2018 G23 Good/Bad/Ugly

[sharpstick]

Hi gang, I am new to this site but have been lurking and love reading about different setups etc.
I am dealing on a 2018 G23 right now and was wondering if any of you can give me any tips/pointers of what to look for, questions to ask, or the Good/Bad or Ugly about this year/model. We used to own a pontoon boat but the kids are really into the surfing now on friends boat so we are now looking at getting our own. Love the design/look of the G23 and believe they hold their value as good as any boat out there. Keep hearing great things about the engine (6.2 450), as well as the surf system and boat in general.
Any info, tips opinions are welcome.

thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Sharpstick

[Cpan13]

Great choice. Can’t go wrong with a G23. 2018 is the first year thrusters were available. 2019 got the new windshield and the power tower. No big changes for 2020 that I recall. G23’s used to have an issue with snapping drive shafts but I think you should be good in a 2018+.

There are boats that surf better than a G23, but in my opinion they pale in comparison for ease of use, fit and finish, and overall build quality. I’ve owned 3 G series now. I switched to a Supra last year strictly due to G23’s being unavailable in Alberta. I’m back in a 2021 G23 now, couldn’t be happier.

The guys at Wizard are great. Should have no issues if you get a boat from them.

[charlesml3]

As always, ignore the hours. Look at the overall condition of the boat. Does the owner have service records? If it's been regularly maintained and well looked after, you should be fine.

-Charles

[bird_dog0347]

Great choice. Can’t go wrong with a G23. 2018 is the first year thrusters were available. 2019 got the new windshield and the power tower. No big changes for 2020 that I recall. G23’s used to have an issue with snapping drive shafts but I think you should be good in a 2018+.

There are boats that surf better than a G23, but in my opinion they pale in comparison for ease of use, fit and finish, and overall build quality. I’ve owned 3 G series now. I switched to a Supra last year strictly due to G23’s being unavailable in Alberta. I’m back in a 2021 G23 now, couldn’t be happier.

The guys at Wizard are great. Should have no issues if you get a boat from them.

2020 got the first year of the transom seats, but don't know of much else that changed. 2021 was the big change to the Paragon hull.

[NautiqueMax]

I owned a 2018 and the shaft snapped twice on me. Talk to your dealer and ask if it has the updated shaft, it not do not buy until it has been updated. Nautique used a vendor that had these problems and switched vendors late in the 2018 model. There is another form on here that will explain what to look for if you have the new shaft or not.
Besides the shaft we loved the 2018, great body, amazing surf wave. Only recommendation I have is to put an extra 200lbs of lead ballast under the midship port seats to counteract the weight of help station. Good luck, and Congrats!

[jharris]

Just traded in my 18 G23 for a 2022. Was absolutely a great boat with no issues.

https://www.silverspraysports.com/de...OwnedInventory

Fortunately I put on nearly 500 hours and never had the broken shaft experience that many had to deal with.

I had the H6 450HP engine and running at basically sea level I never had the need for more power and we normally rode with 3-4 people in the boat and an additionally 1000 pound of weight. I can't imagine needing anything more unless you were running at a higher elevation. The surf wave was good but I do think it is more adjustable with the new model partly because the NSS plates are now much larger. Another benefit I liked with these model years was the low draft. These have the shallowest draft of any wakeboard boat. If you have a shallow dock setup or idle around the lake near sandbars this is a nice benefit for less risk of hitting the bottom.

Regarding things to look for beyond the broken shaft was that many people (including me) had ballast sensors fail so you can't fill the ballast. A real PIA to fix given the location. If you a used boat from a dealer I would ask if those had been replaced as it was a known issue.

Good luck with you search.