Help me choose new boat, please!

[kylant]

I am in the market for a new boat and am having a tough time deciding which one to get.
We are a family of 4 who like to ski, surf, tube; not really wakeboard, but will. We have a 2000 Air which has suited us well, but it is time to upgrade.
We are looking for a bigger boat, safer in rough water, and something that does everything for us average Joes.

There are 3 boats in the area I am looking at.

1: 2014 230 with 376 hours on it. Boat has been used primarily for surfing, weighted down much more than factory. Good condition, needs a couple small repairs, freshwater lakes. Serviced at local dealers. price is lowest. But I don't think this boat will suit us well for skiing. Wife doesn't care, she is looking at bottom line!

2: GS20 with 10 hours on it. I know this will be the best skiing boat, but how does it surf? How does it handle rougher water?

3: GS22. Brand new.

How do the GS boats handle rougher water? How low do they ride? When coming off plane do the bows dive down? Are they easy to swamp the boat?

With the Air, we are always very cautious when coming off plane. The bow is very easy to swamp. The boat rides very low in the water, spray soaks people sitting in on the stern seats.

Any help/advice would be appreciated. I have been reading for hours...

[MikeC]

I have a GS22 and I've found it handles rough water easily. It cuts through rough water better than I could have imagined. The only time I've taken water over the bow is when I was turning around to pick up a surfer and I mistimed my turn and put the bow into the surf wake, that happens maybe once a season. The NCRS works wonders in helping the ride in choppy water. When you add power it initially lowers the bow the help get the boat on plane, when it's up on plane it then raises the bow, also, when you make a hard turn, it brings the bow back down to help the boat dig in and turn tighter, it really is amazing how well it works.

The 230 is a great boat and I've heard it doesn't ski that bad, you just need to get out and test drive them.

And on the GS20 vs GS22 models - here's what happened to us. We were at the boat show and I was working on a deal for a GS20. I liked everything about it, however we were sitting in the 22 while talking about buying the 20. I finally said we should go sit in the 20 and talk about the deal, once we got into the 20 we realized it just wasn't big enough for us. We like to hang out and with 5 people sitting in the boat it just felt cramped and I didn't want to be wishing I had bought a 22 later. We went back to the 22 and found that it was perfect, the extra 2 feet made a huge difference.

If you're near anyone on this site with any of the boats you're looking for I'm sure they would be happy to take you out and show you around one.

[GMLIII]

I am in the market for a new boat and am having a tough time deciding which one to get.
We are a family of 4 who like to ski, surf, tube; not really wakeboard, but will. We have a 2000 Air which has suited us well, but it is time to upgrade.
We are looking for a bigger boat, safer in rough water, and something that does everything for us average Joes.

There are 3 boats in the area I am looking at.

1: 2014 230 with 376 hours on it. Boat has been used primarily for surfing, weighted down much more than factory. Good condition, needs a couple small repairs, freshwater lakes. Serviced at local dealers. price is lowest. But I don't think this boat will suit us well for skiing. Wife doesn't care, she is looking at bottom line!

2: GS20 with 10 hours on it. I know this will be the best skiing boat, but how does it surf? How does it handle rougher water?

3: GS22. Brand new.

How do the GS boats handle rougher water? How low do they ride? When coming off plane do the bows dive down? Are they easy to swamp the boat?

With the Air, we are always very cautious when coming off plane. The bow is very easy to swamp. The boat rides very low in the water, spray soaks people sitting in on the stern seats.

Any help/advice would be appreciated. I have been reading for hours...

#1 is definitely out

GS22 probally a better all around boat then a GS20 if you are planning on doing surfing plus the extra room over the GS20

[Scoma]

As a GS22 owner, I concur with all of the above. We ski, surf, wakeboard a little. All activities are well received by those participating and agree that the boat cuts through chop easily. Others on our lake have been very impressed with the boat... so much so, in fact, that several others have copied us on our purchase after riding in our boat. Best of luck and happy to provide any other info...

[Blamey]

Get the 230 and spend the money you save on a old school ski boat for some early morning turns.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[whitecaps]

Love our GS22. Best of all worlds.

[kylant]

#1 is definitely out

why do you say this?

[GMLIII]

why do you say this?

Because a 230 may be one of the worst watersport designed boats to ski behind other than perhaps a G23. The 230 is not intended for skiing and was not designed for it. Laughable to ski behind a 230.

[kylant]

went and looked at boats with the wife yesterday.
pretty much eliminated the 230.
now we are at 20 vs 22.

The 20 is a pretty neat boat, huge upgrade from our current. It has 6 hours on it, not the colors I would order, but it looks good. It's a good price as well
The 22 is by far my choice, but not the wife's. She just sees the increase size and increased price. We would have to order one, mid-July delivery, or can try and find one at a dealer. I have found one that I really like, but only has the ZR4. I don't think that will be enough motor for our elevation...???

[charlesml3]

went and looked at boats with the wife yesterday.
pretty much eliminated the 230.
now we are at 20 vs 22.

The 20 is a pretty neat boat, huge upgrade from our current. It has 6 hours on it, not the colors I would order, but it looks good. It's a good price as well
The 22 is by far my choice, but not the wife's. She just sees the increase size and increased price. We would have to order one, mid-July delivery, or can try and find one at a dealer. I have found one that I really like, but only has the ZR4. I don't think that will be enough motor for our elevation...???

What's your elevation?

[Laptom]

Because a 230 may be one of the worst watersport designed boats to ski behind other than perhaps a G23. The 230 is not intended for skiing and was not designed for it. Laughable to ski behind a 230.

230 was designed as 236 and was a cross over boat in 2007. Unfortunately the 236/230 does not ski well...

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G950F met Tapatalk

[geb78]

went and looked at boats with the wife yesterday.
pretty much eliminated the 230.
now we are at 20 vs 22.

The 20 is a pretty neat boat, huge upgrade from our current. It has 6 hours on it, not the colors I would order, but it looks good. It's a good price as well
The 22 is by far my choice, but not the wife's. She just sees the increase size and increased price. We would have to order one, mid-July delivery, or can try and find one at a dealer. I have found one that I really like, but only has the ZR4. I don't think that will be enough motor for our elevation...???

Would like to know your elevation as well. I took the GS24 for a test drive at 6,750 with a prop swap and an H5. It left me desiring the H6. From a handling perspective I was really impressed with the GS.

[kylant]

What's your elevation?

6280ft elevation. Lake Tahoe, CA/NV. boat will live most of its life here

[kylant]

well, we brought home the GS20 last night. This boat will be a huge upgrade from our 2000 Air.
I really wanted the GS22, but my wife did not. So I had to compromise, or not get a new boat. I think this boat will suit us well. If not, I can always trade it for the 22

[ScooterMcgavin]

well, we brought home the GS20 last night. This boat will be a huge upgrade from our 2000 Air.
I really wanted the GS22, but my wife did not. So I had to compromise, or not get a new boat. I think this boat will suit us well. If not, I can always trade it for the 22

Let's see some pics of the new boat! Congrats and a good choice!