Made the jump :)

[BasaltRMK]

Well, the stars aligned, we were amazingly fortunate, and we were able to get a great trade on our 2020 G21 and stepped up to a 2024 G23. Anthracite metal flake, supplemental ballast, ZZ8S (it's a beast, but our lake's at 8,000' elevation). Picked her up Friday, been out on her the last 3 days and in love.



- bob

[Scooter G]

What the heck just happened???

Dude, Super Awesome, some would disagree, but spot on for my color choice, love it, wow!
Sleds in the shed, lake time begins, Congrats Bob. So jealous, just waiting to see the interior...

Thanks for sharing

[BasaltRMK]

Thanks, Scooter G - really, really appreciate that! Yeah, we’re kinda over the moon right now. Will send some interior pics soon, we’re really happy with how it came out. Thanks so much!

- bob

[BasaltRMK]

Scooter G - sorry for the long silence, been out on a boat

Here are a couple shots of the interior, including a closeup of the different textures. Really loving what Nautique is doing with different materials and textures - we're very happy with how it turned out:



Thought I'd also give a brief 3 1/2-week review (at about 40 hours in):

- The wave is amazing - huge, long, wide, and very adjustable. When set to 6 or 7 it's a massive steep slab with a sharp lip for airs. When set to 2 or 3 it makes spins a breeze. Night-and-day difference in adjustability from the 2020 G21. My buddy with an X24 rode it last night and was blown away by how far back and to the side he could ride it. We generally run ~11.6 mph, fully belly, 100%p 90%s in the rear, and 70%p 60%s in the supplemental, crew size dependent. 100% stoked on the wave.

- I absolutely love the wakeboard wake as well. Now, I'm a terrible wakeboarder, only jump the wake and spin 180s. But the ease of clearing the wake and hitting the transition is awesome.

- The ZZ8s is an absolute beast. The time to speed and pulling power are insane. Plus doing 40+ mph on a boat this heavy at 8,000' is something special. Not too bad on gas, either - we're going through the tank at the same rate as the ZZ6 in the G21 - it's a bigger tank, of course, but it's a much bigger boat. We are having an issue with it running too cool (likely a thermostat stuck open), and we got a random low oil pressure alarm last night (about 15 hours after the 25-hour service), but hopefully both will be resolved without drama.

- Love the in-floor cooler and the bigger bow area. Didn't think the cooler would be that big of a deal but the convenience is awesome. The increased storage is great too - only 1.5' feet bigger, but it swallowed all our boat-access camping gear for Flaming Gorge way more easily than the G21 ever did. Everything is just a bit bigger. Love the larger rear cooler too.

- Not sold on the new Linc interface. I miss the mini-map option (for maps + rear view camera), I don't like the way the vitals (including the time) are covered when the ballast pump are running, the tach numbers are tiny, I don't think you can 'drain all' ballasts if the boat thinks they're already drained (without manually draining each one individually), and the mini rear camera setting cuts off the surfer, not the transom of the boat. Assuming that at least some of these will be fixed with the 15" screen in the 2025s, but overall I think that I liked the older interface better. And if I'm missing a setting with some of these complaints, someone please let me know.

- Neither supplemental ballast ball valve actuator was hooked up when we got the boat, not sure if that was a factory or dealer miss. And it turns out one of the actuator cables was broken and we're waiting on a replacement. Kinda of a bummer, but glad I'm handy enough to have figured out the issue. And the dealer is going to replace the one ballast pump that we ran dry for a while before we diagnosed the issue.

- The raw water strainer is in a _terrible_ location and really hard to remove and install. If you live in a part of the country where mussel decontamination is an issue, this is a real pita.

- Like others have said, it's annoying that you have to spring for RGB underwater lighting. We went with the javelins and they are super bright.

- Some little and not-so-little QA/QC issues - the observer seat battery compartment cover is warped and doesn't close all the way, we have a 16" gelcoat crack on the floor and 2" cracks on the 45-degree corners of the deck (among a couple of other cracks), lots of zip ties, washers, and related detritus in the bilge area, etc. Not deal breakers but more than annoying on a boat who's list price starts with a 3...

- The heater blower is really weak - as in way weaker than our G21 was, and we were just out on our friend's Axis T235 and there was no comparison. Our dealer says that it's operating normally but we're going to push this one. Mornings and evenings at 8,000' are cold on the water, even in mid-summer!

- Not Nautique related, but love the new trailer. I know that Boatmate doesn't get a lot of love here, but our trailer has been awesome so far, and the EoH brakes are a total game-changer.

That's all that comes to mind - hope it's helpful or at least interesting to someone looking at a 2024 G.

