new boat decisions

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

i have been actively looking for a boat and if i can find the right deal may buy this year or wait until the boat show which will come to my area in february, unless i venture out to so cal where i family and they have a few more shows left. i have been looking at the malibu ride xti because i like the seating configuration along with the malibu vride. i have also looked at the moomba outback lsv, mobius ls and mobius lsv as other possible options. i have also been looking at possibly a used malibu somewhere between 2002-2005 range if the price is right. i know malibu is a better boat, but does moomba hold it's own? i plan on keeping the boat about 6-10 years depending on if i buy used or new. should i go ahead and buy used since this would be my first boat ownership and what kind of hit should i expect on value if i was to buy new?
i have snowboarded for 10 years and wakeboarded behind friends boats when i get a ride. i definately plan to use this as much as i can living in the vegas area and wakeboarding is the pretty much the only thing i will do. i don't think sliders are a possibililty and wake surfing doesn't interest me. i plan on test driving boats to be sure on me decision and also check to see how the dealer acts and appreciates its customers because that is a big factor. i don't want to be left in the dark when i have a problem. does anyone have other suggestions that i may have not looked into? when is good time to purchase to get the best deal? sorry for so many questions. i have also considered tige, but after pm'ing shawn madison it seems like they just have nifty name. thanks for the help.

Chattwake · Posted: May 11, 2007 4:05 am Post subject:

vlx - nuff said.

Bambamski · Posted: May 11, 2007 5:21 am Post subject:

Sounds like some of the boats you're looking at are pretty comparable. Vride and and the moomba lines are "budget" line boats, so they aren't as well equipped as the higher ends boats. Moomba owners certainly defend their boats and I've never heard a Moomba owner complain about the quality or have any real issues with their boats. If you're looking new, I would definitely test them all and pick which one suites you the best. Can't go wrong with anything in that price range really.

Chattwake · Posted: May 11, 2007 5:54 am Post subject:

If you want a malibu at a steal of a deal call Doug at www.overboardwatersports.com - tell him Tom referred you. Don't worry, they ship anywhere.

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

I would look at Supras, Centurions and Sanger as well. Based on the boats you are looking at it seems value is important and I think those brands offer pretty good bang for the buck in addition to the ones you have mentioned. For the most part there is not much difference in the power trains between the boats and it will boil down to the options, price, wake shape, and customer service of your dealer.

If I was buying new I would really give Supra a good look.

I would not buy a rig without perfect pass and get as much automated ballast as possible.

This site will be pretty helpful to scan the used market if you want to that route.

http://www.onlyinboards.com/

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

being that this is my first boat i don't want to spend a whole lot of money and damage something if that was to happen. i also have to consider storage which is an additional 100-150 for indoor storage so that also takes out some of the more expensive boats. i am definately leaning more towards a used malibu, but will check out some of the other boats mentioned.

02lightning
vlx is more then i want to spend for my first boat.

bmartin
supra is a consideration, but after options they get higher in price.

onlyinboards · Criminal Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 84

this looks like a highly motivated seller:
http://onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=936591

not sure what your budget is though.... If it's 40k, you can definitley find a VLX in that range. I think you'll want to look for '04s as I think that is when the new hull design came out.... someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

http://www.boattraderonline.com/caddetail.html?/ad-cache/6/0/8/87849708.htm
40k VLX

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

is this a good boat?

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/4/2/86493842.htm

CDawg · Outlaw Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 130 City: Bellevue

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

the ones in my area are tige, supra, moomba, malibu, master craft, centurion and possibly a few others i may not know about. i know there is not a correct craft dealer though.

pilot_ryder · Posted: May 11, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject:

just check all basic entrance models from each and decide for yourself

boarditup · Addict Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 731 City: Allendale, MI

Disclosure: I am selling my 2005 X-9 and buying a '07 or '08 X-1.

I have been around the boating industry for many years. I started in 1984. The people who have the worst experience are the ones sniffing out the "deal." While one in a hundred have bragging rights, most get what they paid for - a discount deal on a boat that should have been discounted even more. A potential buyer of my boat saw one on e-bay $3,000 less than mine. He bought it. Good deal? $6,000 later, he is still not having a good time. The boat was sunk at the dock. Still looked great in the photographs and ran decent on the test drive. Computer, alterntor, starter, MPI system, tranny, stereo, some gauges, and it still smells of funky water.

Buy what you really want and don't chase the last dollar or the dollars will chase your boat around. The local dealer is your best resource. Take care of them and they should take care of you. Select the dealer first, then the boat.

Good luck.

onlyinboards · Criminal Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 84

boarditup's got a point. I never had the luxury of living close to any inboard dealer so that's never been an option for me. I think that the 1 in a 100 numbers might be a little exaggerated though.

There are good deals out there but if you see a boat that sounds too good to be true then it is. this boat just got posted on the site, not a bad deal:

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=1200731

Also, consider that the price that they list is always the price they want to get for the boat. I know of a great boat that just sold on the site.. 2003 SAN TE for 35k. Motivated seller, good boat, great price. (but it was listed for 37.5k originally).

Anyway, i ramble... there is a happy medium between what i'm saying and boarditup. Good service is a huge bonus too! But how do you figure out which dealer is going to give you good service? If you are in there looking for a boat, won't they all seem good and be real nice?

krbaugh · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 758 City: Edwardsville

This was my demo the dealer just reduced the price
full warranty
http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=791968

onlyinboards · Criminal Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 84

sorry, that link i posted above, the boat sold....

