Wake of GS20 vs new 2018 Malibu VTX

[Kinloch]

Very interested in what the wakeboard wake is like behind the GS 20, if anyone has had experience would love to hear.
We currently have a 2016 VTX which has a great surf wave with additional ballast, OK wakeboard wake but the new has made a not so friendly ski wake. Previous boat was a 2014 VTX. We would also love a walkover instead of flogging upholstery every outing. Love Malibu, but if this GS 20 is everything everyone says it is, we will be crossing to the dark side.

We sold our Malibu because we wanted a better ski wake, walk through to stop wet upholstery and the seadek was a big bonus on the gs20. I have only skied the gs once but it felt much more user friendly to ski compared to the 16 vtx. We found our vtx to be very thirsty on the gas so hopefully the gs will be better!

[Evening Shade]

Very interested in what the wakeboard wake is like behind the GS 20, if anyone has had experience would love to hear.
We currently have a 2016 VTX which has a great surf wave with additional ballast, OK wakeboard wake but the new has made a not so friendly ski wake. Previous boat was a 2014 VTX. We would also love a walkover instead of flogging upholstery every outing. Love Malibu, but if this GS 20 is everything everyone says it is, we will be crossing to the dark side.

I think the GS20 has a pretty darn good wakeboard wake. I'm sure the wake isn't as good as a G23, but I've never been behind a G23. I'm just making that assumption. I have owned a Malibu 23 LSV and 2011 SANTE 210 and I think the GS20 wake is better than the 23 LSV and as good if not better than the 210. I think other GS20 owners on PN have also commented on how respectable the wake board wake is on the GS20.

I think the wakeboard wake with the GS20 is probably its strongest suit compared to surf wave and ski wake.

[slappy]

Just a quick update. I went ahead and got a GS20. Great boat overall. I find the slalom wake is pretty decent at 31-32 MPH at 15 off. Going shorter puts me in prop wash which is a little rougher. This is with stock NSS/NCRS settings. I am still playing with surf settings. Usually just 2 or three people in the boat. Wondering what others are doing for their NSS/NCRS settings to get longer wave/sweet spot. Push seems good just short pocket to stay in. Any advice? Willing to add ballast if necessary but some have said it doesn't improve things much. Considering dropping off side to 80%.

[kylant]

what settings on the boat seem to produce the best ski wake? I find that I am right in the rooster tail getting "grabbed" by it or if I am on edge it is a very hard bump. this is at 15' off, 30 mph, NCRS auto-medium and Ski assist on. I have also tried 22' off, bump is harder. And I have also tried NCRS and Ski Assist off, not much change
thanks

[slappy]

I had better results with a little extra speed. I think it flattens out a little bit and have an easier time with a little extra speed but a flatter wake to cross. I typically ski with only my 105lb wife and one or two 50lb kids in the boat, so pretty light. The wake will never be direct drive quality but I find it passable.

[wakemaker]

vtx for surfing sorry guys if u want a 3 sports boat then the gs20 just what i have seen

[orthopa77]

Bump...

Would love to hear recommendations for 20ft crossover boats. I want to make sure I can surf and slalom. Don't care so much about wakeboard. I'll go ahead and acknowledge all the "you need two boats" comments and I don't expect the slalom wake to rival that of a DD dedicated ski boat. Considering the GS20 but Malibu VTX is on the list as well. would consider all options but would love some feedback from those with experience with these boats. Still below freezing here so can't test drive at the moment.

My husband and I made an impulse purchase of a 2017 GS20 last fall (after an epic failure of a regal forward drive boat that we traded in). I realize everyone will think we are crazy but we didn’t even test drive the Nautique. I am almost 6 feet tall, about 170 lbs and almost 42 years old. I grew up slalom skiing and that will forever be my favorite. I introduced my husband to boating about 6 years ago just prior to us getting married. We were introduced to surfing about 2 years ago on a 2004 neighbor’s Nautique and we loved it. Traded in 2001 Regal bow rider for 2017 Regal forward drive Volvo Penta that we designed; unfortunately that failed us miserably on our shallow chain of lakes here in Winter Haven, FL. So when our salesman showed us the crossover Nautique I was in heaven (surfing and slalom skiing...awesome).

On a side note we are not downplaying the Regal forward drive. It was a beautiful boat that we were proud to have designed and owned, but the draft was just too much for our unpredictable droughts here in central Florida and low canal depths as a result.

However our Nautique is a dream. I am a stout female as I stated prior and am no youngster anymore so we play things very conservatively on the water. I am getting so confused when I see all these posts about adding ballast, dialing in the wave, etc. We fill all tanks (1800 lbs) and off we go surfing with no problems at all with usually at least 5 adults in the boat. Sure we play around with the NSS settings but have no issue with my size surfing without the rope. We have also had some millennial riders perform tricks with no problems. We then empty the STOCK ballast, put the boat in slalom mode, go to my personal settings for skiing and away we go again. It truly is exhilarating...and we couldn’t be happier.

Unfortunately the people saying to get two boats are probably the same ones that have talked about “dialing in the wake” for the last 12 months and have yet to let go of the rope. No two boats are needed...we assure you. Go purchase yourself a GS beauty and be blessed as we are each time we start it up. We don’t even recommend a test drive!!