Would a basic G be a hot item?

[Badlucky]

With the prices of new boats at an all time high, I pose the question. Would a basic G be a top seller? I’m talking a current hull minus the bells and whistles. Bring it back to 2008 era with switches, and cruise control. Sometimes I feel like basic is a good thing. It could possibly bring more peeps to the sport. I know there are more affordable boats but they just don’t perform the same. I like how Malibu has Axis. Maybe Nautique could start a line. What are your thoughts?

[ScooterMcgavin]

I am in total agreement with you, That would be pretty Amazing… But you have to keep in mind Nautique already has supreme boats and Centurion boats as well so I’m not so sure they would go this route, but who knows. It’s a great idea though

[GMLIII]

Maybe Nautique would buy Heyday boats? Heard the brand was struggling

[Badlucky]

I’d like to see or own a G hull without all the fancy stuff. A generic model with switches to fill ballast, no led lights, ….. maybe basic interior

[charlesml3]

No. The days of 2" temp, oil pressure, and voltage gauges are over. They're WAY too big for the information they display. We were seeing gauge sprawl way back in the SV-211 era with ballast gauges down by your right leg. There's no reason to go back to that.

[mooneywa]

So what I'm understanding here is if a G hull and 450 engine was paired with a basic (but not chepo ala Axis) interior would there be interest? I see it as basically the amenities of the last couple years of the 210/230 (big link screen but basic vinyl) with the big hull and the big engine. It would have to be priced somewhere in the GS range, below the S.
Yes, I think there'd be a ton of interest but only from enthusiasts for actual surfing and wakeboarding - and I think we'd probably all be disappointed in how big that number actually is.

Anecdote: I was anchored at Hells Gate a couple weeks ago and the winds were swirling and we were swinging on our anchor line as were a Paragon, M240, and a beautiful tungsten G. They invited us to tie up so we wouldn't cross anchor swings and we floated with their crew for a few hours. I asked a few of the folks how they liked surfing from each of their boats. I was mostly met with shrugs and "yeah it's neat." One of them said "we like the stereo on the boat and the space and it's cool to go to the lake and just come out here and chill." I have no problem with that, but I think that says a lot about who is buying these boats and how there is a TON of demand for them, but they aren't really being used in the sporting way that a stripped down G would be used.

I'd imagine Porsche sells a whole lot more 911s with all the fancy accoutrements than a stripped down one for the same reason.

I had high hopes the S would be an updated hull for the 230 and not a G with a funny nose, but it put the writing on the wall about where Nautique wanted the brand to go.

[hal2814]

I seriously doubt it would be a great seller. The bells and whistles don’t make the boat expensive. The bells and whistles exist because the boat is already expensive. Cut all the things you mention and you might save $10k on a $250k+ boat. And even if you bring back 2008 you’re still not getting old fashioned analog gauges. You’re getting gauges that run through a gateway box that doesn’t exist anymore. Gauges were already getting complicated.

[swatguy]

So I’ll add this , Axis basically tried this. They started off very basic , but a majority of the people buying their boats were always adding the same options over and over. So Axis did revamps and added more bling each cycle to their boats and all of a sudden became close enough to consider going to bu. Nautique will never revert. Their answer to budget boat is buy Supreme or Centurion. I remember when the forums wanted an 80’s Nautique 2001 hill with auto ballast, ego and full composite /fiberglass stringers. The reason Axis has been so successful. Is because their wake performance is right in par with their Bu counterparts. Pro caliber wakes with basic necessities.

When wakeboats hit 100k we said it’s gonna burst at 150. When they hit 200 k we said 250 would pop the market. Now they’re pushing 300 and they can’t build them fast enough. , they’ve shifted their market. So rather than the market bursting they’ve just shifted to a different demographic of buyer throwing their middle finger to the core riders that built the brand while leaving them no options and destroying the sport . Centurion and Supreme have very very limited dealer networks. I truly believe that has led to the demise of the sport. That and a generational swap to where letting your kids sit inside all day on their tech is normal. As much as I competed and rode in the heyday of wakeboarding and still try to grow it at every turn ……. Wakeboarding is as small as the slalom world now and it’s only getting smaller. The production of surf tankers and their perspective buyers is the target across both The big 2. **** the reveal doesn’t even on board racks on their boat anymore. That’s says it all.

