G23 versus 230?

[st68]

So I have been looking at the Nautiques more closely for potential purchase and I am trying to understand the difference between the new G23 and 230... there is quite a difference in the weight of the two which leads me to believe there must be a bigger difference than just the bow design. We primarily surf but my two little ones ski a little bit too... NSS is pretty cool. Thanks for your input.

[josemolino]

The G23 is the new pro boat. It has a huge wake both for wake & surf that can be tailored to your needs It is the new standard of the industry. It is a breakthrough within Nautique.
The 230 was the previous pro model until 2012. It has a wonderful wake both for wake & surf. Not sure about ski (unless is merely recreational...)
If you are looking for "everything" and budget is not a constraint go for the G23. If you are just looking for a superb family boat (that until just recently was the pro top of the industry) go for a 230.
Both of them are wonderful boats that I am sure will fulfill your needs.

[kneebrdr]

Been out on both, the G23 is much easier to balance and stay balanced. All this is in the design of the hull. When you weight the 230, it does not take much movement in the boat to through the wake off. The G23 does not drive near as big as it looks, the bow barely rises on take off, and turns incredibly. The unweighted G23 has a super clean melo wake compared to the sharper wake of the 230. G23 is the way to go if it is in your budget.

[s_kelley2000]

The G23 is a much bigger free board boat which is why it weighs so much more. It is also why they can fit so much ballast under the floor. If you look at a G23 and a 230 side by side on a trailer you will see how much taller the gunwales are on the G. They are both great boats. One thing to consider is your tow vehicle if you are looking at a G. The actually weight of a G23 and trailer is pushing the envelope of most 1/4 ton tow vehicles.

[st68]

Ahh... okay that makes sense about the free board... and would be a reason I would value because it makes my wife feel more comfortable on the water! Good point about the tow vehicle, mine is rated for 7500 lbs but I would not want to push the limit and am trying to stay total dry weight at 6,000 or under... definitely don't want to be required to buy a diesel truck to tow my boat around as I have not other use for that kind of truck. Thanks!

[s_kelley2000]

I may have mis-spoke slightly when I said higher free board. I think most of the difference in height is between the bottom of the boat and the floor of the boat so that the ballast can all be hidden under floor in the G. It's been a while since I have been in a 230 but from what I remember the seating didn't feel much deeper in the G than in an 07-13 230. Also I think one of the improvements of the redesigned 210/230 in 2014 was to have seating that was set deeper in the boat.

As for weight, a few people have put them on the scale and they seemed to weigh in quite a bit higher than what was expected. If you search on this site you might be able to find that thread.

[kneebrdr]

One other consideration is where the boat is stored, the G will not fit in an 8 ft garage door, and most likely will require boat lift upgrade.

[Laptom]

Surf wake on the 230 is superb! G23 is THE wakeboard boat, but at 30k diff I would stick with the 230. Great family boat with a lot of potential.

[Garrett Burke]

I love my 2014 230, the redesign is amazing! Yes the wakeboard wake is a little touchy, but once dialed in, it is very poppy! If price wasn't a problem the go for the G, but you wil be more than happy with the new design of the 230. Surf wave is more than you'd ever need, I throw a 750 in the back floor if I don't have a lot of people and the surf wave is just huge and you still can port to starboard wave back and forth!


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[st68]

I love my 2014 230, the redesign is amazing! Yes the wakeboard wake is a little touchy, but once dialed in, it is very poppy! If price wasn't a problem the go for the G, but you wil be more than happy with the new design of the 230. Surf wave is more than you'd ever need, I throw a 750 in the back floor if I don't have a lot of people and the surf wave is just huge and you still can port to starboard wave back and forth!
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That is good to know... so we are primarily surfing at this point so I am not worried about a wakeboard wake. Is the surf wave touchy? How much stock ballast do you have in your 230? How does the 230 surf wave compare to the G23? I saw the G23 wave and it was awesome... and I would want to be sure my friends who compete would feel good about the wave too... they are a picky bunch!! Thank you! I appreciate all of the feedback

[Garrett Burke]

That is good to know... so we are primarily surfing at this point so I am not worried about a wakeboard wake. Is the surf wave touchy? How much stock ballast do you have in your 230? How does the 230 surf wave compare to the G23? I saw the G23 wave and it was awesome... and I would want to be sure my friends who compete would feel good about the wave too... they are a picky bunch!! Thank you! I appreciate all of the feedback

