230 or G21?

[nohlan_4]

I did and it's quite adequate. Surfs awesome.

However, as surfinjosh pointed out, I do WANT a G23 ultimately. Sooooo, I am trying to put together a deal on a G23. Stay tuned...

Honestly my biggest issue is that although I can fit a 23 in my garage, it will significantly impede my mobility around the garage and force my wife to go outside to get in and out of her car (I have a 3 car tandem and the boat would have to back into the tandem spot a bit. I would also lose access to me outside man door where we store the garbage. The other side of the garage MIGHT work but it's only 24.5 long and apparently need 25.5 ft for a G23. But if I take off the surf pipe, and drop the NCRS plate, I might be able to get it to within 24.5 while kissing the wall. I would also have to raise my elevated storage (I have a 13' ceiling and a 9' door).

Surf pipe you wouldn't want to have to drop every year as you need to reseal it against the hull with marine sealant every time, unless the design has changed. Wouldn't be a job I would want to do yearly.

[surfnjosh]

Surf pipe you wouldn't want to have to drop every year as you need to reseal it against the hull with marine sealant every time, unless the design has changed. Wouldn't be a job I would want to do yearly.

Ive seen guys just knock out a section of drywall to make room for trim tabs etc. should be able to gain 5" there on a 2x6 exterior wall

[Davew0815]

Sounds like you are further down the path now, but to your original question I had a 2014 230 for a couple of seasons and then upgraded last year to a 2015 G21. For me the G21 is a nice improvement over the 230. The most important to me was the improvement in wakeboard wake as the 230 wakeboard wake was more finicky and hard to keep clean especially on the toe side. It also wasn't as big a wake as I can get on the G21. I love the wakeboard wake on the G21...it is my favorite of any boat (including the G23.) The other big benefit to me of the G21 over the 230 is the ballast system does not take up space in the lockers which means a lot more storage is actually available on the G boat.

Sounds like you are primarily surfing. The surf wave I think it more personal preference between the two, but I like the G21 wave a little better. The G21 wave is naturally taller/steeper than the 230. To lengthen it I run a little fast (12.2 mph) and keep NCRS/NSS both on 0. The result is a longer wave that is firm with a lot of energy. A good friend of mine has a 2015 G23. We actually both prefer the G21. Why? Because it takes less ballast for both wake boarding and surfing to make a great wake. It also uses less gas. I rarely have more than 4 people on the boat, so the additional people capacity of the G23 is not a factor for me. It's a minor thing, but I also like the low speed handling of the G21 better. Both are pigs when weighted down, but the G23 can be particularly hard to maneuver at low speed (IMO)

My understanding is that for 2016 the G23 hull was changed to improve it's surf wave without any additional ballast above stock required, but I've not ridden a newer G23. If you decide to get a G23, I'd recommend 2016 or newer as my experience is that the older G23 takes a lot of additional weight over stock to make a good wave.

[thejean]

Thanks Davew, awesome info!!!!

I have started leaning towards the G23 because my wife likes a longer more mellow wave and I hear the G21 is a bit steeper and taller (which I like). However, the space on the G23 sure is nice. I've ridden both (2015 G21 and a 2016 G23) and both were awesome.

Then there is my garage space issue - the G21 will fit on the left side of my garage but a G23 will only fit on the right side (as per the attached pic - G23 on trailer is 25.5' and I only have 24.5' of space on that side). The problem is that I have dirt bikes that I store in the shop space (one is a Snowbike that I do use in winter). The G23 backed in will not allow access to the bikes, or the car (from the inside door) nor the side mandoor. I am looking at an option to pull it in frontwards using a winch setup mounted to the floor of the shop though. But truthfully the G21 would be significantly easier for me to store (although I can get the G23 in there as well but just will have to live with some space compromises). Or I store the G23 outdoors at the lake (3hrs away).

Edit: oh and the other issue is my driveway - it's very sloped which would making winching the boat in a bit more risky and the right side is where we normally park other vehicles as the left side narrows up fast due to us being in a cul-de-sac. So then parking the truck outside becomes a pain as I would have to put it on the more restrictive side of the driveway. Ugh, no easy solutions here.