CDawg · Outlaw Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 130 City: Bellevue

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

yesterday i got to test drive a sanger and centurion at a boat show out in california. the centurion with 500lbs of mid ballast and no wake plate put out a pretty good wake. with no ballast the wake was small, but something that would be perfect for my wife to start out on.
when driving the sanger they wouldn't load it with ballast and it also didn't have a wake plate so i could not get to see what kind of wake it had, but it drove really good in the semi-rough water. the ride seemed better then the centurion, but just couldn't see the wake. they said they didn't want to load it with ballast because it would get the inside wet when slowing down and other people will be riding in it.

my local malibu dealer is getting a vride in soon, so hopefully i can get to test that one out and check to see how that performs. next i will check out a moomba outback v which has been at my local supra/moomba dealer.

i talked to a correct craft dealer at the boat and they said that i could probably get me into a san210 for 50k +/- 1k or 2k with the options i was looking at. the only problem is that there is no local correct craft dealer in my area. i would wait save up a hefty down payment for next year and just get that boat if that was the case.

never would of thought buying a boat would be such a hard decision.

Meltz · Criminal Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 85 City: Fairfield, Ca

For the price, I couldn't buy anything but Centurion. Mastercraft, Malibu, Correct, etc had better be leaps & bounds better than my Cent to warrant those price tags. I'm never going to be a competition wakeboarder, and I don't need to have the biggest bling on the lake. For my recreational needs, I couldn't justify the extra expense. I'm sure those other boats are outstanding, but it's all what you want/need.

krbaugh · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 758 City: Edwardsville

"they said they didn't want to load it with ballast because it would get the inside wet when slowing down and other people will be riding in it. "
Question

What Centurion did you ride in?

You are doing the right thing test the ones you are interested in

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

krbaugh · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 758 City: Edwardsville

"it would get the inside wet when slowing down "
I have not been in anything but barerfoot Sangers but I can't imagine that this is true? Maybe some Sanger guys could chime in on that.

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

after searching this site i may end up with a new sanger 215 or 210 depending the price i get. i have seen a lot of good reviews of that boat and seeing that rode so good through rough water i may pull the trigger on it. the dealer that is the closest to me in california is offering 5.49% financing and no payments for 6 months.

on the other side, the closest correct craft dealer has a 03 and 04 correct craft 206 for 38k or 39k, but it looks like they are direct drive and not v-drive.

Epic · Addict Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 765

Chattwake · Posted: May 15, 2007 8:01 am Post subject:

Damn, I was just making a comment. If he wants more info on a vlx he can go to malibu's website or look at the other trillion threads on this forum related to Malibu's boats. Confused

onlyinboards · Criminal Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 84

40k for a 24ve Might be worth a test drive.

http://onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=1200726

brew · Posted: May 15, 2007 2:21 pm Post subject:

You should also consider the conditions that you will be riding in. The boats that you have listed are going to handle significantly different if you spend a lot of time in choppy water. If you are on glass all of the time, than it is not a concern. If you like to cruise a lot, than that should also play into your decision. In your price range you can cover the full gamet of boats from hardcore wakeboarding to an all around family boat.

I would definitely go used if this is your first inboard. You will not get hit with the huge depreciation if six months from now you decide that you don't like the boat. Inboards are not for everybody, especially those that spend a lot of time in rough water or just cruising with the family.

brew · Posted: May 15, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject:

...
Damn, double posts.

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

onlyinboards
i have seen that boat as i visit the boulder boats site frequently because they have an outback v i had my eye on. i think the 24v is too big of a boat for me and i am also limited in the size since the truck i will use to two has a 5k tow limit and i know the 24v is more then that.

brew
my local lake is lake mead which can get choppy and during the test rides i have done so far the sanger v215 had a better ride in the chop, but there is no local sanger dealer in my area so i run the risk of traveling 300+ miles to closet dealer. there are mercury service centers in my area though which will work with the motor.

Chattwake · Posted: May 16, 2007 4:43 am Post subject:

You can get a 2 year old VLX for in the low 40's if you look hard enough.

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

would an 03 or 04 correct craft 206 direct drive be a decent boat compared to the boats mentioned?

Chattwake · Posted: May 17, 2007 4:19 am Post subject:

Dude, why don't you call the guy I told you about at www.overboardwatersports.com and ask what he can get you into a vride or VTX for. I'll bet he can get you in a new malibu, or a leftover, for your price range. I know that they have a blue vride on the lot that they are looking to move quick. Call (865) 675 3800 and ask for Doug or Randy.

When I talked to Randy last weekend, he mentioned that he needed to move that Vride. If you're serious about getting a boat, call and see what they can do for you.

ikonxone · Criminal Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 72 City: Henderson

02lightning

called and left a message for doug. my local malibu dealer is getting a v-ride into their dealership in about 2 weeks. i would have to compare shipping versus my local dealers price. the blue one would be perfect though.

Chattwake · Posted: May 17, 2007 12:06 pm Post subject:

I've seen the blue one on two occasions, it's freaking amazing. If I were to get a vride, that would be the one. If Doug doesn't call u back, ask for Randy.