Ride Quality on Super Air 230 and G23 boats?

[DLafont]

If you're going to buy from a dealer, make sure you get the right one for you. These boats are expensive, and you need to have a certain level of trust that your dealer will take care of you and your boat the way you want them to. As others have stated, the Nautique boats are rock solid and great vessels for family fun. The difference when towing someone behind a Nautique (or a dedicated tow boat) versus an I/O is impressive. So much easier to tow with the proper tool!!

You can't really go wrong with a Nautique, especially with the models you've researched as they are bigger boats and can definitely handle rough stuff. Space and comfort on towboats are hard to beat. Take your time and make sure you're really getting what you want/need.

[swankster]

I've been a Nautique fan for 5 years and have owned 2, a 230 and G23. Both of these boats do not cruse as well as some of the I/O's that I have owned. But the trade off from being behind the boat makes a world of difference. For long rides on rough water I adjust ballast and back off the power to about 25mph in the G. If it is really rough we still get some spray in the boat. The G was better than the 230. Personally, I think it comes down to this. Which do you like the most, being in or behind the boat? Nautique has great interiors but these boats at designed to be behind them. If you answer is behind, I would buy a G.

[Noahsark]

Thanks for all of the replies. Swankster, I appreciate your thoughts. This is where my main dilemma is with a new boat, as I know neither will be the perfect fit overall whether it's a I/O or a Wakeboard boat.

I honestly right now probably spend more time cruising and enjoying the lake, listening to music and just enjoying ourselves. But with that said, we still only do that on a decent water day.

If the lake gets real choppy then we don't even take the boat out, as even with my old I/O and the ability to trim the prop it still wasn't a good ride, nor any fun.

Our best days of cruising is when there is a small or no "chop", and we can just take a nice relaxing boat ride. So actually I should be wondering how the Nautique ride in medium chop, instead of a real rough chop, as I wouldn't be going out in either boat in a real rough chop.

And yes when we got caught out on the lake when a storm blew up or the wind started making the water rough, I always had to lower my cruising speed too.

On a positive note for cruising on a Nautique/wakeboarding boat, is I am a fan of the wraparound seating where everyone would be more involved in the converstaion going on in the boat.

Also how is the stock stereo on a Nautique? My last baot was decked out with Wetsounds and it sounded great, and the boarders, tubers, and skiers could hear the music as the were being towed.

Thanks again for all of the responses

[swankster]

If you've had Wetsounds you probably won't want the factory speakers. They work for me but I'm not cranking it for the boarders 75 feet behind the boat.

It is hard to define small or medium chop but I think you will be fine in a G. One the the bigger lakes I visit is Lake Lewisville, TX; 29,000 acres with 233 miles of shoreline. North TX is pretty flat so the wind has a big affect on the water. With winds 0 to 20 mph the G23 handle the water well. At 20 to 25 I'm pulling back power to get to and from the sweet spots. At 25+, I question going out.

[scottb7]

Funny thread. Good read, thanks. We went from the beginning of the thread, "I figured I should stick with an I/O." To the above "I think you will be fine in a G."

[Noahsark]

Swankster, thanks for the info on the speakers. I'll definetely have to add that into my boat cost, as I have to have my stereo!! I'm an older rock drummer so music is a big part of me!! Lol

The lake I go to is on the VA/NC border and is over 58,000 acres with 800 plus miles of shoreline. The wind can cook up and make the water pretty rough on the NC side of the lake, but if you can get over to the VA side it most likely will be smooth and vice versa on different days. Plus there are plenty of fingers and coves off of this lake that are almost as big as a small lake and they usually always stay smooth as they are tucked away from the wind.

I'm pretty much sold on a Nautique as I have looked at a lot of different boats and have tried to keep an open mind. My brothers all have I/O that I go to the lake with, but I'm the crazy "free spirirted uncle" that does 95% of the watersports pulling.

They hardly pull anyone with their boats and when they do it's just a tuber with a "nice gingerly pull." Their kids and my son all like to be taken for rides on the tubes, to try , different tricks and things on the wakeboards, and skiis.

I'm more familiar with the I/O, so that was naturally my first choice, but like in my first post, I have noticed that "Surfing" is becoming a big part of watersports. Honestly I thought it was a pretty "stupid" form of watersports just trailing along behind a boat barely moving, but the more I've talked to people and researched it, it does seem like a pretty fun sport, PLUS it is low impact for a lot of us who need to slow down a little!! Lol

Like I said I have two Grandkids coming up, and now some of my nieces and nephews have some kids, so I want to make sure I make the right choice and have a boat that will grow with them and my needs.

My brothers are telling me how it's harder to drive the boats at the marina to get gas, that they will harder to tie up in the coves when your done for the day ( we pull them up to the banks, and tie them off to a tree), they are saying these boats are way harder on gas, and so on. But they have never owned one so that's only their assumptions, and we know what assumptions are. Lol

I'm thinking as long as I can get a decent ride for my wife's and friends cruising time, then I will be set and the younger crowd will love being pulled by this type of boat. Plus we can start looking into the sport of Surfing.