[xxrb2010]

Why do you not rent a covered boat storage space ? You will pay a rent monthly, but you will keep your garage space, your driveway clean, avoid the hassle to park your boat in your garage.

[thejean]

Why do you not rent a covered boat storage space ? You will pay a rent monthly, but you will keep your garage space, your driveway clean, avoid the hassle to park your boat in your garage.

Yeah I might look into that.

I can always push the boat further in and move my bikes to the front of the boat as well which is an option.

[nohlan_4]

Yeah I might look into that.

I can always push the boat further in and move my bikes to the front of the boat as well which is an option.

You might be over thinking it and of course you can get cold storage for a fee which would avoid all problems with space. I keep my boat outside and its no issue with the right heavy duty tarp, cold doesn't really hurt anything as long as you winterize properly and let all the electronics get back up to temperature in the spring before you put power to them again.

[Farmer Fred]

Sounds like you are further down the path now, but to your original question I had a 2014 230 for a couple of seasons and then upgraded last year to a 2015 G21. For me the G21 is a nice improvement over the 230. The most important to me was the improvement in wakeboard wake as the 230 wakeboard wake was more finicky and hard to keep clean especially on the toe side. It also wasn't as big a wake as I can get on the G21. I love the wakeboard wake on the G21...it is my favorite of any boat (including the G23.) The other big benefit to me of the G21 over the 230 is the ballast system does not take up space in the lockers which means a lot more storage is actually available on the G boat.

Sounds like you are primarily surfing. The surf wave I think it more personal preference between the two, but I like the G21 wave a little better. The G21 wave is naturally taller/steeper than the 230. To lengthen it I run a little fast (12.2 mph) and keep NCRS/NSS both on 0. The result is a longer wave that is firm with a lot of energy. A good friend of mine has a 2015 G23. We actually both prefer the G21. Why? Because it takes less ballast for both wake boarding and surfing to make a great wake. It also uses less gas. I rarely have more than 4 people on the boat, so the additional people capacity of the G23 is not a factor for me. It's a minor thing, but I also like the low speed handling of the G21 better. Both are pigs when weighted down, but the G23 can be particularly hard to maneuver at low speed (IMO)

My understanding is that for 2016 the G23 hull was changed to improve it's surf wave without any additional ballast above stock required, but I've not ridden a newer G23. If you decide to get a G23, I'd recommend 2016 or newer as my experience is that the older G23 takes a lot of additional weight over stock to make a good wave.

Wow! I've been following this thread as I am basically trying to make the same decision, G21 or G23. Davew, this is one of the more comprehensive reviews on the wake and wave of the G21 that I have read, so thank you for that! Everyone seems to focus too much on the extra space/features of the G23, of which I am well aware, but the bottom line is, does the G21 produce a great wake and wave compared to the G23? I also typically run with a small crew, so the smaller size of the G21 would be just fine on most days. Also, I frequently maneuver around a dock, so the low-speed maneuverability factor is important. When you surf your G21, how do you fill your ballast? Your description on how to lengthen out the wave was great, but I've heard various opinions on how to fill ballast on the G21, so I'm interested in how you do it.

[xrichard]

I get the advantages of garage storage. Around me, I'd pay $210 / month for indoor space. Over 10 years, that's $25k plus whatever gains I'd make on investment. Perhaps $30-35k NPV. I think it adds more to cost of ownership than most realize. Plus, IMHO, having your boat in the garage is super convenient vs. storage.

FWIW, based on my set up I believe you should be able to fit yours in a 24.5' space if (1) you are careful with the trailer build, and (2) you are willing to remove the swim platform.

For the trailer, you'll need a swing tongue and the pivot needs to be pretty close to the bow. My set up from farthest point forward at the swing tongue to the farthest point aft at the surf pipe (no swim platform) is 24.7'. I could easily take another 6" off the front of my trailer...my builder simply wasn't paying attention to that issue. I could modify it now to make mine 24.2' but it's not worth the effort because I fit in my garage though it's a bit tighter than I intended. I also deleted steps around the rear of the trailer to make things as compact as possible--no step on the back is a pain, but it was necessary.

