2018 230 vs x30 gen2

[jbs166]

Hey all,
For various reasons I'm thinking of making a switch. I am looking at different options and am thinking ordering a boat in the next year or so. Our current boat is a 2016 x30. I have been looking hard at the 230's. Does anybody have any real life experience behind both? TIA!

[Blamey]

I'd suggest posting on wakeworld. While people here will give honest opinions, most of us are here because we love Nautique.

[jbs166]

I'd suggest posting on wakeworld. While people here will give honest opinions, most of us are here because we love Nautique.

I was really hoping to hear from some people who have had experience with either or both boats. I know these are my first few posts here. I promise I'm not a troll. I'm just trying to gather as much info as possible.

[charlesml3]

Well I have loads of experience on a 230, but I cannot compare it to a X30. I've never been on one.

-Charles

[ihaveansv211]

Having the piece of mind of PCM powering the 230 would be the deal closer for me.

[Infinity]

x2

[Wayward]

Having the piece of mind of PCM powering the 230 would be the deal closer for me.

If MC was still running Indmar, I’d be of the same opinion. ilmore, however, has been rock solid. After 5 ilmore drivelines and 3 PCMs, in my last 8 boats, I certainly wouldn’t have any problem getting another ilmore.

[jbs166]

Well I have loads of experience on a 230, but I cannot compare it to a X30. I've never been on one.

-Charles

Charles,
Thanks for your reply. Are you happy with the wakeboard wake? How is it at slower speeds? I've got beginners and we ran about 18 this past summer with no ballast other than lead and it wasn't totally clean but ok. How is the surf wave? Have you put the 750's in the lockers?...by the way, I see you are at Lake Gaston. We've got family who have a place on Lizzard Creek. We've spent a week there the past few summers and love it...

[charlesml3]

Charles,
Thanks for your reply. Are you happy with the wakeboard wake? How is it at slower speeds? I've got beginners and we ran about 18 this past summer with no ballast other than lead and it wasn't totally clean but ok. How is the surf wave? Have you put the 750's in the lockers?...by the way, I see you are at Lake Gaston. We've got family who have a place on Lizzard Creek. We've spent a week there the past few summers and love it...

I can't tell you a thing about the wakeboard wake, because in the 167 hours we put on it this summer not one person wakeboarded. We kept saying we would, never did.

Now the surf wake is simply outstanding. I did a full write-up on it here: https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...summary-thread

I did not go with 750's in the rear lockers. They just eat up all of the space and then I have ropes and jackets sitting in the floor. Instead, I kept the Pro Ballast bags and added shot-bags. It's all in the thread linked above.

My neighbor has a G23. On weekends, we take his boat one day, mine the next. I drive and surf his boat, he drives and surfs mine. We both have many, many hours with each boat. Here's how it comes down:

- The G23 is unquestionably the Wakeboard boat. No surprise there. It was built from the ground up to be a wakeboard boat.

- The 230 handles much better. We all agree on this. The pointed bow and tracking fins on the 230 make a huge difference in handling. We both kinda laugh at how bad the G23 is a slow speeds.

- For surfing we all agree it's a tie. The G produces a wake that's taller, the 230 produces one that's longer. They're both very, very good.

What's your timeframe for getting a boat? If you're not in a hurry, I'll take you and your crew out on the 230 in the spring. You're welcome to surf, drive, and even wakeboard behind it.

-Charles

[seveet]

When we purchased our 2015 we took out several boats including the 230, Malibu 23 LSV and 22XLX, X10 and X30. We don’t wakeboard, so it is hard for me to comment no that performance. From a surfing standpoint, to me the nautique wake is much easier to set up and adjust for the rider preference. What I like about the 230 wake is that it has good size, push, length and a reasonable lip. From a driver standpoint the nautiques are very easy to drive, there is very little bow rise so you rarely need the bolster, I like the simplicity of the link 2.0 system, I prefer nautiques’s vinyl and I love seadeck. I also like that nautiques tend to rattle less. I feel like the X30 was the worst boat from a surfing standpoint, but it didn’t have any additional ballast over the standard gen 2 system. To be honest, I would look for a 2015 230 as I prefer the pre-race car inspired seat and the linc 2.0 over the new panoray screens with the dial. Plus you should save some cash. Although, I do like the new gel coat scheme. They had a 230 at the polar bear this year. I will be interested to see the review.

[jbs166]

Thank you all for the replies. I appreciate the info!

Charles...that's a great thread, very informative. I wish I would have demo'ed 230 this season. I'm not in a huge hurry to get something ordered but will probably do something different at some point next season. I appreciate the offer to take us out. We will probably be up there at Gaston in late June. We are not local...

[charlesml3]

Thank you all for the replies. I appreciate the info!

Charles...that's a great thread, very informative. I wish I would have demo'ed 230 this season. I'm not in a huge hurry to get something ordered but will probably do something different at some point next season. I appreciate the offer to take us out. We will probably be up there at Gaston in late June. We are not local...

OK. just PM me here and we'll make arrangements to come pick you up. Lizzard creek isn't far from me.

-Charles

[Miljack]

I have a friend with an X30 with Gen 2 surf setup and stock ballast. The surf wake is pretty clean on both sides with the goofy side a little better. The surf wake has good push, but is not as big as my '08 230 with extra ballast and a suck gate. I have not wakeboarded behind the X30 so I can't comment on the performance there.
I will say the 230 empty requires at least 19mph to clean up for wakeboarding.

[jbs166]

OK. just PM me here and we'll make arrangements to come pick you up. Lizzard creek isn't far from me.

-Charles

Thats awesome. Thx!

[thejean]

Lots of time behind a 230 and demoed a 2017 XT23 (the new X30) with 500 lbs of lead. With the lead it was comparable to a 230. Without it I’m not so sure it would be. This is surfing only. Both are amazing boats. I like the styling of both in their own way. The MC tower looks amazing if you ask me but prefer the nautique Bimini.