Switching to Nautique....maybe

[dm001681]

I have a '15 LSV23 and am considering a 17' G23 but the jump in cost is pretty significant. I'm wondering if anyone here has made the switch recently and what are your thoughts? We are a family of 4 and have other families of 4 or more out with us a lot and really like the size of a 23' boat so the G21 isn't on the table. We surf more than we wakeboard but we do both. We have a great Nautique dealer on my lake so that is a big bonus over the Malibu. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[heel5man]

We currently own a '16 23 LSV and recently ordered a '17 G23 that will be here in a few weeks, so I can't quite speak from experience with the Nautique. We've had several Malibus and loved our dealer so much, we had previously never even looked at a Nautique.

But we basically wanted to be able to do a bigger surf wave with stock ballast, so we started looking at the larger Malibus and the G23. We took the G23 out and really fell in love with it. All of the storage and no NEED for extra ballasts; it's ready to go out of the box. Compared to the M235 we took out, it's not "overdone." The G23 is timeless and classy. I also think the fit and finish is better and the interior design is better thought out.

Now I will say that the large touch screen interface on the 2015+ Malibus is superior to even the latest version of the LINC system on the Nautique. As you know, the Bu touch screen is really simple to use and intuitive, whereas the LINC system takes some getting used to.

Malibu also offers the great clamping style board racks that are superior to Nautique. And you can go with the larger 575 Malibu engine and not need Premium fuel like the supercharged engine in the G23. But by all accounts, the 450 with the latest G23s has plenty of power.

As I'm sure you know, you can't go wrong either way in this price range. I think if I were you, I'd be comparing the new '17 24MXZ (wasn't available to test yet when we bought), along with the 25 LSV to the G23. That extra foot or two in the Bus is nice. They're all in a similar price range. We ended up around $130k on an optioned out G23 with no trailer.

Let us know what you decide!

[Tallredrider]

Who said the Malibu supercharged engine does not need premium fuel? They have switched engines every year, and laughably, the Malibu promo website doesn't even specify which marinizer they are using this week. But I think it is still Indmar, which says premium is recommended, not required, whatever that means. http://www.indmar.com/Engine/malibu/Monsoon572SS.aspx

But when I see GM's website say this, I think the Malibu dealer misled you: http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-engines/lsa/#tab-2

I had a 2006 Malibu, so no real comparison, but I test drove the 23 LSV before buying my G23, and could not be more happy. The surf wave was so much better on the Nautique, but the dealer clearly did not set up the LSV properly, as I have seen some pretty mean waves come from it since then. But it definitely needs to fill up the rear storage with ballast on the LSV. Most G owners do not add supplemental ballast, whereas the vast majority of LSV owners do have PNP bags taking up the majority of their storage compartment.

[heel5man]

Tallredrider Good point. I think that Nautique is very clear, even in their order guide, about these engines requiring premium fuel. Malibu on the other hand, from their dealer to a couple of owners I talked to, seem to think they do fine on the 89-91 octane available on my lake. I owned a 2013 24 MXZ with the supercharged Indmar Monsoon Cadillac-based engine. I used 89-91 octane fuel in it and was always very pleased with the power, but it's very possible it would have been even better with 93 octane fuel.

[Wayward]

Now I will say that the large touch screen interface on the 2015+ Malibus is superior to even the latest version of the LINC system on the Nautique. As you know, the Bu touch screen is really simple to use and intuitive, whereas the LINC system takes some getting used to.

Although it is easier to use, it is WAY more problematic. There is no denying that Malibu touchscreens have had a lot more issues than the LINC..... including the 2015+. I don't hang out at TMC nearly as much as I used to, but still see plenty of TS related issues. Not to mention, my buddy is on his 3rd 7" screen in his 2015 23 LSV.

Malibu also offers the great clamping style board racks that are superior to Nautique. And you can go with the larger 575 Malibu engine and not need Premium fuel like the supercharged engine in the G23. But by all accounts, the 450 with the latest G23s has plenty of power.

Factory option for PTM racks is definitely nice, however, you can easily get them for a G23, and they bolt right up. I have them on mine.

I'm no rocket surgeon...... but go through the specs on the 2 engines. It would be much more likely to have issues with the raptor engine on low grade fuel, than the LSA. The SC Raptor has a much higher compression ratio, and was never intended to be supercharged. It is a bolt on kit. The LSA was developed, from the ground up, to be a supercharged engine. Two very different animals.

