New boat help

[kylant]

Looking for thoughts/opinions.
I will be getting a new boat. I currently own a 2017 GS20, great boat, just not exactly fulfilling my needs. We bought the GS because we still waterski. Although this summer, I have only skied 3 times and my wife has only skied 2 times. Every other time out, we have surfed. All of our friends have only surfed as well. I do not wakeboard anymore. Kids are just starting to get into waterskiing. I do not ski the course, but I do get after it when I ski.

So my needs for getting a new boat:
-a bigger motor. I am getting the H6 regardless of what boat.
-more ballast for bigger wave
-a good/very good surf wave
-room, I want a bigger boat than the 20ft. I had a 21' Air Nautique and always wanted a bigger boat.
-decent ski wake for the occasional tow (I grew up skiing an '83 2001 Ski Nautique: massive wake)
-decent rough water handleing

I am debating between 2 boats that I feel will meet my needs. The 230 and GS22. either will be ordered, unless I can find an '18 with an H6. The "G" is out of the picture; my wife will not sign off on a G

230 pros:
great wave
hull design may provide a better rough water ride.
cheaper

cons:
not as many features as GS
dated??
not very good ski wake

GS22 pros:
multi sport boat, easily change characteristics of wake
new design/features, tech
rear seating (although on the GS20, it's not very useful)

cons:
more expensive
surf wave not as good

please share your thoughts.
Thanks

[charlesml3]

I think you pretty much have the list there. I suppose there are a few features offered on the GS that aren't on the 230. I could only find the "Enhanced Courtesy Lights", the ski pylon and the useless stowable table. Are there others?

The 230 produces a long, long surf wave with a lot of push. You will need some additional ballast and that is well covered in other threads here.

-Charles

[kylant]

I think you pretty much have the list there. I suppose there are a few features offered on the GS that aren't on the 230. I could only find the "Enhanced Courtesy Lights", the ski pylon and the useless stowable table. Are there others?

The 230 produces a long, long surf wave with a lot of push. You will need some additional ballast and that is well covered in other threads here.

-Charles

Just the "enhanced courtesy lights" and ski pylon are the options I would get that are not available on the 230. also NCRS, but I guess the hydrogate is the same thing essentially

[charlesml3]

Just the "enhanced courtesy lights" and ski pylon are the options I would get that are not available on the 230. also NCRS, but I guess the hydrogate is the same thing essentially

It is. It's just shaped differently because of the hull of the boat. Does the same thing.

-Charles

[kylant]

anybody else have any thoughts?

[Farmer Fred]

You are on target with wanting the H6 in your next boat. I have it in my G21 that I use at Donner (same elevation) and it’s a beast of a motor. I’m running the stock prop. If you want a good to very good surf wave, I think you’ll be disappointed in the GS22. I demoed one at Tahoe and was pretty disappointed in the surf wave. If surfing is going to be your main priority, the 230 is your better bet between the two. However, just food for thought, a nicely equipped GS22 with an H6 is roughly equal in price to a G21... I absolutely love having all the storage available and not having ballast bags taking up the trunk in my G21. It’s got an awesome surf wave too...

[Paul W]

If you are not happy with the GS20 then a 2' longer GS will solve your desires??? It would seem to me that you might be barking up the same tree? All the extra features wont make a marginal surf wake any better. I am not saying the GS has a bad surf wake, but as compared to your GS20 I would think it would be about the same or slightly different.

I use to ski a lot, but over the years wakeboarding and now surfing has taken me out of that sport. For skiing there is nothing like a designated ski boat wake. You cut through the fluff or foam of a wake and it doesn't even bounce your ski. : ) There has only been a few " Ski Boats" that I have skied behind that have a nothing wake. When you ski behind it its something that you will never forget, that feeling when you cut through. Its just the opposite of wakeboarding or wake surfing, a lot of wake. I would think its hard to have a lot of wake for wakeboarding and then very little or no wake for skiing. Others have commented on here that you get a 10k direct drive ski boat for the skiing part.

I have a 2017 230 and I like the boat. Sure I would like more storage and a few other options, but I bought it at a considerable less price than new, 50k savings can solve a lot of issues. I trailer the boat and like that I can tow it with a 1/2 ton truck. I picked up a Coastal Edition to take it to the FL Keys in the winter. I took a few boats down over the years and doing some boarding on the ocean in January when your from Chicago is awesome...

If your wanting a larger boat, you already had a 21 & 20', then the 230 or the G23 would be a logical choice.
For me the price tag and the weight of the G23 takes that out of my options.

I have not been in a GS22 or the G23, so I can not compare the rough water ride to the 230, but the 230 is not that great. I had 06 XStar and the XStar in rough water was a better riding boat than the 230. Having said that It sill doesn't change my feelings on the boat. It would still be the boat of choice.

This is my first Nautique having come over from the Mastercraft line. I wanted to get a Nautique 210 or 230 having boarded behind a few over the years. Having said that Mastercraft does have there towers and board racks dialed in. I haven't had a bungee board rack since my 01 X30.

[kylant]

If you are not happy with the GS20 then a 2' longer GS will solve your desires??? It would seem to me that you might be barking up the same tree? All the extra features wont make a marginal surf wake any better. I am not saying the GS has a bad surf wake, but as compared to your GS20 I would think it would be about the same or slightly different.

My issues with the 20 are the size and motor. I need more motor for my altitude.

