GS24=Ghost Boat

[Sailfun]

I would still like to hear a good review of the GS24 from a owner. There are literally no reports out there. Nautique says they are selling well. Where are they?

[charlesml3]

Beats me. We had a thread going here for months asking for ANYBODY who had one. I don't think anyone did.

-Charles

[cptotr]

I went and sat in one while I was shopping for a new boat. It honestly didn't even seem like the salesman could come up with many selling points other than the obvious. I know it's geared for a different market than the G, but I just feel like the success of the G kind of overshadows the GS line.


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[Peteg5]

I am really impressed with it. My neighbors just bought one and it really is the perfect one boat fit for them. They are coming from a pontoon boat and wanted something with decent room and comfort, good build quality, and be able to have the kids learn and progress with skiing and be able to learn and progress with surfing.

I was super impressed with the interior, I thought it was going to feel a lot more “shallow” but the seating and space are a lot more similar to my G23 than I expected.

Ski wake is a little big currently at the lower speed they go for their kids ability and age (under 11yrs old), I think around 22-25mph but as they progress and increase that speed, the wake does flatten out more and will be fine for them until/if a ski boat is warranted.

For the kids, the Surf wake is perfect. Just the right size, even with the tanks at 50-75%. Plenty of push for them and not too critical for learning. For us adults it’s surfable but more difficult to stay in the wave for a 200# person with the stock full ballast. The Surf wake looks identical to the shape of my G just smaller and less long. You just have to be more aware and keep stealing the power from the steep part of the wave as it is less forgiving if you lose your speed. We added a 400# ballast bag to just see how it changed the wave for us (had it sitting on top of the back storage locker on the Surf side) and it increased the wave height a good 25% and increased the push enough for us to really enjoy it (two adults and two kids in the boat). I really think the new option for 2019 to add additional ballast to the rear lockers is going to help the Surf wave a lot.

Performance wise the ZR4 engine feels plenty powerful enough(no altitude). It handles much better than my G, more agile and doesn’t turn like a slug at speed.

This GS24 really impresses me, I like it. Can be a perfect fit for some people.


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[Sailfun]

Thank you for the comments!

[BigAirBearWake]

I am really impressed with my GS24, I came from a 2005 X-Star. Here are my Pros v Cons

Pros:
Finish - The exterior and interior were up to the Nautique standard, I used to believe Mastercraft was #1 but this boat has changed my mind.
Seating Capacity - 17 people, feels like you can fit entire greyhound bus full of people and gear inside the cockpit
Rear Facing Seats - For teaching, or giving tips to rider is awesome. Also great when relaxing at the sandbar. I have a sandbar setting for 0% belly and 100/100 rear so that the swimstep is as low a possible (in the water 1-2") for people getting in and out at the sandbar.
Freeboard - G series have a large freeboard and I love the lower freeboard of the GS series.
NSS/NCRS - The ability to shape the wave is easy and all in one place. Transfer from side to side made going between riders fast no transfer of ballast. When your transfer during surfing there is little change to attitude of the boat.
H6 Motor: Love this motor and glad I upgraded to it despite everyone telling me it wasnt worth the money. During surfing I burn 6.5 gph so I am pretty stoked.
Bimini surf pockets: Love the ability to store surfboards up there.
Strapless board racks: Little stiff at first but I love how they look and hold the boards

Cons:
Wave: smaller than a G23 but I fixed that with wakemakers piggyback system.
NSS/NCRS: Was hard for me to understand at first, coming from an "analog" system to fully electronic boat
Ballast overfill/draining: I hate that the ballast empties underwater, I like the visual/sound of water dumping overboard so I know when its full/empty.
Trashcan: The location is wrong and eats up valuable space. Should be like the rest of the Gs, little door access as well.
Cooler storage: Good idea, not necessary to have two either. I would personally delete this as the coolers are small and rather store other items there.
Storage: Due to coolers and fat sacs in the rear I feel like I have little space, but everything that I store on there and everyone else gear does fit. Just feels like there is not enough space.
Cuddy: Too small and should have made another in front of driver instead of the tray to throw things on. I like to keep my manual/ first aid kit away from getting any exposure to water.
Grey Seadeck: Absolutely love color but due to mud getting into the grains and takes a little more push to clean.
Strapless Board racks: I have the JL8.8s and any board in them will hit the speakers when you try to swivel them around.

People are starting to buy the GS24s. I was the first on my lake but yesterday I saw another!

[surroundsound64]

I am really impressed with my GS24, I came from a 2005 X-Star. Here are my Pros v Cons

Pros:
Finish - The exterior and interior were up to the Nautique standard, I used to believe Mastercraft was #1 but this boat has changed my mind.
Seating Capacity - 17 people, feels like you can fit entire greyhound bus full of people and gear inside the cockpit
Rear Facing Seats - For teaching, or giving tips to rider is awesome. Also great when relaxing at the sandbar. I have a sandbar setting for 0% belly and 100/100 rear so that the swimstep is as low a possible (in the water 1-2") for people getting in and out at the sandbar.
Freeboard - G series have a large freeboard and I love the lower freeboard of the GS series.
NSS/NCRS - The ability to shape the wave is easy and all in one place. Transfer from side to side made going between riders fast no transfer of ballast. When your transfer during surfing there is little change to attitude of the boat.
H6 Motor: Love this motor and glad I upgraded to it despite everyone telling me it wasnt worth the money. During surfing I burn 6.5 gph so I am pretty stoked.
Bimini surf pockets: Love the ability to store surfboards up there.
Strapless board racks: Little stiff at first but I love how they look and hold the boards

Cons:
Wave: smaller than a G23 but I fixed that with wakemakers piggyback system.
NSS/NCRS: Was hard for me to understand at first, coming from an "analog" system to fully electronic boat
Ballast overfill/draining: I hate that the ballast empties underwater, I like the visual/sound of water dumping overboard so I know when its full/empty.
Trashcan: The location is wrong and eats up valuable space. Should be like the rest of the Gs, little door access as well.
Cooler storage: Good idea, not necessary to have two either. I would personally delete this as the coolers are small and rather store other items there.
Storage: Due to coolers and fat sacs in the rear I feel like I have little space, but everything that I store on there and everyone else gear does fit. Just feels like there is not enough space.
Cuddy: Too small and should have made another in front of driver instead of the tray to throw things on. I like to keep my manual/ first aid kit away from getting any exposure to water.
Grey Seadeck: Absolutely love color but due to mud getting into the grains and takes a little more push to clean.
Strapless Board racks: I have the JL8.8s and any board in them will hit the speakers when you try to swivel them around.

People are starting to buy the GS24s. I was the first on my lake but yesterday I saw another!

Thats a a great idea on a sand bar profile!!! I’m totally doing that!

my strapless racks hit my 8.8s too if I have anything but a wakeboard in them.

[KevDog]

Have had the GS24 all summer. Love it. Traded my 2010 Mastercraft X15. Family of 4 - wife slalom skis and kids and I surf and wakeboard. We love the surfing so much we haven’t wakeboarded once all summer (60 hours on the boat).

We can all surf easily. I added 250 of lead in both rear lockers and it did get slightly better. I have surfed the G and the wave is better, but I find the GS wave plenty good. And the boat handles great for slalom and tubing etc. If all we did was surf, I’d probably get a G. But if you want some variety GS is superb. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.


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[Sailfun]

Do you pull the lead to slalom or do you find the ski wake ok with the lead?