(As an aside, trailers aren't rocket science. Most can be heavily modified (e.g. remove rear steps, change pivot point for tongue, etc) pretty reasonably...a lot can be done for less than the cost of one year of storage, at least in California.)

For the swim platform, I hoist it to the ceiling using a Harken Hoister and then back the rear of the boat under the swim platform. It adds several minutes to the process, but it still takes me less time than driving to the closest indoor storage facility.


ETA: looking more closely at your drawing, I think all of your problems might be solved if you simply get the pivot at the tongue close to the bow of the boat. That might let you park your boat so that the man door would open fully and so your wife could get to her car without going outside....with the added bonus of leaving your swim platform in place.

[Kenv]

Lol....that post cracked me up!! Dude....don't be the first person in the the history of PN to "winch" your boat into the garage forward.....lol

[thejean]

Lol....that post cracked me up!! Dude....don't be the first person in the the history of PN to "winch" your boat into the garage forward.....lol

Give it time. I'm sure I will be the one to establish a good many PN firsts. Lol!

If you haven't noticed, I tend to overthink things. I am an engineer afterall so I've been trained to do so. It's not my fault, I am but a puppet... haha!

[xxrb2010]

I get the advantages of garage storage. Around me, I'd pay $210 / month for indoor space. Over 10 years, that's $25k plus whatever gains I'd make on investment. Perhaps $30-35k NPV. I think it adds more to cost of ownership than most realize. Plus, IMHO, having your boat in the garage is super convenient vs. storage.

FWIW, based on my set up I believe you should be able to fit yours in a 24.5' space if (1) you are careful with the trailer build, and (2) you are willing to remove the swim platform.

For the trailer, you'll need a swing tongue and the pivot needs to be pretty close to the bow. My set up from farthest point forward at the swing tongue to the farthest point aft at the surf pipe (no swim platform) is 24.7'. I could easily take another 6" off the front of my trailer...my builder simply wasn't paying attention to that issue. I could modify it now to make mine 24.2' but it's not worth the effort because I fit in my garage though it's a bit tighter than I intended. I also deleted steps around the rear of the trailer to make things as compact as possible--no step on the back is a pain, but it was necessary.

(As an aside, trailers aren't rocket science. Most can be heavily modified (e.g. remove rear steps, change pivot point for tongue, etc) pretty reasonably...a lot can be done for less than the cost of one year of storage, at least in California.)

For the swim platform, I hoist it to the ceiling using a Harken Hoister and then back the rear of the boat under the swim platform. It adds several minutes to the process, but it still takes me less time than driving to the closest indoor storage facility.


ETA: looking more closely at your drawing, I think all of your problems might be solved if you simply get the pivot at the tongue close to the bow of the boat. That might let you park your boat so that the man door would open fully and so your wife could get to her car without going outside....with the added bonus of leaving your swim platform in place.

Not everybody live in a place where the land is worth the same as gold

[thejean]

Still not 100% sure which way to go. Wife if giving me grief about taking up so much space in the garage but I think it's crazy not to consider parking such an expensive machine 3 hrs away and not in a secure facility, and also outdoors. My truck is worth a 5th of the boat so seems like the boat should get the garage space.

If I park the boat on an angle, I can fit a 23 in on the left side. Or maybe I can modify the trailer itself somehow. Has anyone ever considered cutting the hitch and installing a sleeve that you could bolt or unbolt at your leisure? Seems like a simple solution possibly.

[Wayward]

Lol....that post cracked me up!! Dude....don't be the first person in the the history of PN to "winch" your boat into the garage forward.....lol

I beat him to that...... slightly different setup and purpose though. I have a 3hp traction drive push/pull winch setup and Mine gets winched from the water up into the garage.

I built my own winch for it, so, if he needs specs, I've got them!

on another note...... why not just swap the door to an outswing. That would be a lot cheaper than a winch setup.

[thejean]

The door outswing could do for sure. More importantly, wife is annoyed about not being able to get to her car easily, which is fair. And also access to my dirt bikes.