I use to ski a lot, but over the years wakeboarding and now surfing has taken me out of that sport. For skiing there is nothing like a designated ski boat wake. You cut through the fluff or foam of a wake and it doesn't even bounce your ski. : ) There has only been a few " Ski Boats" that I have skied behind that have a nothing wake. When you ski behind it its something that you will never forget, that feeling when you cut through. Its just the opposite of wakeboarding or wake surfing, a lot of wake. I would think its hard to have a lot of wake for wakeboarding and then very little or no wake for skiing. Others have commented on here that you get a 10k direct drive ski boat for the skiing part.

I skied the 230 yesterday, and I skied it fine. The wake was actually softer than the GS, although it was slightly bigger. Definitely skiable though

I have a 2017 230 and I like the boat. Sure I would like more storage and a few other options, but I bought it at a considerable less price than new, 50k savings can solve a lot of issues. I trailer the boat and like that I can tow it with a 1/2 ton truck. I picked up a Coastal Edition to take it to the FL Keys in the winter. I took a few boats down over the years and doing some boarding on the ocean in January when your from Chicago is awesome...

If your wanting a larger boat, you already had a 21 & 20', then the 230 or the G23 would be a logical choice.
For me the price tag and the weight of the G23 takes that out of my options.

I have not been in a GS22 or the G23, so I can not compare the rough water ride to the 230, but the 230 is not that great. I had 06 XStar and the XStar in rough water was a better riding boat than the 230. Having said that It sill doesn't change my feelings on the boat. It would still be the boat of choice.

Interesting, thanks. I have heard from another person the 22 handles rough better than the 230, my dealer seems to think the opposite

This is my first Nautique having come over from the Mastercraft line. I wanted to get a Nautique 210 or 230 having boarded behind a few over the years. Having said that Mastercraft does have there towers and board racks dialed in. I haven't had a bungee board rack since my 01 X30.

...

[kylant]

yesterday my wife and I looked at the GS22 and 230 side by side, then demo'd the 230.
A few of my questions were answered, but now my decision is tougher.

I liked how much higher the 230 sat on the water. It seems like it would reduce wind spray and potentially make for a better ride. It is definitely a bigger boat, however the inside seemed a touch smaller than the 22.
the storage space was similar, we liked the trays over the pro ballast bags. Seemed like there was about the same amount of storage. I also like the fact there are actual latches on the covers, not just press fit grommets.
The 230 skied fine. I now know I can ski it.

the 22 has a much bigger bow (wider, shorter) the kids will love that. I think about 6" of length is given up there to the 230.
the pro ballast took up the whole compartments, no trays on top which seemed odd.
styling seems more modern.
the transom seats are bigger than the 20 and seem more useful. we may end up using them more

I just don't know which way to go...

[charlesml3]

yesterday my wife and I looked at the GS22 and 230 side by side, then demo'd the 230.
A few of my questions were answered, but now my decision is tougher.

I liked how much higher the 230 sat on the water. It seems like it would reduce wind spray and potentially make for a better ride. It is definitely a bigger boat, however the inside seemed a touch smaller than the 22.
the storage space was similar, we liked the trays over the pro ballast bags. Seemed like there was about the same amount of storage. I also like the fact there are actual latches on the covers, not just press fit grommets.
The 230 skied fine. I now know I can ski it.

the 22 has a much bigger bow (wider, shorter) the kids will love that. I think about 6" of length is given up there to the 230.
the pro ballast took up the whole compartments, no trays on top which seemed odd.
styling seems more modern.
the transom seats are bigger than the 20 and seem more useful. we may end up using them more

I just don't know which way to go...

Again, your comparison is pretty much spot-on. The transom seats seem fairly useless to me. You cannot use them while underway, at least not legally. Good to know the 230 can ski.

Do you have a feel for where all of you may be "going" over the next several years? Do you see more surfing and less wakeboarding? Other way around?

-Charles

[lucky7t]

I was always worried about those transom seats. No way in the world I would allow my kids in those while boat is running. The carbon dioxide is dangerous and not worth the risk . I’m the guy that won’t allow people back there while under tow much less my kids .

Is the GS22 more bling than the 230? Yes I believe it is and believe it’s the newest lates greatest . But function coming into play ,I would say 230 over the GS22.

My opinion .


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[kylant]

Again, your comparison is pretty much spot-on. The transom seats seem fairly useless to me. You cannot use them while underway, at least not legally. Good to know the 230 can ski.

Do you have a feel for where all of you may be "going" over the next several years? Do you see more surfing and less wakeboarding? Other way around?

-Charles

I see myself surfing most, then skiing, no wakeboarding. wife mostly skiing and surfing. i see the kids surfing and skiing. i see my son (5) doing all, probably will eventually be wakeboarding the most

[kylant]

I was always worried about those transom seats. No way in the world I would allow my kids in those while boat is running. The carbon dioxide is dangerous and not worth the risk . I’m the guy that won’t allow people back there while under tow much less my kids .

Is the GS22 more bling than the 230? Yes I believe it is and believe it’s the newest lates greatest . But function coming into play ,I would say 230 over the GS22.

My opinion .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

i find the transom seats for basically hanging out when to boat is parked

[Adrenaline1]

OP, I feel your pain. We have been kicking around between the 210 and GS22 (the 20 is just a little more cramped). The price difference is huge. Some of the new styling is nice, and some of it is overdone I feel (210 interior styling is much nicer to me). I want a boat that handles well and can ski at times, but mostly surf. Transom seats do not really do much for me, as you can sit on the sundeck about the same. Good Luck, I am following this thread now also!

[Kenv]

i find the transom seats for basically hanging out when to boat is parked

Not to be a smartass kylant....but isn't that the ONLY thing you can do with transom seats.....since it is against the law to sit in them when the boat is moving??? LOL