New boat time (first time):)

[Gtsum2]

So I'm looking for some input please. Test drove and looked at some boats today (nautique g23, g21, mastercraft xt and nxt and centurion 237. G23 was only one we had time to drive on the water.

Family of 4, kids are 12 and 9 boys. I grew up years ago skiing and wakeboarding on a sea ray 21ft...surfing didnÂ’t exist the last time I was on the water. Looking at getting a lake house and getting the family into water sports as camping is getting old...I was hard on a centurion fi23 as it seemed to check a lot of internet research boxes....but stock is limited around here due to Covid. So, drove a 2020 g23 loaded with most everything and asking price of 175 without trailer. Had stern turn assist....they wonÂ’t get anymore g23Â’s in for at least a month.

Looked at 2020 centurion 237...big boat! However quality was lacking compared to nautique. Honestly itÂ’s not even a consideration after seeing the in person quality differences between the nautique and this. Asking price was 140...

2020 moomba makai....online people seem to like this boat...I can see it if you have a large crew and are on a budget..94k for 24ft?? Heck of a deal but wife didn't even want to test drive it after spending 2 minutes inside it. Screams of cost cutting imo.

Mastercrafts - seem way over priced for what they are. I like their vinyl and the cushions, but their towers look like I’d break them off. Just not a fan of their design I guess.

2019 G21...finally getting around to it. Gorgeous boat...best colors of all we saw...pretty tricked out with most all options except for bow seat arm rests...asking 117 without trailer...never been in water...didn't drive it as it was in showroom

So, after my centurion disappointment and the moomba showing, the. 2020 g23 was awesome...but for 55k less, the 2019 g21 looks awful tempting....I anticipate kids tubing and getting them into wakeboarding and surfing...I expect to take up surfing...might even go for a wakeboard rip or (gasp!) slalom rip (reliving glory years 20 years ago?). Max people on the boat would likely be 4 adults and 6 kids...at most...I bet 90% of time likely 2 adults and 4-6 kids. This doesn’t have steering assist...that seems like a nice to have option??

Trailering and storing not an issue...plan is to have lake house this time next year and truck is 3500 diesel.

Main question is, for 55k less, am I going to be disappointed in the g21?????? It seems smaller to me by a lot, but honestly I will either be driving or floating off the back deck 90% of the time. I won't be up front in the bow...I might be on the back deck helping kids surf? also not sure of the smaller engine in the g21? I thought the stock 450 had plenty of grunt in the g23. We r at sea level in Virginia.

Dealer told me 2021 g23's will be updated to something of a cross between the paragon and the current g23 and to expect pricing to be at 200k for a 2021 g23. I saw a paragon for first time today and oh my...what a beast...massive!

I looked at nada for 2019 g21 and 2019 centurion 237 and there is a large difference with nautique appearing to have much greater resale. I’m just not sure about the g21 for us...but seems like a good deal?


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[Yeaitsslo]

If you can swing the nautique or the centurion I’d take the Moomba right off the list honestly. People rave that they are much better now but they don’t do anything for me when it comes to build quality.

[Gtsum2]

oh, we have decided on nautique for sure. my question was regardjng the g21 and how people like their's? i dont see much at all about the g21 is all and it seems like a good deal?

[ScooterMcgavin]

The G21 is an awesome boat! You will not regret that purchase in my opinion

[scottb7]

you sure you want a g series? they are dedicated wake and surf boats...but, g21 surf wave pretty short and tall, but rideable, but not as long as g23. g series pretty bad for low speed clean wakes for young wakeboarders but doable. g series prop is for power not speed, so not really great for good skiers.

You did not mention any of the nautque gs boats. dealer didn't have any or you ruled them out? they probably better for all around good everything, but just won't be great for wakeboarding and surfing. will be good but not great. but again, they will be better for young riders.

[Gtsum2]

you sure you want a g series? they are dedicated wake and surf boats...but, g21 surf wave pretty short and tall, but rideable, but not as long as g23. g series pretty bad for low speed clean wakes for young wakeboarders but doable. g series prop is for power not speed, so not really great for good skiers.

You did not mention any of the nautque gs boats. dealer didn't have any or you ruled them out? they probably better for all around good everything, but just won't be great for wakeboarding and surfing. will be good but not great. but again, they will be better for young riders.

this is why i am asking here I seriously doubt I would take a slalom rip except maybe 1-2 times just to see if i can still do it. This would be for wakeboarding and surfing and (gasp) pulling kids on tubes...I used to wakeboard 25 years ago (47 now)..kids never have, but want to get them into it. G series for the storage and local dealer doesnt even stock gs22's...just 210, 230, G21, G23 and paragons.

This isnt the first time I have read about the G21 surf wake being short and steep...this is why I am wondering if g23 would be better fit? Or perhaps even a different brand then? I want the storage and fit and finish of the G series I think...the G21 seems like a great deal at 117 (no trailer), but if its an inferior wake and wave, especially for new riders, then I need to look elsewhere maybe? I was pretty disappointed in the quality and fit and finish of Centurion (after looking and demo'ing the G23). Mastercrafts just dont do it for me...cant stand the look of the towers. I guess I am hoping the G21 would work well for us, as its over $56k cheaper than the G23 they have....

[Gtsum2]

On another note, those of you that finance your boat, where are you finding best deals? We are over 800 credit scores, income and DTI is not an issue...I am surprised I am seeing 5% (lowest) and on up advertised most places....I would of expected lower. Maybe some local credit unions do better...anyone have a lead on some that would accept new members?