Nothing against the Roush SC Raptor engine though. I have it in my Raptor, and I have loved it. The power is incredible, but I can tell you first hand, they tend to have a shorter lifespan.

OP- Make sure your Nautique dealer is going to be as good as your Bu dealer...... If not, I'd stick with knowing that Malibu makes a great boat, and a great dealer is going to be more important.

[dm001681]

Wayward! So that is actually one reason I'm looking to make the switch. I bought my Bu out of state because my local Bu dealer is terrible and also 40 mins away. My local nautique dealer is ON my lake and awesome! I would have bought Nautique initially had it not been for the additional cost! I've had a few issues on the Bu this summer that have had to be taken care of long distance and it got me really questioning if owning a boat from my local dealer is worth the extra money. Plus the G23 is sick. If the cost was the same it never would have been a question! Thanks!

[Wayward]

Gotcha DM! I misread your post, and thought you said you had a good Bu dealer. I would say to definitely go with the Nautique dealer then..... And if the G23 is too much $$, look at the 230. It is more similar to the size/layout of your LSV, and a lot cheaper than a G. Hard to overlook the advantages of the G series though!!

Good luck!

[dm001681]

Wayward! I did actually look at the 230 and felt like for the extra cost I wasn't really getting anything above my Bu and there are a few things I actually didn't like on the 230 over my LSV. I REALLY want the storage capability of the G, the rear facing bench and Linc Panoray, none of which the 230 has. For me, it's get the G or stay with the LSV.

What did you have prior to the G and what are your thoughts having now had it for a season? Do you absolutely love it?

[Wayward]

Wayward! I did actually look at the 230 and felt like for the extra cost I wasn't really getting anything above my Bu and there are a few things I actually didn't like on the 230 over my LSV. I REALLY want the storage capability of the G, the rear facing bench and Linc Panoray, none of which the 230 has. For me, it's get the G or stay with the LSV.

What did you have prior to the G and what are your thoughts having now had it for a season? Do you absolutely love it?

I have had quite a few different boats over the past few years...... Goes something like- 23 LSV, X25, X25, XStar, X30, X23, G23. I had tons of problems with Maliview, and tons of problems with my 2012 X25 (Which also had Medallion controls before MC switched to Murphy in 2013).

Other than that, they have all been great boats. The MC X30 probably remains my favorite of all of them, even though it didn't have the storage/space/stock ballast of the G23. X23 was my favorite wave of all of them. That said, I still wakeboard, and you just cant beat the wakeboard wake on the G. "Absolutely love it"? yes, I would say I do. That said, I just sold my 16' G, and came very close to ordering another X23...... However, I didn't. I ended up ordering a '17 G23. Its hard to beat the overall versatility, and great wakes, of a G series.

[thtrog]

Don’t hesitate, if the G checks all your boxes do it! I am a previous multiple Malibu owner, the last was a 2015 23 LSV with the LS3 450. I was anticipating ordering the new Malibu 235, but the outlandish pricing changed my mind and I started looking. I demoed several G23’s including a 2016; the prior model fit our needs perfect, surfs great, and the wakeboard wake is phenomenal. I sold my LSV last September and in November purchased a barely used 2014 G23. I had good luck with all of my Bu’s and they are nice boats, but the G is just incredible!

As far as performance, the 450 with the 2:1 tranny/17” prop is impressive and you won’t miss the drag of the Bu wedge. The G may not be as nimble as your LSV, but I feel it handles the ballast much better at all speeds. You won’t have the bow high when surfing and can actually see without a screen in your field of view. You do want to be aware of the big rooster tail when coming off wakeboards speeds, just throttle back and turn the wheel all the way left. I already owned 10 bags/500 lbs of leadwake, so that went in the G, with 200# bias port to offset the prop torque – you can do the same thing with ballast. I have noticed the wind catches the high freeboard at idle, but well worth it to never take water over the bow.

What has impressed me most is the engineering and build quality of Nautique, lots of little things you will quickly discover that are just done better. We have a great Malibu dealer and I’m actually driving further now for service, but White Lake Marine is top notch! If you have any specific questions about my experience don’t hesitate to ask, Good Luck!

[dm001681]

Thanks guys, this is exactly the type of information I was looking for. The biggest 'issue' for me will be unloading my LSV for the amount I need to be able to move forward on the G, without that happening this is just a dream for me! Crossing my fingers I can find the right buyer out there!!! Thanks!