Rant off

[SilentSeven]

Maybe Nautique would buy Heyday boats? Heard the brand was struggling

Well that made me snicker....lol...did you forget the /s?

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[GMLIII]

SilentSeven Don"t recall the LS . here is the bare bones Heyday coming in at $70,345.00

WT-2DC - Boat Configurator (heydaywakeboats.com)

[Scooter G]

Great feedback! Still trying to wrap my head around the whole Heyday thing, what is it? lol
On topic, off topic:
Starting to do some seriously warm poking around, the '24 G23 builds are bumping solid over the $300k range. The still on the floor 2023's are $269ish, fully loaded, triple axle, power tower, thruster, heater. You could pick up a '22 in the $240k range. Seeing a $30k mood swing pattern each year for a 2020 circa G. If that pattern holds true, that would mean a 2025 will come in about $330k. Do I have the right pattern of thought process here, without a mention of politics, economics, gauges or electronics?

[swatguy]

I don’t know how HeyDay sells boats. Especially at my local dealership which sells MC , Tige and ATX Tige’s value line, They’re pushing 90k. Those boats are about the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. Functionally and comfort whose there are hard metal edges everywhere . I know they sold bunch during covid because people really had no option. How does anyone in that company think that’s a great layout or functional product.

Moomba has probably made the most strides , but that’s due to the fact Supra has made the biggest push to break the top dogs. I’d put MC /Nautique still a top , but the new Supra is knocking on that door. I know Centurion has ramfill.

Axis is really the go to for budget in my mind. They’re in every Bu dealership which has all the benefits of a solid based dealer network. While MC has the NXT line there is a significant wake performance drop-down in the NXT line vs theirX or XT.

I think if Nautique took on the role of launching its own “budget line “ there would have great success. one of the most overlooked things these days is the dry weight of these new 21 barges . You almost need a 3/4 ton , huge garage , and a 8k lift minimal. Most budget families want a garageable , towable , manageable boat they can mange easily. I plan on grabbing a new rig here in the short term. Waiting for right boat. Demoed 6 models. Malibu 22LSV , Moomba Kaiyen , Mommba Craz, Axis A225 /T225 and keeping an eye out for possibly a used 17/18 G21 , I ride G21’s quite a bit. By far one of they most underrated wakeboard wakes out there.

[GMLIII]

Scooter G Cheapest new wake boat off the showroom floor in the universe

[Kmayotte]

I'd actually argue that the majority of brand new Nautique buyers at the $275K+ price mark are not core watersports enthusiast and Nautique is generally of the opinion that market is rather niche. They are growing their brand going after the high end buyers.

We're teaching our 4, 5 & 7 year old the love of watersports right now. Kneeboarding, waterskiing, Zup board, wakeboarding etc. My 7 year just got her first deep water slalom start this past weekend!

Here's the dirty secret...we rarely if ever use our G to pull them. Instead we use our 13ft whaler, a friends '76 Ski Nautique or '01 Moomba direct drive.
The pull and wake on those boats are much more beginner friendly and can maintain the right speed (12-18mph) that my G generally hates.
We just did a 10 day vacation at the lake watersporting 8am-2pm each day. The G was used for the 3 dads who still wakeboard, about 5% of the pulls, that's it.


Basically, , I believe the majority of Nautiques sold now are not for core watersports and they are not suitable for teaching the next gen a complete love of watersports beyond surfing.
People buying the SN, GS series, 200 are the serious watersports people. (and G user who wakeboards).

Anyone who buys a $350K boat just to wakesurf is not a core watersports user, sorry not sorry.

[MN Ryan]

Kmayotte Our kids learned to ski behind the same 14' Alumacraft/15hp Evinrude that my wife and her siblings learned behind, and they love(d) it. Better slalom wake than any Nautique.