Malibu v Moomba v Centurion

[CarZin]

I am getting a little overwhelmed with the boating options out there, and need some help sorting all of this out and figuring what is a real value and what isnt...

My mission is to get a boat that will be a solid wake boarding and wake surfing boat. I dont have a lot of experience with today's boats, and am having a hard time deciding what boat will give me the best bang for my buck.

My range is 30-40k.

My plan is to buy a boat with 10% down, finance for 15 years, and then trade out every 2-3 years. I want to basically pay down the 2-3 year depreciation with the 10% down and 2 years of finance payments, then start all over again. So that means that resale value really means something. I am looking at 3-4 year old boats, which the steepest depreciation will have already happened.

With that said, I know Malibu is going to probably be the best, then Moomba, then Centurion. But not having experience in any of these besides Malibu, I am not sure what to expect with the other brands. I am willing to look at other brands as well.

I know wake surfing is really important to me, so I want the automatic ballists.

It seems I can get 2007-2008 centurions all day for 30-35. They seem to be the value boat, but I think the interiors are a bit bland. The Moomba 2008-2009 I can get for around 35-40k with no issue. The Malibus are the top, and think I'd have to spend every bit of 40k to get a 2007.

I want a boat that is a comfortable cruiser as well. This boat will be on a large lake, and I want non wakeboarders to have no problem spending the day on the boat.

Operating costs arent a huge factor. I am an aircraft owner, and this boat is going to be a breeze in every way compared to the aircraft.

All comments really appreciated.

[Chattwake]

I owned a 2007 Malibu VLX. It was a great boat and you should be able to find one, well optioned, for low 40's.

You should consider looking at used Axis A22's as well. You can find 2010 A22's, well optioned, for close to 40k. I think my local dealer has one on consignment if you want to call her - Joyce - Marine Outfitters - 423 336 1088. If you're not in the Chattanooga area, she can't sell you a new boat, but she can sell you a used one.

Both the VLX and A22 produce a great wakesurf wave. The A22 has factory automatic ballast, but also comes plumbed and ready to add additional ballast bags (which you will need for a really nice wave behind any boat).

[CarZin]

Thank you for the reply. 2010 models are probably a little too new for me. In order for my plan to work out (new boat every 2-3 years), I need to have the big depreciation out of the way, so my 10% down and 2 years of payments can basically keep up with the value (+/- a couple thousand).

I would love to find a good VLX in the low 40s. The pickings are kinda slim in my area (even 500 miles out). Its hard to find any malibu below 50k

[Chattwake]

Gotcha. You should check into financing options too. Depending on the lender, you can get much better rates on boats that are only a few years old.

If you can get a newer boat that's under market value (and that's a big "if"), even if the newer boat depreciates more than an older boat over the same amount of time, if you buy an older boat at market value, you end up being in the same place in 3-4 years on both. It really just depends on what kind of deal you can get.

[CarZin]

Is there a preferred lender out there for boat loans? I am hitting my local bank first (realizing I probably wont be using them).

[Chattwake]

Credit unions are great. Bank of America is also offering great rates right now, buy they are requiring 20-25% down on some of their loans.

[Chattwake]

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/boa/2199970393.html

'06 vlx for 38k.

[CarZin]

That is a great find! I am in the Raleigh NC, so that is not out of my reach. I wonder what I should offer

as to the financing, I really called several places that I hated, then I found newcoast and spoke with Stewart Orgain. Awesome dude, and he gave me a lot of helpful info. Right now, on a sub 50k loan, they should be able to do 6.25 on 15 years with 10% down.

[J-Ro]

I used Newcoast recently. If you can get 6.25 that is amazing. Be careful because they do bait a little. IE that rate may be for 20% down.

[elc_ed]

I know I don't post on this site much but I was browsing through here and thought this would be helpful. My bank actually matched the costco member rate.
Refinancing rates are a bit lower - about the lowest I have seen.
https://www.essexcredit.com/costco/

[Jon]

The Moomba and Centurion will be your better rough water ride because of their deeper V's and adjustable wakeplate. . Every Malibu I have been in beats you to death because of their flat hulls. Those two boats will also be your better stock surf wakes. I am a Moomba fan because of their value. But I would be looking for a 2006-2008 Mobius LSV. And although it is sometimes regional, Moomba has a great resale value. People will tell you different but run the numbers. Moomba is normally among the top 3 in resale from region to region. Good luck in your search.

