Malibu and nautique

[cguse13]

Ok I sold my master craft was pretty heart set on getting a nautique because I have never owned one... However I found a decked out vride with all the wake setter goodies illusions tower and manual wedge. Guy wants 34k for an 05(it's super clean feel like its more like a 31k boat but prob cleanest used boat I have ever seen).

Then as seen on here there is a 2001 super air for 25ish needed what appears to be at least interior work with gt40 motor. - in for sale forum - I have not seen his boat in person.

Question is what am a getting for 10k more other than a boat that doesn't need interior work? Or maybe better off asking y go nautique

All I do is surf and wake board no skiing

I know there will be the bash of its a Malibu, but I don't personally know anyone local here in Tulsa ok with a nautique to even get a feel for one so using your knowledge as a sounding board

Typical weekend 1 kid 4 adults

- thanks guys

[mike32]

I love my 02sante, that's with four adults three kids under seven.

[cguse13]

Yeah I'm not hugely worried about room previous boats have all been direct drive so I'm sure a vdrive will feel like a kingdom.

I had the old a frame looking tower on my master craft and was a pain to fold down. I like the split idea of the nautique towers but the illusions does look simpler.

Frankly I am just one confused soul on this

[biggator]

I have (and am trading) a Malibu LSV.. can't say enough good things about it. That said, between a vride and a SAN210 - I'd get the SAN.. I'd try to find one a few years newer maybe, but it's a better wake boat than the vride.

[migs]

There's an 04 210 on here for 34.5 that looks SICK -which clowns on any vride out there

[Laketexoma]

I had a 05 23lsv boat never ran right. Always had little problems with it. I just think I had a lemmon, I sold it and went back to a 230 now a g23. My friend has a vride, its a nice boat but there is no comarison to the nautique wake. The other thing is the vride was a entry level boat, so a lot of the fit and finish just is not there. Good luck with your purchase, but you cant go wrong with a nautique.

[Mikeski]

Assuming you are looking at an older 210 vs a V-Ride/older VLX. Both are great boats but the wakes are significantly different and this is what I would base my decision on. The 210 wake is a bit more peaky, a bit more difficult to negotiate but will reward with a large vertical boot once you get it figured out. The VLX (older boat) wake is much more rampy and easier to negotiate but you will find yourself loading it up much more than the 210 as you get better. Both are great boats, I have friends with both and each of them love their own boats. I would say the VLX is a little more forgiving to beginner-intermediate riders.

I have heard the newer 210/220/230 boats have rampier-more forgiving wakes and would probably be a better choice if you can afford one.

[MikeC]

In 2005 the Vride hull was using the old VLX hull, (I can't remember the exact year of the switchover) so you are already getting an older technology hull even though it's in a 2005 boat.

I had a deal cut on a new Vride in 2005 (47k out the door, fully loaded) but I had driven a Nautique and I couldn't get over the difference in quality of materials and how much more solid the Nautique felt. In the end I paid more for a Nautique, and I'm glad I did. While I probably would have been happy with the Vride, I don't think I would be happy enough to keep it as long as I have kept my Nautique.

[DanielC]

Reality is, you need to get a drysuit, ride behind both boats, and drive both boats to get YOUR answer.

[swc5150]

You simply won't find the same quality in a Bu as you will in a Nautique. However, an apples comparison Nautique will also cost considerably more. I'm not saying Bu's aren't really nice boats, they just aren't quite up to Nautique spec, and the price reflects that reality. I agree with DC that you just need to go drive/ride them. If you're looking in that mid-$30k range too, don't limit yourself to just these two boats. You could find a nice SAN out there, if you decide Nautique is the way to go for you. With a Nautique, you'd also get a PCM engine

[Chexi]

The surf wave will be cleaner on the Bu and I think the storage is a bit better and the boat a little roomier. The wakeboard wake on the SAN is world class, but it's also a widowmaker, or at least a knee killer. Casing the wake is brutal. Don't get me wrong, I love my 2000 SAN and intend to keep it for a very long time, but depending on your and your family's skill level, a VLX/V-ride could be a good all around boat. The PCM engine in the SAN is generally regarded as superior to and less likely to cause problems than the engine in the Bu.

[Double D]

It all comes down to quality and how well they are put together. Correct Correct is top notch and the best, MC is a very close second and BU, hmmmmm.... a far away third, IMHO... Good Luck!!

[Mikeski]

Wow, so many owner goggles...

I frequently drive, ski, and wakeboard behind the Malibu product. It is different than a Nautique but not necessarily inferior in my opinion. Historically they had inferior design and fiberglass but the difference is not clear these days. I have been in a few Nautiques that I would consider inferior design and fiberglass in the past few years. I find Malibu's electrical and plumbing systems to be superior to those systems in a Nautique. It also depends on the year and boat model, it's not clear across the board as many here believe. It would be interesting to see what kind of answers you get on the Malibu discussion board.

[biggator]

Wow, so many owner goggles...

I frequently drive, ski, and wakeboard behind the Malibu product. It is different than a Nautique but not necessarily inferior in my opinion. Historically they had inferior design and fiberglass but the difference is not clear these days. I have been in a few Nautiques that I would consider inferior design and fiberglass in the past few years. I find Malibu's electrical and plumbing systems to be superior to those systems in a Nautique. It also depends on the year and boat model, it's not clear across the board as many here believe. It would be interesting to see what kind of answers you get on the Malibu discussion board.

I agree with this.. my Bu has been a fantastic boat.

[swc5150]

Wow, so many owner goggles...

I frequently drive, ski, and wakeboard behind the Malibu product. It is different than a Nautique but not necessarily inferior in my opinion. Historically they had inferior design and fiberglass but the difference is not clear these days. I have been in a few Nautiques that I would consider inferior design and fiberglass in the past few years. I find Malibu's electrical and plumbing systems to be superior to those systems in a Nautique. It also depends on the year and boat model, it's not clear across the board as many here believe. It would be interesting to see what kind of answers you get on the Malibu discussion board.

I personally love to ski and drive the Bu TXi, I'm not bashing them at all. It's my second choice for a new tow boat (maybe my first with 200 pricing!). I just don't know how anyone couldn't see that the carpet isn't as thick, the vinyl isn't as dense, the chrome accents (not including the name) are plastic glued on, versus real metal screwed into the deck. A tour of the CC factory is a big eye opener for the high-cost/quality materials and components that go into their line. Bu's are less expensive for a reason, but that doesn't not mean they are not great boats.