rampy, they are pretty low sided, it would be fine while underway but could be trouble while stationary, you might want to look into Ski Supreme V208 they have pretty high sides and a semi v which would be good for the ocean. They are around 35k new.

[khoekz16]

If i were you, i would go with an I/O - i know the conditions on the sea can change rapidly, and i wouldnt want to get stuck in one of those storms with a true wakeboard boat. What i would do is import a newer or brand new I/O. Many are now availible with a ballast system. With that and a couple sacs and a monster tower - you want have a sweet setup. I ride some on lake michigan - which can produce 5' rollers, and 3' chop - with no major storm coming. My boat has no problem handling these conditions (1997 baja islander 208) and many people compliment me on my wake. It is not as pure as the nice wakeboats, but it does the deed nicely - and it never has taken a wave over the front (we have had over 2500 lbs of people, ballasts and gear in the boat). Look into it, and good luck

[Alexmo123]

I'd get an I/o with that pric range.
Maybe like a 2005 Sea Ray with the 4.3L MPI 220 Horse engine with a few fatsacs it will throw a good wake and handle better the the rough water then any ski boat.
my 2 cents
Alex

[Liquidmx]

What about something like a maristar, they are pretty tall?

[RS]

I/O might not be too clever for wake surfing. I am looking at tige 22v riders at the moment - any thoughts?