2014 G23 550 review

[nyryan2001]

Quick review from my perspective.

Coming from a 2013 450 G23 obviously I loved the boat enough to buy another.

Here are the highlights as I see them, lots of confusion as to what they come with options:

LED Cupholders are not standard, mine has none. The cover is the same as the 2013 covers. No engine backlighting or whatever that is on the XR550.

Changes:

Polk Stereo Head unit A+++++. Love this thing, its fully integrated with the link, ALL options and full control from the Link... instead of just volume and next track like with the Clarion. It has bluetooth. Its intuitive to use and sounds great. Great upgrade there.

XR 550 motor uses the same prop as in 2013, but with the bigger bore to accept the 1.25" shaft. No changes there in performace. Amazing performance and acceleration as expected, but what floored me is how quiet and smooth. <---- REALLY QUIET AND SMOOTH. So much of a difference it will amaze you. Seriously. What this translates into is a much more pleasurable experience.

Fuel usage: Its more than the 450, even at lover RPMs. I had the same custom ballast setup installed on this 2014 as I had on the 2013, so its a direct comparison. I would surf the 450 at 3400-3800rpms and get 6-8gph depending on how hard we went. On the 550, with the same weights, 3100-3300rpms...7-10gph 91 premium.

SurfPipe- amazing as you would expect. exhaust is directed down into the prop thrust and it comes up 20ft behind you while surfing. Only time you are even aware of it is when you fall.... as the boat leave you, you are surrounded by a million tiny bubbles that were shot down into the water. A+++ design and A++++ performance.

Only other changes I noted were the batteries have covers on top of them..... and I think thats it.

[schaabj]

Quick review from my perspective.

Coming from a 2013 450 G23 obviously I loved the boat enough to buy another.

Here are the highlights as I see them, lots of confusion as to what they come with options:

LED Cupholders are not standard, mine has none. The cover is the same as the 2013 covers. No engine backlighting or whatever that is on the XR550.

Changes:

Polk Stereo Head unit A+++++. Love this thing, its fully integrated with the link, ALL options and full control from the Link... instead of just volume and next track like with the Clarion. It has bluetooth. Its intuitive to use and sounds great. Great upgrade there.

XR 550 motor uses the same prop as in 2013, but with the bigger bore to accept the 1.25" shaft. No changes there in performace. Amazing performance and acceleration as expected, but what floored me is how quiet and smooth. <---- REALLY QUIET AND SMOOTH. So much of a difference it will amaze you. Seriously. What this translates into is a much more pleasurable experience.

Fuel usage: Its more than the 450, even at lover RPMs. I had the same custom ballast setup installed on this 2014 as I had on the 2013, so its a direct comparison. I would surf the 450 at 3400-3800rpms and get 6-8gph depending on how hard we went. On the 550, with the same weights, 3100-3300rpms...7-10gph 91 premium.

SurfPipe- amazing as you would expect. exhaust is directed down into the prop thrust and it comes up 20ft behind you while surfing. Only time you are even aware of it is when you fall.... as the boat leave you, you are surrounded by a million tiny bubbles that were shot down into the water. A+++ design and A++++ performance.

Only other changes I noted were the batteries have covers on top of them..... and I think thats it.

Are you saying the new boat is more quiet and smooth because you went from the 450 to the 550? or because of the new thicker shaft?

[bsurfin]

I agree 100% with what Ryan said. I have been on a 14 450 G23 and a 14 550 G23. The 550 is much quieter then the 450. The 550 engine is also smoother with less vibration in the interior then the 450.

[nyryan2001]

Are you saying the new boat is more quiet and smooth because you went from the 450 to the 550? or because of the new thicker shaft?

honestly, I dont know. Its like the difference of going from a dodge to a lexus. Not that there is anything wrong with the 2013 450, it was the same as my Malibu and other Vdrives Ive been on. But the difference is staggering...Seems like the XR550 and the tranny/vdrive were perfectly matched for each other. Not sure if its the surf pipe, thicker shaft, or just everything perfectly right on my boat. But me and my crew are blown away by this....moresho than the extra power the 550 certainly brings.

when you go from neutral to fwd idle, sometimes you cant even tell it slipped into gear except you feel the fwd acceleration. its that smooth and quiet. When you can hear it, its like you tapped an Iphone with your pinky nail.

when you are at idle, put it in gear and you hammer down under full load.... it sound faintly like a high quality diesel taking off. Hard to explain. Zero supercharger whistle or anything like that. Very very impressive.

Anyone who has spent decent time on a vdrive wakeboat.... coundt help but be impressed with a smile on their face. Hard to quantify/capture this part. wasnt even expecting it except for som sound supression from the surf pipe.

[Laketexoma]

Nice review. where are the pictures? I'm surprised that you are burning more fuel with the 550. is there any thing else different on the boat interior wise ?

[shawndoggy]

I like your break-in protocol Ryan!

[Laketexoma]

Run it like you stoke it!! She will either go or blow!! Lol.

[nyryan2001]

[nyryan2001]

Also forgot to add.... we got to see our boat being built on the factory line in early Aug.... highly reccomended. Will completely blow you away. The professionalism of the folks there is awesome. The day we arrived the engine was being installed in the hull.

They dont hide that they are a values based organization, and I appreciate that.

My favorite part was the persnnel/human dimension... I talked for a quick minute to the technician who was drilling thru the hull on mine to install the NSS. I asked him how long he had been there... he said 30+years... one of the guys there is a 3rd generation employee. Class act organization.

[schaabj]

honestly, I dont know. Its like the difference of going from a dodge to a lexus. Not that there is anything wrong with the 2013 450, it was the same as my Malibu and other Vdrives Ive been on. But the difference is staggering...Seems like the XR550 and the tranny/vdrive were perfectly matched for each other. Not sure if its the surf pipe, thicker shaft, or just everything perfectly right on my boat. But me and my crew are blown away by this....moresho than the extra power the 550 certainly brings.

when you go from neutral to fwd idle, sometimes you cant even tell it slipped into gear except you feel the fwd acceleration. its that smooth and quiet. When you can hear it, its like you tapped an Iphone with your pinky nail.

when you are at idle, put it in gear and you hammer down under full load.... it sound faintly like a high quality diesel taking off. Hard to explain. Zero supercharger whistle or anything like that. Very very impressive.

Anyone who has spent decent time on a vdrive wakeboat.... coundt help but be impressed with a smile on their face. Hard to quantify/capture this part. wasnt even expecting it except for som sound supression from the surf pipe.

I guess I have nothing to compare to as I have only ridden in my G23 which has the XS550. I am very impressed with it. I am guessing the big change is the 550 from the 450 as I have rode in my uncles 226 with the 409 and was shocked at how loud it is. The G23 runs like a dream and gets up on plane in less than 10 seconds even fully loaded.

Mine is in the shop getting the new prop shaft now as the old one snapped off due to the thickness being insufficient, however I don't think that would make it any quieter. The surf pipe im sure helps but people are saying you can hear the gears from the tranny now instead of engine roar. Do you notice that when your under way?

[bsb4fsu]

Very nice color combo. I love the new graphic with that combo as well. Congratulations. I pick mine up either the end of this week or sometime next week. I also went from the 450 to 550. I'm even more stoked now that I have heard your review.

[fatchance720]

Love the color scheme you picked out, looks great!

[nyryan2001]

the wife picked all the colors and design...

[ironj32]

Sick looking boat! you'll see one very similar to that up here in MN

[iamcdn]

Is it a LINC upgrade that allows the full stereo control or is it just more functionality with the Polk head unit? If software, any idea if we can get this to work on the 2013s?