2018 GS24 versus 2019 GS24

[OHLNautique]

Hello all,

Been a PN member for many years but haven't been around in a while. Spent the last 3 years in a 2014 Malibu 247 after selling our 08 SAN 210. Sold the Malibu a few weeks ago and now planning to buy a GS24 but I need some advice. For the same price, I have the opportunity to buy a new loaded 2018 with the H6 DI engine and pro ballast installed by dealer, or a not so loaded 2019 with the base engine in it and pro ballast factory installed. We like the aesthetics of both boats but the 2018 has some yellow I could live without. (no offense to yellow boats) I have read that the surf wake was much improved for 2019. However, the 2018 will have 800 lb bags installed so I would think that would help quite a bit.

There is not a lot of info available about these boats. Does anyone have first hand knowledge they could share?

Thanks

[begone]

My dealer says to throw in the 800 lbs in my 18 and the 18 vs 19’s are nearly identical. Some say the haul was revised by my dealer insists nothing has changed. So if you can pick up an 18 with the additional ballast AND the bigger engine. Do it. We love our GS24. So does all our friends and family when we load it up.

[ScooterMcgavin]

The hull on the 19 GS24 was definitely changed for 19, The lifting strakes were altered. If I was in your shoes I would definitely test them both but pretty sure I’d go 19 just for the hull tweaks.
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...boarding/page3

[OHLNautique]

My dealer says to throw in the 800 lbs in my 18 and the 18 vs 19’s are nearly identical. Some say the haul was revised by my dealer insists nothing has changed. So if you can pick up an 18 with the additional ballast AND the bigger engine. Do it. We love our GS24. So does all our friends and family when we load it up.

Thanks for the responses. Nobody seems to know for sure if the hull was changed or not. My dealer told me yesterday that the hull was tweaked.

Begone, couple of questions. Which engine is in your boat? If it is the base 400hp motor, do you ever feel that it's under powered when you have a boat full of ballast and people?
Do you have your bags plumbed into the system or do you manually fill them?

Thanks

[kylant]

what altitude will you be running the boat at? I can tell you from my experience, the ZR4 in my GS20 was killed by the altitude (6300 ft).
I now have a GS22 with the H6. So far, it seems much better. Although, the boat has only been in the water 1 time, so I haven't had a good chance to test it

[OHLNautique]

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We're only about 500-600 above see level so that should not be an issue.

[begone]

I've had the boat loaded down and has never felt underpowered. I just did confirm with my dealer the 19's were slightly changed. Knowing that, I would get the 19 - it's not terrible as is, but that lip is annoying until you get enough weight in the back.

[ClearAz]

Definitely 100% there was a hull change. I saw and 18 and 19 side by side and witnessed it with my own eyes. We surfed the 19 with 400 lbs of extra lead along with 800 lbs in the lockers. Wave was so amazing I ordered one up. And I’m kind of picky when it comes to the surf waves. It had the stock engine and it’s all that boat needs at our elevation. I’m sure if I was at 6500 I’d had upgraded it. I did a demo on the Malibu 23 lsv and kept blowing out the back of the wave. For me the wave on the GS fit my family better. All surf boats throw a pretty dang good wave nowadays however.

[OHLNautique]

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I can back that up. We demoed the 18 and 19 back to back. Huge difference in the wave, 19 was much better and surfed great. Stock engine was plenty. As badass as the 19 GS24 is, we ultimately decided to hold off on the purchase.

[begone]

I’m getting the additional Ballast system that’s in the 19 into my 18 GS24. I’ll report back with the results. The staff at my dealer said that it’s a game changer for that boat. Said I will love it. They said even with the slight haul design difference I won’t care after surfing behind the boat with the additional weight. I’m excited.

[OHLNautique]

begone, please do report back the results. We haven't bought yet but that is a big deciding factor for us.

[begone]

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yeah if it does that they guys at the shop say, I'd probably go with the 18....I'll let you know. It'll be about a week or 2 before I get the boat back FYI - just went in on Monday.

[ClearAz]

I’m getting the additional Ballast system that’s in the 19 into my 18 GS24. I’ll report back with the results. The staff at my dealer said that it’s a game changer for that boat. Said I will love it. They said even with the slight haul design difference I won’t care after surfing behind the boat with the additional weight. I’m excited.

So I’ve been really high on these boats as far as drivability and comfort as we go to Lake Powell a lot and love to tour the lake as well as surf. I ordered a ‘19 GS24 (as you guys may have seen from other posts). But the boat had to surf real good as that’s our family’s primary water sport. I did 2 demos on the same boat (‘19) first one with pro ballast no lead. Wave was good but not great. Second time out my sales rep, Mike Escorza from Action Watersports, who knows how to set up a great wave, said hey do you want me to set that wave up stock or amazing with some lead. Of course I chose the lead. This sold me. 400lbs of lead and that boat surfs just a tick lower than a G23 (his words not mine).

Now before all the naysayers start chiming in about adding lead to a 6 figure boat blah blah blah, I will tell you all the pros add lead to their boats. Dylan Ayala has a G23 and adds some to his for sure. And I know to set up the G25 correctly you need some as well.

I hope, for your sake, that the 18 takes the weight well and gives you as good as wave as I’ve seen on the 19. Like I’ve mention in another post, I’ve seen the hull difference first hand. Doesn’t mean you can’t set up the 18 but the slight changes made a big difference in the stock wave IMO. I’m eager to hear how it works out. Keep us posted!

[GMLIII]

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I have a 6 figure boat and I added 750 lbs of steel shot bags, very common

[begone]

Decided not to get the ballast upgrade last min. May get it later this summer. But this was the wave earlier today. With 4 guys in the boat. https://www.instagram.com/p/BzO7prtH...d=pxsw11mmny8u