[CarZin]

^ Thats exactly some of the detail I was looking for. Many thanks! The resale is really important to me. I want to be able to turn the boat over and keep it fresh. This is coming from someone who has put 260k miles on his car, and still loves it

What do you think of this one?

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2008-MOOMBA-23-XLV-Gravity-Games-96877792

[Chattwake]

You need to ride behind both boats. Everyone has different tastes and opinions. I personally thought the VLX rode well in chop, and produced a great surf wave and wake.

[CarZin]

Yeah, here's the thing. I am not a 'wake boarder'. I grew up on the lake, ski well, and can wakeboard, but I'm not good enough to know what would suit my style. I actually enjoy having a boat that I can pull others. Thats more than half the fun for me. So, I suspect my time will be wake surfing and pulling others. I am doing my best to get the best of all worlds...

I have come across a great deal on a Supra. I saw my first Supra in person last week, and was really impressed with the fit and finish (the wife liked it the best of all the boats she looked it).

I grew up with a 1964 Chris Craft Super Sport

[Chattwake]

CarZin,

My suggestion then is to take one of your friends who's a really good rider with you when you look at these boats. Someone who's spent a lot of time in and behind a variety of wakeboats will have a lot of helpful insight. The last thing you want to do is buy a boat that will not produce a wake that people want to hit all the time and/or will be a pain to operate, service, store, trailer, or sell when you decide to upgrade later.

[buckthis]

Carzin, first, I have not looked at interest rates for a while but I got my boat at 4.5% and no money down at my credit union, this was in Sept. so, I guess the rates might have gone up since then. You should get the VLX because it will keep its value and there is a huge storage compartment in the back that you will be able to fill up with an auxiliary tank for surfing, just make sure all eight water pumps are working to fill up and empty the four ballast tanks.

[j4rowell]

Many of the larger banks you look at will lend 80% to value only meaning you have to put 20% down. When I say "Value" I dont actually mean it. It's a term banks use but really what they are looking at is purchase price. And by larger banks I mean PNC, Chase, BOA, ect...

The rates which I can lend at right now are 8.1% and the boat has to be newer than an 04. Stay away from PNC if possible due to the high APR. The only advantage to my employer (PNC) is turn around time. You will often have an answer in a matter of a couple hours.

If you are buying from a private seller just get them to write a higher priced sales agreement. Unethical but I've seen it down many times before.

Moomba IMO, but as Chat knows I'm a MC owner so there's a little bias there.

[Chattwake]

I'd look to your local credit unions. Right now, Tennessee Valley credit union is offering 5% on boats less than 3 years old for 12-15 year terms. The rate is a little higher on older boats, but it's less than 7%.

The suggestion that you get a seller to write a higher purchase price on a bill of sale could come back to bite you when it's time to register the boat and pay taxes. I've personally had to represent several clients and get them out of serious hot water due to such shenanigans.

[Chattwake]

j4rowell, MC makes a great boat, and an '09 X2 is something to be proud of. Post up some pics when you get a chance.

[STANG KILLA SS]

i did exactly what you did. with moomba LSVs.
they offered me for trade in what i paid for 03 LSV and bought another newer one. basically used it for the 2 years for free. (intrest and gas of course)

[CarZin]

I've got a couple options now, and I've never negotiated the price on a boat before...

Option #1 is a new 2009 Supra 21V listed at 52,500. The advantages of this boat is that it is fairly loaded, brand new, and would carry the full warranty. The downside is that the boat is priced too high for it to work with my 'replace the boat every 3 years theory.' once I put 100 hours on it, there isnt going to be much difference in the price between a boat with 100 or 200 hours. The MOST I would pay for this boat would be 46,000, but I have no clue if they would take that.

Option #2 is a 2009 Supra 21V listed at 39k. It is owned my a pro rider. The boat only has 75 hours on it, and I believe was already reconditioned by the factory because they were getting special diagnostic information from the boat by the rider. It is priced well below retail, and is mint. I suspect I might be able to get $1000 off the price (its already so low).

The boats are identical in just about every way. I would like the new boat, but what do you think my chances are getting 13-15% off the list price? They have obviously had it for a long time and have been unable to sell it.

[h2obug]

Sent you pm.

[CarZin]

Got the Supra Well, I am in the process of accepting it. Getting the inspection done next week. Awesome awesome deal. Way below book value, and the boat looks to be brand new with almost all the options