I think it's just as good as the G23 surf wake! I have stock piggy back extra 400s in the back, then I add the 750 in the back seat or floor in the middle so total of 2850. Surf is tall and long, everyone who has surfed my boat loves it so much!! NSS at 0 and 10.5 speed. It's really fun!! You can spin on it, air out! Anything you want to do! I can't say how long it is, but it's long lol, like you get pretty far back there and still getting push! The part I like most is that the surf wave is just as good and you don't have to burn all the extra fuel making each trip that much more pricey! Oh and surf wave not touchy at all!! If your wanting to be able to go back and forth just make sure your pretty even with everyone sitting around the boat, not like wakeboard wake where u move someone 6 inches and it makes a difference lol. Eventually I want to take the tanks out and out 1100 in each corner then, sac under the front seats, I feel like the surf wave would be so epic then!! But for now I'm more than happy!! I think u would be too!! I'll try to find some pics!!


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[Garrett Burke]

Starboard side is a little steeper than port side, but not like a straight up wall like on some of the other boats that have new surf technology


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[nyryan2001]

Whats your tow vehicle? G23s are 8500lbs on the trailer.... At the very upper limit of 1/2t capability... Your better be a big 1/2t.

[st68]

I think it's just as good as the G23 surf wake! I have stock piggy back extra 400s in the back, then I add the 750 in the back seat or floor in the middle so total of 2850. Surf is tall and long, everyone who has surfed my boat loves it so much!! NSS at 0 and 10.5 speed. It's really fun!! You can spin on it, air out! Anything you want to do! I can't say how long it is, but it's long lol, like you get pretty far back there and still getting push! The part I like most is that the surf wave is just as good and you don't have to burn all the extra fuel making each trip that much more pricey! Oh and surf wave not touchy at all!! If your wanting to be able to go back and forth just make sure your pretty even with everyone sitting around the boat, not like wakeboard wake where u move someone 6 inches and it makes a difference lol. Eventually I want to take the tanks out and out 1100 in each corner then, sac under the front seats, I feel like the surf wave would be so epic then!! But for now I'm more than happy!! I think u would be too!! I'll try to find some pics!!


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Thanks for that info that helps... if the 230 surf wave is equal to the G23 and I have a young family then it would be hard to go up to the G23... if you had the two 1100 in the back corners and a bag in the front... what would the fill time be on those?

My tow vehicle is another challenge that I might be on the line with... I tow with a Mercedes GL 450... tow capacity is 7500 lbs... current boat is 4300 + boattmate trailer and it tows it great. I don't want to be required to upgrade tow vehicle as my wife loves her GL and I drive a sedan... we don't have any other use for a bigger tow vehicle. this is helping me a lot, thank you again

[Miljack]

Thanks for that info that helps... if the 230 surf wave is equal to the G23 and I have a young family then it would be hard to go up to the G23... if you had the two 1100 in the back corners and a bag in the front... what would the fill time be on those?

My tow vehicle is another challenge that I might be on the line with... I tow with a Mercedes GL 450... tow capacity is 7500 lbs... current boat is 4300 + boattmate trailer and it tows it great. I don't want to be required to upgrade tow vehicle as my wife loves her GL and I drive a sedan... we don't have any other use for a bigger tow vehicle. this is helping me a lot, thank you again

Our 230 is 6200# on a Boatmate trailer w/about 20 gal of fuel and not much else in the boat.
@NRyan, 8500# on a trailer for a G23?? WOW, that's getting to 3/4 ton truck territory for sure...

Our 230 surfs great stock w/fly hi bags in trunk (1000# in back, 1000# in front) and in the ski locker/floor. I have surfed a G23 stock 6-7 adults on board and it's a good wave, but it's steep. The 230 has a better transition to me. I surfed a NSS equipped 230 one time, and the push/length of that wave is awesome, I was literally 20+' behind the boat without working hard to keep up!
Your GL will tow the 230 no problem (we were towing ours w/a Durango Hemi that was great), just make sure to keep the boat unloaded as possible and that the trailer brakes are working properly.

1st world problems!