Looking to buy new 2014 San 230 help

[flounder]

Please help. I have narrowed it down to the 230 or Malibu 23 lsv. I like the look and feel of the 230. My biggest concern is taking my kids wake boarding. I have read the reviews about the 230 wake. What are your thoughts especially at slower speeds 18 mph. I will demo the boat again tomorrow. Any suggestions on set up would be good. I took it out once before but the rep did not have extra ballast plus it was very busy. I feel good about the surf wake but please feel free to provide feedback. This will be a family boat where parents surf and kids wakeboard

I have concerns about the reliability of the Malibu especially the power wedge. Is the hull really that much different in 2014 vs. 2013 on the San 230.

[BTV]

I'm new here and can't speak to the 230 wake, but I did just come out of a 23LSV. The difference in quality between Nautique and Malibu is unbelievable. The Nautique is so much more solid and the fit/finish is night and day. Also I think NSS is way better than SG. Good luck. Go Nautique!

[Dandy21]

If you like carpet, get the Malibu . I saw a post somewhere that I thought was funny, it was something like "Malibu is stuck on carpet like Texans are to big belt buckles" That might not have been it, but close. I agree with BTV, the quality of the build of the Nautique is much better, it just seems like the Malibu quality has really declined in the past 5 years. They still use carpet sided screw/bolt in seat bases vs. molding the seatbases into the top deck which provides ALOT of structural support to the hull. That aside, I cannot comment on the wakeboard wake of the 230 as I have no experiance. Good luck

[nyryan2001]

Basically some folks over on the Malibu forum told OP the 2014 230 hull is about the worst hull in the industry, go figure. Saying you gotta go 23-24mph to get a clean wake. I haven't been on one so I don't know.

if anyone has a '14 230 and can snap some pics of the wake at 18-20mph and post them up it'd be much appreciated.

[ddipert]

I have a 2010 230. You do have to work a little to get a clean wake at 18. My wife and I were working on some tricks this weekend and slowed the boat down. We could make one side or the other clean but not both, really we didn't care we were only working one side of the wake this weekend. I think with a little more weight then we had we could have made it clean at 18 on both sides. My wife is new to wake boarding and prefers to be pulled at 20-21, I'm a little more advanced and pull between 21-23 wake might have a little wash at the top but the wake is not soft. don't just go for a ride, demo the boat as you would use it, wake boarding, surfing or whatever.


with a little weighting you can get a clean wake around 18-20. It's very easy to get a clean wake on one side other the other at slower speeds. The wake might have a little wash on it but is still firm and pop's nicely around 20-21. My wife is new to wake boarding and like to be pulled around 20-21 but it also will depend on how far back you want to be. I can make a clean wake and pull the rope in at 18-19

[Miljack]

to the OP, the guy on the MCrew who responded the most on that thread is an ABSOLUTE owner's goggles kind of guy, and he has a HARD-*n for a clean wake @ low speeds. Not saying that's wrong if you've got a bunch of younger kids riding with you, that is a real concern. He also tends to speed up the "clean wake" mph for a 230 based on what another "goggles guy" is posting on WW and Mcrew based on his now love for the Malibu family.

I guess my point is here; demo, demo, demo the models you're considering and make you best choice based on your mission profile.

BTW if you are thinking you'll miss the old Malibu dealer, don't worry, MUCH better dealers around than them...

I have an '08 230 and regularly ride @ 20-23 mph from empty to stock and little fly high added. Once you start adding weight over stock on the 230's you'll need to ride a little faster, but honestly, most people won't need over stock ballast on the 230's...

Surf wake is good on the 230's and with the NSS you'll have a blast with it.

Good luck with your decision, and from what I've heard, even though the new Bu dealer is south of you, their rep is WAY better than the current situation...

[Josh L.]

We have a 2012 230 and have kids wake boarding as slow as 16 with a clean wake, just empty the ballast, put the hydrogate on ramp and if needed put a 400 pound sack in the bow. I don't have any pictures of it, you may need to play around with it a bit, but a clean wake at slow speeds is definitely there.

[Dukeboiler]

Think that's the key to a clean wake at slower speeds on g as well - more bow weight? Could I just partially fill bow ballast so as not to mess with extra sacks? Will try this weekend.

[axeman]

Nautiques have traditionally benefited from more bow weight. I wish I would have taken a pic of my 230 with 4k+ ballast this past weekend. It was monstrous.

[Neverenough]

Hey Axe whats the surf set up on your 14 and do you have any pics? Phil sold the 220 and we are looking at a 230.

[shag]

If I could afford it, I would be buying at 2014 230 in a heartbeat

[axeman]

Check out the Broken Bow video in the Off Topic section. My ballast setup is usually stock pro ballast with the rear piggyback sacks swapped out for 550 lb sacks. In that vid we had a 700 lb? (Can't remember now) sack running in the walkway and about 10 people in the boat. I also have 4 total batteries mid ship split 2 port / 2 starboard for even distribution.


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[SNP]

I posted this in another thread also.
I'm actually demoing a 14 230 tomorrow here in Melbourne. Would love to know your thoughts on your boat. Is it true the wake at slow speeds is messy and no good? I've got 11 and 13 year olds and they aren't waking very fast.
Also, how is the surf wave?Do you need to upgrade the ballast system or just run with the wake package
Any help you can give me is awesome
Scotty