Baller Boyderoo Posted April 24, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 24, 2012 Hi I am trading up my 1989 Ski nautique 2001 . I am learning slalom at 28-30 at moment and find the wake hard and big But........... my 2 lads 18 & 24 Wakeboard They love the nautique but I am after something flatter and softer but still want them to be able to wakeboard Current shortlist is Mastercraft X5 (favourite ) Mastercraft X7 2nd favourite Nautique 216 ( said to be no better than my Nautique model 2001 (1989) Dont know any others I have discounted the Pure ski boats prostar 190 197 nautique 196 etc Budget here is about £15k UK ppounds so im lokking at Boats around 2000 to 2006 approx Grateful for any advice / comments Boyd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Kelvin Posted April 24, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 24, 2012 The X7 is a 197 with ballast tanks so that would be a good choice for you. Also, consider a Malibu Response LX or LXI with a wedge. Either of those will give you the worldclass wakes you are looking for and provide decent wakeboard wakes as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryno Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Go the Malibu LXi (with Wedge). It has a better slalom wake that the X7/X5, and with the wedge will be just as good for wakeboarding. ie. the best of both worlds. The X7 slalom wake at 18.25m is horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCskiFreak Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 @Ryno I dont know if you have ever skied a 2001 at 15 and 22 off but its wake is enormous. The x7 will be an awesome boat, the x5 is just a 95-97 Prostar 190 hull with ballast, tower, and different graphics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryno Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Over the years my olds have owned a 2001 LX and a 2003 LXi, both boats have a much better long line wake than my mates 2008 X7. I'm not baised to either make, I'm just giving my opinion, and if you want a boat that is good for both slalom and wakeboarding you'll be very happy with an LXi with a wedge. Malibu did a smart thing by copy-writing the design of the Wedge, as it's the perfect tool if you want a boat that's good at both, without having to pump in a ton of ballast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Fine409 Posted April 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2012 I may be a bit biased, but another boat you may want to consider is a Malibu Sunsetter LXI (99-2004). Decent wakeboarding wake with the wedge and ballast, and the slalom wake isn't too far off of the Response's of that time frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skihart Posted April 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2012 The X7 will have a better ski wake than the X5. A good option might be a Nautique 206 with tower. Nice ski wake and a decent boarding wake....It also is known as an Air nautique but I am not sure of the exact model name. Its bigger than the X5 or X7 but still offers a nice slalom wake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ntq206 Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 I'll second the 206. The Air 206 might fit the bill. I've had the chance to ski many different boats LL to compare over the past couple years. Not a fan of the Sunsetter longline. Deep troughs at LL. X7 and 206 have similar feeling LL ski wakes to me - but totally different to look at. Short line 206 is much better - similar to 196. Wakeboard wakes - tough call. Tough to do both well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jipster43 Posted April 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2012 Burn the wakeboards and your problems are solved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Wolfeie Posted April 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2012 I have a 2004 X7 that I have been extremely happy with. The 2004's and earlier have a less beefy tower, thus less weight. When I ski I only allow driver and passenger since tower acts as third person. Ski wakes are great, certaily comparable to Natique 196 34 mph at 22 off. The X7 is a great cross-over boat. I have driven several Malibu's on our lakes, but don't like the way the driver seat feels (a common complaint.) Was looking to upgrade to a ZO boat but it is hard to match the versatility of this boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GK Posted April 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2012 You can turn a good slalom boat into a decent wakeboard boat, it's much tougher to turn a wakeboard boat into a decent slalom boat. I've owned a lot of Response LXi's with Tower & Wedge. World class slalom boat and a solid wakeboard boat with the wedge and a fat seat (or a few people) in the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bulldog Posted April 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 25, 2012 I agree. I own a Malibu Sportster LX with a wedge and I truly is the best of both worlds, small slalom wakes and when the wedge is down a huge bump for 90% of the knuckle draggers out there. "Do Better..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted April 26, 2012 Baller_ Share Posted April 26, 2012 Does Malibu have a patent on the Wedge? That thing just makes so much sense I cant figure out why other manufactures have not done something similar or improved on it. No 500lb ballast seems like a no brainer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller usaski1 Posted April 26, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 26, 2012 there is the centurion switchblade... same concept. Yeah, dont know why everyone else hasent done the same, but I have heard of some stories of wedges getting ripped off by stumps resulting in MAJOR hull damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryno Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 @usaski1 The stump would have to first wipe out the prop and rudder before hitting the wedge, so in that scenario I'd say the boat would be pretty second hand anyway. But that's why we pay for insurance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCskiFreak Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 @ryno, some of the first boats to get the wedge were not properly reinforced at the mounting locations and when people took off on high speed runs and left it down the wedge could cause some major damage. That was addressed on subsequent models with reinforcements to the hull and different wedge designs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kona Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Nautique 206 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Boyderoo Posted April 27, 2012 Author Baller Share Posted April 27, 2012 Not much choice of boats here in UK compared to USA not seen any 206's The malibu with a wedge keeps coming up from other reccomendations as well Only Boats currently available here make it a choice between; (prices in UK pounds ) X5 better for boarding than the X7? available here about £15k (2001 ) X7 ???? generally about £19k and newer not sure which is the best slalom wake of these mastercrafts Nautique 216 supposedly similar at 30-32 to my 89 SN 2001 between £16k and £21k (very high Hours ! ) so no real point 2005 / 6 Malibu Response (about £18-19 k )seems best of Both worlds I think I need to try them all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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