[scottb7]

you say this is not first time you reading that g21 wave is short and steep. so if surfing is very important to you then you probably don't want a g21.

g23 is the flagship dedicated wakeboard and surf boat. again not great for young rider learning but doable. g23 only a better fit in sense that it has a better surf wave...

but before i dumped that kind of money into a boat i would be darn sure it was a passion of my kids first. if it was me and i wanted fit finish of nautique i would look at gs. or like you said you could look at other brands...maybe malibu products.

keep in mind if you noticed i own a g21. but we almost exclusively wakeboard. maybe surf twice a year, and my 77 year old neighbor will ski it once a year at about 25 mph.

bottom line is you pay a lot for fit and finish and nautique styling. buddies axis a22 has just as good wakeboard wake, and way better surf wave, at a lot lower price. but yep, my fit finish is better...

[Neptune442]

It sounds to me that you really want a G23...but you're trying to talk yourself into the G21, because of the price. Totally reasonable to use cost as a factor when making decisions, but I could see you questioning the G21 purchase the second you got it home, and upgrading to a G23 in a couple years anyways. Is a low hour 1-2 year old (essentially new) G23 that fits your target price range not an option?

[Gtsum2]

It sounds to me that you really want a G23...but you're trying to talk yourself into the G21, because of the price. Totally reasonable to use cost as a factor when making decisions, but I could see you questioning the G21 purchase the second you got it home, and upgrading to a G23 in a couple years anyways. Is a low hour 1-2 year old (essentially new) G23 that fits your target price range not an option?

there is no inventory around. dealers are almost sold out of all new stock and not much available for used. apparently the factory is pretty behind due to Covid? I have no issues upgrading in a few years to another boat as I have no designs on this boat (or any boat) lasting me for 10-15 years. I know myself..if we use it like I think we will, etc, then upgrading will be a natural procession..especially when upgrades and changes are coming to the G23. I have a history of upgrading my toys often (I have had 6 new atv's and side by sides during the past 8 years)

$56k cheaper now (g21 vs g23 they have in stock) allows for more room in the lake house budget for later this year or early spring (much like boats, the real estate inventory on the lake is extremely low right now). We will never have a large crew on board...I can never see an instance where we have more than 6 adults..normally 2 adults and 2 kids...maybe 4-5 kids max...I thought the G21 might work as we dont need a huge barge due to our family size and crew, but if the wake and waves are inferior and harder for beginners to learn on, then I might need to pass and maybe a 1-2 year old G will pop up somewhere close by.

$172k for a G23 that we tested, that is really nice, etc, but not exactly our first choice in color scheme, is kind of bothering me a bit too...where the G21 is gorgeous and actually a perfect color scheme that we would design ourselves (and it seems to me a screaming deal)...of course the wife likes the G21 and wants to get it immediately

So yeah, you are correct...I am trying to talk myself into the G21 due to cost savings, and the appearance of it, and hoping it would work well for us for a few years...if we love it, etc, etc and we sell it and upgrade then, I am totally good with that...but if its going to be frustrating surfing on it due to short, steep wave that cant be softened or lengthened out, then it doesnt really matter how nice it looks or how good of a deal it might be All the above why I am trying to pick the brains of the good folks here that maybe have been in my shoes, or have experience with both boats Thanks a bunch for listening!

[Gtsum2]

you say this is not first time you reading that g21 wave is short and steep. so if surfing is very important to you then you probably don't want a g21.

g23 is the flagship dedicated wakeboard and surf boat. again not great for young rider learning but doable. g23 only a better fit in sense that it has a better surf wave...

but before i dumped that kind of money into a boat i would be darn sure it was a passion of my kids first. if it was me and i wanted fit finish of nautique i would look at gs. or like you said you could look at other brands...maybe malibu products.

keep in mind if you noticed i own a g21. but we almost exclusively wakeboard. maybe surf twice a year, and my 77 year old neighbor will ski it once a year at about 25 mph.

bottom line is you pay a lot for fit and finish and nautique styling. buddies axis a22 has just as good wakeboard wake, and way better surf wave, at a lot lower price. but yep, my fit finish is better...

Thank you for the information and sharing your experiences. After seeing and touching the nautique and then others, I was honestly shocked at how ghetto the other's quality was...stitching, feel of the vinyl, interior fit and finish...all well below the Nautique..I see why they are priced at a premium....Mastercraft has very good fit and finish also I think, but I cannot get over the towers....fugly!

[Neptune442]

So I think you've answered your own questions then. Go with the G21 for a few years, then upgrade to the G23 once you're settled into the lake home.

[hal2814]

If your plan is to upgrade in a few years, I’d suggest a used G21 so you don’t take as big of a depreciation hit.

As far as credit unions that do boat loans, I got mine through Pentagon Federal. It’s easy to join and they have incredible rates. In my experience credit unions are really hit or miss with boats. The one I primarily use won’t go above a 5 year term on them.

[Gtsum2]

So I think you've answered your own questions then. Go with the G21 for a few years, then upgrade to the G23 once you're settled into the lake home.

Perhaps....but if the wave isn’t good for beginners or any way to adjust it, then I’ll be looking good on the water but not having much fun with the kids etc


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[Gtsum2]

If your plan is to upgrade in a few years, I’d suggest a used G21 so you don’t take as big of a depreciation hit.

As far as credit unions that do boat loans, I got mine through Pentagon Federal. It’s easy to join and they have incredible rates. In my experience credit unions are really hit or miss with boats. The one I primarily use won’t go above a 5 year term on them.

It sure seems like it’s hit or miss. I read on a other manufacturer forum that a credit union in Michigan was doing boat loans out to 20 years at like 2.5%!?!?!?! Had to be a Michigan resident though. No idea how they can do those rates or if it’s a teaser, etc...but there seems to be a big variance in boat loans for sure


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