My wife wasn't too fond of these V-Drive boats at first as the first few we saw were Moomba's and Tige and all of them sat pretty low in the water and the seats weren't very deep. She loves to ride up in the bow and she felt they sat way too low. Now looking at some of these newer styles it looks like the seating is much taller and the boat sits more out of the water.

Which brings me to may last question (hopefully?), do you have much trouble with the nose submarining and taking on a lot of what over it when going back to pickup a down ride or going back over waves that you have just made?

Thanks

[Paxdad]

Which brings me to may last question (hopefully?), do you have much trouble with the nose submarining and taking on a lot of what over it when going back to pickup a down ride or going back over waves that you have just made?

Do a search for powerturn. If you like to powerturn you will increase your odds of dipping the bow at some point. Most of us do not powerturn as it ruins the water. The way to prevent from dipping the bow is to simply let off the gas (return to neutral) once your rider has fallen, keeping your heading straight ahead and let the two wakes pass out to the sides of your boat. Then simply turn a 180 and retrieve your fallen rider (maybe 5 seconds). If you observe this simple technique the odds of ever dipping the bow will be very slight. The 230 has a significantly higher freeboard as well which helps. I will tell you maneuvering a v-drive is just different than a stern drive. Not more difficult just different. The 230 will favor the starboard side always due to prop rotation however, with very little practice you will get the hang of it in very little time. I feel that I can maneuver my 210 just as well as any other stern drive I have had in the past.

[swankster]

Noahsark, I've been where you are and because of my switch to a wakeboarding boat I've made a few changes from the old I/O and ski boat days. Never owned a pure ski boat but spent many of hours on them. The new wakeboard boats are way different. If you buy a 230 or G you will learn new techniques and this is a great site to come to for that. You will also likely change your thoughts about boating in general. Take Jeff up on his offer or find someone with good experience and go out on one. As for me and my house, we won't go back to an I/O. As I said before we like being behind more than in it.

[jesutton3]

If you're ever in the Raleigh or Hyco area and want to go out let me know. I can't help with the 230 but you could get a feel for the G23.

[Noahsark]

Hey I appreciate all of the opinions, info and honest answers!!!! I appreciate the offers to come take a ride on some of your boats, and who knows that might just happen.

it's seeming like a G series, might be the better fit for me, so that's another thing I need to think about. was figuring I could get a better deal on a late model 230 vs. G series, but then again I'm smart enough to know you get what you pay for, but that's not cutting the 230 series down as that looks to be an excellent boat also.

jesutton3 are you meaning Raleigh NC? I think that's about a little over an hour drive from Kerr lake? Do you go to Kerr lake?

Thanks Again

[SkiTower]

230 is good, G23 is better. And yes, Raleigh is right down the road from Kerr!


2007 SV211 SE

[jesutton3]

Yes Raleigh, NC. Have not been to Kerr. Its on my list but have not made it to Kerr.

Usually go to Falls or Hyco instead.

[SkiTower]

Yes Raleigh, NC. Have not been to Kerr. Its on my list but have not made it to Kerr.

Prepare for rough water! Kerr is rough in the open but as has been mentioned if you get up into the VA side you have a decent chance of finding good water. And it tends to be not as crowded as Falls.


2007 SV211 SE

[Noahsark]

Have to disagree with you there SkiTower on Kerr Lake! I'm sure I'm a little bias as I have being going there ever since I was a young child, but it's a beautiful lake and so big that boat traffic or busy season ever makes a matter.

When the wind gets up, YES it will get rough ennough to have whitecaps, but their are days where it is a smooth as glass.

You can almost always bet on if it's rough on the NC side, it will be mild on the VA side, if the VA side is rough then the NC side will be mild.

It is so big though that if the wind gets up much it's pretty much a ruined day until it dies down!

We cruise over to Clarkesville VA for supper, and then come back to our campsites at North Bend Park once in awhile in the evening, and it's a beautiful boat ride watching the sun go, with the music on, and enjoying the 20 mile trip each way to get there!

Too be quite honest Kerr Lake has spoiled me. Lake Anna is about a hour and a half from me and Smith Mountain Lake is about 3 hours from me, and for me they can't hols a candle to Kerr lake. In face you could put both of thoise lakes in Kerr Lake and still have plenty of room.

Kerr Lake is HUGH!! Many times they will host a fisherman tournament at Kerr, and there will be over 150 fishing boat trailers at the public dock, and you's be hard press to see two or three of them if you out on the water.

The only negative I see to Kerr lake is that the Government owns and runs it, and the lake runs the Dam that feeds electricity to the surrounding areas, so it can't be built up.

This means it's a pretty far ride to the few marinas that are on the lake, and there are no restaurants or stores on the lake.

I know this is just my opinion but I Love Kerr Lake!!

[SkiTower]

I like it too, just in the open it gets rougher than the other lakes around Raleigh. Norman is similar to Kerr, got to stay out of the main channel on windy and busy days (with my 211)


2007 SV211 SE