G23 450 w/ 17" prop vs G23 w/ 550

[ironj32]

Not sure if anyone else has been curious to know how the two compare, but I know I was. Finally got out today in a new 450, with the 2:1 tranny and 17" prop. I found that the new setup of the 450 can handle about 400 more pounds than the previous model, and gets to speed quicker as well. As for how it stacks up against the 550...not even close. I loaded up the 2014 450 with the same ballast setup I run in my 2013 550. After a couple of different tries, we ultimately had to empty out about 800-1000 pounds. You could definitely tell in the size of the wake (don't get me wrong, it's still bigger than everything else out there, that I've been in). I took note of where bottom of the G23 emblem was as compared to where mine is to the water line...the 450 is about 6" higher out of the water.

Hopefully this helps those who had the same question as I.

[bsurfin]

Not sure if anyone else has been curious to know how the two compare, but I know I was. Finally got out today in a new 450, with the 2:1 tranny and 17" prop. I found that the new setup of the 450 can handle about 400 more pounds than the previous model, and gets to speed quicker as well. As for how it stacks up against the 550...not even close. I loaded up the 2014 450 with the same ballast setup I run in my 2013 550. After a couple of different tries, we ultimately had to empty out about 800-1000 pounds. You could definitely tell in the size of the wake (don't get me wrong, it's still bigger than everything else out there, that I've been in). I took note of where bottom of the G23 emblem was as compared to where mine is to the water line...the 450 is about 6" higher out of the water.

Hopefully this helps those who had the same question as I.

thats great info. I have spent time on both the 14 450 and the 14 550 but it was hard to tell as we were only using stock ballast. The 550 is just so silky smooth and quiet I love it.

[schaabj]

Not sure if anyone else has been curious to know how the two compare, but I know I was. Finally got out today in a new 450, with the 2:1 tranny and 17" prop. I found that the new setup of the 450 can handle about 400 more pounds than the previous model, and gets to speed quicker as well. As for how it stacks up against the 550...not even close. I loaded up the 2014 450 with the same ballast setup I run in my 2013 550. After a couple of different tries, we ultimately had to empty out about 800-1000 pounds. You could definitely tell in the size of the wake (don't get me wrong, it's still bigger than everything else out there, that I've been in). I took note of where bottom of the G23 emblem was as compared to where mine is to the water line...the 450 is about 6" higher out of the water.

Hopefully this helps those who had the same question as I.

Do you mean the G23 emblem is 6" higher out of the water with the 450 in it with empty ballast than a 550 is with empty ballast?

[core-rider]

I'm not sure if I would trust the the G23 emblem for measurements since the graphis changed this year. I would go off of something that was more permenant like a hull mold line or rubrail as they haven't changed and won't change. The graphic could be moved slightly with each boat.

[ironj32]

I'm not sure if I would trust the the G23 emblem for measurements since the graphis changed this year. I would go off of something that was more permenant like a hull mold line or rubrail as they haven't changed and won't change. The graphic could be moved slightly with each boat.

Very true. I hadn't thought of that. I would expect that they have a standard location, but it's gotta be put on manually, so there is definitely room for variance between every boat.

[nyryan2001]

Another data point I will add here is about fuel usage on the 550 vs 450 (2013 on a 2315).... I'd say its easily 20-25% more with the 550.

Last night I burned approx 35gals in 2hrs 45mins. So I was at about 12gals per hour. Premium, pure gas no ethanol.


Now, with that being said, I was going heavy, heavier that the 450 could have done, and the 550 made it look easy.


Make no mistakes, you will not save gas by going with the 550, unless you intend to use your G for light duty perhaps. AMAZING engine.

[ironj32]

^^^^No doubt^^^^

I'm burning through 15-17 gallons/hr, about 4 days a week. Granted, the water has been about 85 degrees, so there is a lot of new tricks being tried...which means there is A LOT of falling going on.

[bsurfin]

thats amazing how much gas these things burn lol. Gotta pay to play!

[s_kelley2000]

Gotta pay to play!

Haha I was just going to say the same thing but you beat me to it. 35 gallons is my whole tank and that is about 10 hours of boarding with 2K of ballast. Compared to a G, those old school 210s are downright efficient, even with a Python haha.

[bsurfin]

Haha I was just going to say the same thing but you beat me to it. 35 gallons is my whole tank and that is about 10 hours of boarding with 2K of ballast. Compared to a G, those old school 210s are downright efficient, even with a Python haha.

I know what you mean. My 2012 Tige RZR would go through about 25 gallons in 8-10 hours of full ballast surfing and wakeboarding. With lots of people falling lol...cuz were not that good.

[vision]

^^^^No doubt^^^^

I'm burning through 15-17 gallons/hr, about 4 days a week. Granted, the water has been about 85 degrees, so there is a lot of new tricks being tried...which means there is A LOT of falling going on.

I am sure heavily ballasted the wake is a monster!

I am lucky that I am averaging 6.1 GPH over 160 hours with the 450. But we never ride above stock ballast. And of course about 15% of that time is just cruising, and maybe 5% is surfing.

The 550 is a beast and a wonderful engine. But if you never go over stock ballast, I would still vote for the 450.

Still waiting for a CVT married to the 450 or even the 409. Probably not in my lifetime.

[bsurfin]

I am sure heavily ballasted the wake is a monster!

I am lucky that I am averaging 6.1 GPH over 160 hours with the 450. But we never ride above stock ballast. And of course about 15% of that time is just cruising, and maybe 5% is surfing.

The 550 is a beast and a wonderful engine. But if you never go over stock ballast, I would still vote for the 450.

Still waiting for a CVT married to the 450 or even the 409. Probably not in my lifetime.

I agree with your statement. I would love to see a CVT trans setup.

[ers906]

I am at 6.5-7 gal/hr with the 550. Not sure if it is because I rarely load up over stock ballast, or if I am the only one in my group of riders that constantly falls (the rest just seem to always nail their tricks). I rarely go over 25 mph while empty, and do my best to take it easy on the engine (fuel bill) when ballast is full. Other than that, have no idea why my experience is different than other 550 owners

[vision]

I am at 6.5-7 gal/hr with the 550. Not sure if it is because I rarely load up over stock ballast, or if I am the only one in my group of riders that constantly falls (the rest just seem to always nail their tricks). I rarely go over 25 mph while empty, and do my best to take it easy on the engine (fuel bill) when ballast is full. Other than that, have no idea why my experience is different than other 550 owners

That is good info and shows that the 550 is only burning 10%-15% more fuel with similar loads. That's is preety good considering the extra 100 HP and torque.

[Nordicron]

I've heard these fuel numbers an I've heard people from other manufactures try to use these high numbers to try and say there is something wrong with the G that it burns so much fuel. People need to realize that it's simple physics. Yeah the guy with the Tige may burn 5 gals a hour but the guy with the G and factory ballast full is pushing twice the weight as the little baby Tige! It's true park a G behind any other boat from an other manufacture and it looks like a dingy beside a G! Well maybe a x-80 wouldn't!
A G with full factory is what? 5400 + 2800=8,200lbs! Make a Tige,MC,Bu that heavy and see how much fuel you burn! Now if you can add another couple thousand pounds like iron J does and see how much you burn!