- bob

[Scooter G]

I love that boat, and the interior is over the top!
I don't know how different your LINC interface is from mine, but I will say honestly it took me 2 full seasons to not have to think about anything. It's all muscle memory at this point by touch & click. I have nothing to compare it to, coming from gauges, but I wouldn't go back.
Gel coat carnage concerns me, and hoping the loose parts in the pan aren't forgotten installs. If your heater is being out performed by an Axis, that's a definite push.
Man I miss Flaming Gorge, it's been too long...

[BasaltRMK]

Scooter G - thank you for the very kind words, sir! Yeah, we're loving the interior, we reconfigured it a few dozen times online so really glad it came out the way it did. Always a bit of a nail-biter to see how the computer screen will translate to reality.

Don't get me wrong, overall I love the Linc system. There are just some interface changes between the version that was in our 2020 vs. the '24 that I find questionable and less user friendly. Likewise, though, I would never want to go back to analogue.

We had our share of gel coat cracks (all repaired under warranty) in the 202 G21 as well. I'm wondering if there's something about transporting a new boat from FL to CO that stresses the gel, or if we've just been unlucky. As long as Nautique covers it, we'll have repairs made over the winter and it'll be no big deal. Same with the 'spare parts' - hoping nothing is missing vital installation hardware!

Yeah, the heater is going to require a fix - the day Nautique parts can't match the quality of Axis parts will be a sad one!

Oh man, the Gorge. That place is just something special, and as usual it was practically empty. As in surfing the main channel back to Jarvies campground on a Saturday evening with not a single other boat in view. Just amazing!



(ignore the ugly temp reg. numbers, waiting on the DomedNumbers order to arrive)

- bob

[BasaltRMK]

Two key review items that I forgot to include:

1. The jump to power steering (from the 202 G21) is a giant leap. The overall crispness of the handling, and the ability to take your hands off the wheel while surfing, is a massive upgrade.

2. The hull upgrade is likewise a game changer for both overall smoothness of the ride and reduction of bow spray. Our lake can get windy and choppy in the afternoons, and this boat handles the chop SO much better. No slamming over moderate chop, no more bimini rattle, etc.

Overall, couldn't be happier with the upgrade.

- bob

[Scooter G]

Wait, what, power steering, hand off wheel??? How am I supposed to get my workout in?
I will be sending you a request for your build sheet, someday, or maybe just take that one off your hands for your next upgrade, lol

Oh man, the Gorge. That place is just something special, and as usual it was practically empty. As in surfing the main channel back to Jarvies campground on a Saturday evening with not a single other boat in view. Just amazing!

Jarvies Campground, wow, have some time in the saddle there. Eaten a lot of lunches, and sat out a few rain storms on those shore lines. My 10 y.o. daughter parked a jet ski about 20 feet inland there with my grown up Nephew on the back, he says "I thought you said she could drive". Sure, she just doesn't know how to stop. Good times!

[BasaltRMK]

Oh man, I'm glad no one got hurt - I'm no expert but don't think they're meant for overland travel!!

Here's a cool shot of the wave this thing puts up...



- bob

[Scooter G]

Niiice!
I'm impressed you can surf with your back to the wave, we're still working on that one. The wave is always just a little better on the Starboard side (prop rotation). We're trying to learn to surf goofy, it's like starting all over. My DIL is goofy, I mean surf's goofy, and we are always just a little jealous of her wave shape, not that the other side isn't all that. We all learned on the port side because we had to use a wedge on the Supra, and the Captain (me) didn't want to keep changing it, grumpy fetcher. New times call for new measures...

[BasaltRMK]

Why thank you, sir! I was originally a 'regular' (port side) rider, but I've been working heel side as well as goofy and goofy heel side for a few years now. Got everything pretty well dialed but the dang goofy heel side - definitely like starting over! Interestingly, the wave on this rig is fairly symmetrical, no real change in wave size/quality between port and starboard. Much less noticeable difference than on the old boat/hull. We do run about an extra 150# of ballast on the port side to offset the prop rotation (like we did on the G21). No need for lead now though

- bob

[MN Ryan]

NICE!

The majority of my crew rides goofy. When we were just getting started, my one BIL was the only regular-footed surfer, and this was behind a slammed and listed '93 ProStar, so he learned to ride heelside because we just weren't going to switch everything out for him.

Currently, our son and the one BIL (who rarely surfs now) are our only regular-footed surfers, but swapping my DIY wake shaper is quick and easy, so I don't mind switching. Our wave actually looks better on the regular side--I have tried to surf regular, but man, it would take me a long time to get comfortable on that side!

That thing looks awesome, Bob. I'm just living in the dark ages. Someday, I will make friends with a modern boat owner!

[BasaltRMK]

Thanks Ryan, really appreciate it! She's been tons of fun so far. Keep working that regular side, and hit me up next time you're in CO!

- bob

[BasaltRMK]

Had to post a follow up of the new registration numbers - the temporary numbers were hideous, and the Domed Lettering ones look so good!





- bob

[MN Ryan]

Yep, those are awesome.