2016 G21 w/H6 and hours vs. 2017 G21 w/H5

[Scott89]

Looking to finally pull the trigger on a Nautique, our first wakeboard boat after 9 years in a 24' Cobalt. Narrowed it down to a Nautique and demoed the only G series my dealer had which was a 2017 G21 with the H5 engine. Liked the boat but didn't really have a frame of reference. (Had a LOT of spray but admittedly it was one of the worst days of the year, being Memorial Day, so I'm discounting the spray.) I would probably prefer a G23 but it seems they're out of my price range. I say that because I'm looking for at least a 2016, having read a LOT on this website about 2:1 tranny, Polk v. JL, hull changes to address spray, etc. (BTW, really appreciate all the info!!)

So I thought I had my boat selected - a used 2016 G21 with the H6 and just about every option, but with close to 200 hours. And then my local dealer contacts me with an offer that was MUCH different than what he originally quoted me on the 2017. The dealer still wants about $14,000 more for the 2017, understandably, but the 2017 has the H5, not the H6. Other than that, the boats are comparably equipped. I anticipate that we'll be using the boat for surfing 45%, wakeboard 45%, and still tubing/skiing some. Just trying to figure out if the the extra money is worth the boat with the lesser engine.

I plan to be on both boats in the next 48 hours but, with only me and the sales rep, I'm not sure I'll be able to tell the difference. (And having no real frame of reference, as previously stated ....)

All comments are greatly appreciated! I am sooooo ready to end the research and just be on the water.

[xxrb2010]

H5 at sea level is enough, unless you have some special needs about the time to get on speed, always use full ballast and a crew of 14 and of course 0.3 seconds is night and day compared to 0.6 seconds......

[vanhanbr]

200 hrs is nothing. Save yourself some money and get the 2016.

[Scott89]

vanhanbr, first, nice pic! (See mine ;-) Second, I'm leaning toward the used 2016 boat. Because my post was really just looking for feedback on the two engines, I left off the fact that, on top of the additional $14,000 I'd pay for the 2017, I'd also have to pay about $7,000 in sales tax that I don't have to pay for the used boat. While I like the 12.4" display on the 2017 and the idea of having 0 hours, I just can't rationalize the additional cost. Now if the local dealer came down another $5,000 or so, it would complicate things for me a great deal.

[NautiqueJeff]

I would jump on the '16 all day long. The H6 is a great engine, and I would take that over the H5 in this situation without hesitation, especially at the lower price. The H5 is good in a G21 as well, but the H6 is better, and for the lower cost and virtually no hours (200 really is nothing), I would jump on that. All you'll be losing is the LINC Panoray, and that wouldn't be worth $21,000 to me, especially since you'll be getting the better engine too.

[Sailfun]

Spray is a issue on the 21. I know the 23 is expensive but I suspect it will return a higher percentage of value when you sell it. Overall cost of ownership might be the same.

[Tallredrider]

I would get the 2016 personally, if it were 21K different. 200 hours is nothing on a late model year boat that has had its maintenance performed.

[Scott89]

Spray is a issue on the 21. I know the 23 is expensive but I suspect it will return a higher percentage of value when you sell it. Overall cost of ownership might be the same.

I did have quite a bit of spray the day I demoed the 2017 model but it was Memorial Day weekend on a very busy lake and it was very, very windy. I'll demo the 2016 tomorrow with hopefully better conditions. I just can't find a 2016 G23 within my budget. (Trying to stay later than 2016 due to Polk-to-JL switch and, more importantly, the hull change on the G23 to address spray).

[Kenv]

Spray is a issue on the 21. I know the 23 is expensive but I suspect it will return a higher percentage of value when you sell it. Overall cost of ownership might be the same.

Yeah...spray is an issue....a bit...on the G21....but he's comparing 2 G21's.....therefore.....he's getting spray either way as the hull didn't change on the 21 as it did on the 23/25. NOW....if he's comparing a 21 and a 16 or later 23.....yeah....drastically reduced spray on a windy day going into the wind. Anyway.....get the 2016 and don't look back. You'll love it.

[migs]

2016 all day every day

[nyryan2001]

Guys, when buying a G, do not go with anything that could be considered a lower power option

[xxrb2010]

Guys, when buying a G, do not go with anything that could be considered a lower power option

Interesting quote, do you have some figures to support your statement such as G21 % with standard engine based on location (altitude) or this is just your opinion?

[OKWAKEBDR]

There really isn't even a question here. $20k more for less engine?? No way. I'm not sure I'd take the '17 even if the price difference was half that.

[Scott89]

So I got the '16 G21 on the water today. Conditions were better. Water was calm but not flat with a light breeze blowing. With ballasts full and at surf speed, there was some spray in the bow but none in the rear of the boat. I would characterize the bow spray as being quite tolerable. Obviously there was no spray when going with the wind and there was no spray when going with or against the wind when at speed. (I'm a newbie to wake boats. I really thought the spray issue was all the time. I'm now clear that's not the case.)
Now, about the engine .... That H6 is 6.2L of HOLY COW!!! So when the salesman finally offered up the helm, my wife was sitting in the passenger seat facing backwards (obviously) with her feat up on the seat. The salesman sat on the rear bench, facing forward, beyond my wife's feat. I then did what any red-blooded guy who is considering spending that kind of money on a boat would do ... I punched it. In about a second, my wife was very nearly sitting in the salesman's lap. She slid back all the way into the salesman. It was awesome. I was about 90% sold right then. The salesman then emptied the ballasts and set the NCRS to 2 to show me how flat the wake could be if I wanted to ski. (I'd mentioned to him that I still skied a little but that I'd read that skiing behind a G is just about impossible.) I'm here to tell you that the wake behind that G21 was no worse and might actually be better than on my 24' Cobalt. At that point, the deal was done.
16 hours after rolling out of bed, the Nautique is in dry storage and I'm back home, happy with my purchase and happy to finally be able to stop doing research and to be able to get back to work. ;-)
Thanks to all you folks for your input. The multiple replies about 200 hours being nothing really helped. Still having several years of warranty on the boat didn't hurt either.

[vanhanbr]

Congrats, you made a great decision!