Jeff_70

So is it safe to say that when water ski magazine reviewed this boat it is a far cry from newer technology. Link I would imagine it does better than the boat I grew up behind, or the ones I owned although some of the master craft boats from the 80s that I skied behind were night and day from what I was used to. I am not stuck on it, just around my price point and close to me. Thanks for the suggestions. And just from what I have looked at I have not really been able to find a DD that fills the day on the lake playing with the family requirement. 3 of us, my son with his wife and daughter. Then my daughter with her son, and her boyfriend. So that's 9......

First of all I want to say thank you to everyone that gave input. It was very helpful, more than you know. I have put a deposit down on the 06 Malibu in Katy, TX. I am having a trailer made for it in the Houston area. He will deliver trailer to boat location, perform final fit of the bunks and then I will have my new trailer with boat bound for OKC. I chose an aluminum trailer with galvanized Axel based on the fact that this boat/trailer will see lake Texoma. I did contact ezloader and boat mate and this trailer is only $200 more than their quotes, and it is designed as a salt water series trailer. The quotes were for steel tubular trailers. Should be able to go pick it up in about 15-20 days!

@oldjeep Shopping for the trailer now. Very hard to find used trailers. Will most likely have one built by the many trailer builders in and around the Houston area.

@promoboatingskier, I have found my boat, 2006 malibu response LXi. I used to work with Randy S, at tinker, before he retired. I have already been in touch with him. I can not wait to go ski. I will pm you here or via the federation website...

Okay first off, no pics as my phone was broke. New one is in OKC in the mailbox. Boat drives great, wow ton of power... How similiar is star gazer to ZO? This boat has SG and it works,they ran the course and it beeps or something. He explained it to me. I tried to ski but hands were so cold, didn't have gloves forgot them, and it was ricks ski So all things considered, I love the boat! Tried twice to get up, 2nd try he just pulled the rope right of my hands. I was done, BI was like -10.......wet suit worked great but hands were brutal.... will have boat once trailer is done. I am going to give him a depsoit, then when trailer is doneI I will come get it.

Meeting with Rick (2006 RLXI in Katy TX) on Saturday. He is going to take the boat out and run it for me. He even offered to pull me a few times. Holy hell it would be cold, even that close to the gulf. Low 50's and who knows what the water temp is, WOW!!!! What do yall think? Man up and do it? I have no wet suit or dry suit.....

Going to Katy this weekend.....

Bottom line after much discussion here and during private messages, I want a boat that has a slalom wake that is pro quality. Has to be an open bow, and would like to stay around the 25K ish mark or less if possible.

Okay guys was planning on going down to the houston area and trying to take a look at the Malibu that is in Katy for 19900, as the wife has family down in that area. But, I have been all over craigslist and found a very lower hour, 180 hrs,2006 Moomba Outback that looks brand new from the pictures. And it has a trailer....unlike the one in Katy. The moomba has a tower, has the 325 HP motor, and PP star gazer. I can get into it cheaper than either malibu i was looking at. The one in Katy, TX (would have to buy a trailer 2500-3000 depending on options) or the one in Milwaukee, WI. Thoughts? Thanks! Jeff

Well I think it is narrowed down to the 2006 Malibu that @6balls posted the link for. I talked to the owner. He is willing to split shipping. Sounds like he has taken very good care of her and it should provide me years of enjoyment. The value on nada with my zipcode is 26000-29685 which includes the trailer. He says he is at 28000 firm, but will spilt costs. Good deal or no? All I can really go by is book value.

@Ed_Obermeier is it possible for you to post a link or a picture of the DD seating set up your are talking about that has a sun deck on it? I have found this: Link But it does not have a sun deck persay. Sweet boat and wife does like the seating arrangement. Have found some others like this that are quite a bit cheaper.

@oldjeep my knees are fine, snow skied a lot in the early 90's, was stationed at Travis AFB in Cali, spent many a weekend in and around Tahoe. Skied at lake Berryessa (sp?) with a civilian that worked at the base; his buddy had a CC (don't know which model) but it was around 1991-1992. Was a blast. I for sure got hurt more on the snow than the water. Dislocated my shoulder on some moguls when the light was flat, dam mogul came out of nowhere.....Knock on wood, only injury I ever had on the water was Barotrauma (bruised eardrum).

@thager LMAO younger age....I think I am already past that. After what Ed_Obermeier said I will for sure look into what he is saying. I have only skied behind tourney type boats in the late 80's early 90's. The boats I owned were runabouts and the wakes were horrible. I have had some horrific wipe outs due to the wake.... Been very lucky with my knees, have lost 25 lbs since Oct and still losing....45 years old, currently weigh 195, looking to get down to 185.

I'm in Norman, OK. I have been to the OWSF page and plan on joining it and the national association as well. Have to get ready, hot and heavy looking for a boat right now and equipment.

@foxriverat, yes I have been leaning more and more towards a DD, but the wife gets one veto and she says it has to be one "with the engine in the back". So therefore I'm looking for the best alternative. Everyone on this site has been crazy helpful with suggestions and leading me away from a mistake. With that said, my thinking of ski boats, is that the CC's and MC's are the Cobalts of ski boats. I could be wrong, just my opinion. Don't get me wrong if I find a v-drive Malibu with the diamond hull for the right price it will be in my garage