Which Options to Order?

[Evening Shade]

Hey guys, I'm hoping to order a new boat in the next 6 months and have started researching. Probably gonna be a GS20. I wanted to get some opinions on a few options. My biggest question is about the boat cover. I don't know if I should get a tower up or tower down cover. I've never had a tower down cover and wanted to get opinions on one vs. the other.

As far as options, I'm pretty sure I know what I want and don't want, but I wanted to get peoples opinions on options that they didn't get, but wished they did in hind sight. Conversely, I want to hear about options that people wished they hadn't spent money on in retrospect.

TIA

[charlesml3]

I just went through this so it would help if you filled us in on what options you're after.

When I ordered my 230, I'd initially picked the larger 6.2L? engine and my dealer did not encourage it. It added about $8000 to the boat and he said nobody wants them. It burns more gas and adds very little value.

Anyway, post the list you've picked.

The cover choice comes down to how you're storing the boat. Is it going to sit outside totally? In a lift? Garage?

-Charles

[Evening Shade]

I just went through this so it would help if you filled us in on what options you're after.

When I ordered my 230, I'd initially picked the larger 6.2L? engine and my dealer did not encourage it. It added about $8000 to the boat and he said nobody wants them. It burns more gas and adds very little value.

Anyway, post the list you've picked.

The cover choice comes down to how you're storing the boat. Is it going to sit outside totally? In a lift? Garage?

-Charles

I haven't set down with the dealer and checked off all the options I want yet. I really just went through the options listed on the Nautique website. If I decide to go with the GS20, I'm going with the base engine, the ZR4.

The boat will be stored indoors or on a covered lift. The roof over the lift will probably require that the tower be folded for clearance.

I plan on going with the minimal stereo system and no tower speakers. I will probably take the boat to MLA to have the stereo work completed.

Other options off the top of my head that I want include:

Phender Pro
Factory Bimini with surf pockets
Board racks
On board battery charger
2 Batteries
Retractable ski pylon
Underwater Lights
LED lighted cup holders

Options that I don't think I want:

Heater
heated seats
engine upgrade


I will add to these lists when I can think of more options.

[markj]

People (especially women) absolutely love the heater on my boat. I wish I had heated seats as well. Those are options that you may not care about, but others do. If you rely on anyone to drive for you or is needed as a third that gets cold easily, it might be worth it. Just a thought.

[DLafont]

Heater is a must. Early morning/evening rides, you'll appreciate it. Great for kids to warm up after they ride (don't know if that's part of your reality or not). I know I use mine a lot! Great season extender!

[Evening Shade]

I had a heater on my Malibu and rarely used it. I agree that kids and women used it some, but not much. I can't really get my crew to want to go to the lake much until it gets warm and we have a long warm season in Georgia. We need AC and cooled seats (vinyl gets so hot it will burn you). My current boat doesn't have a heater and I haven't missed having it at all. Plus its one more thing to have to winterize. I will be interested to see if PN members from Texas and other southern states feel as strongly about the heater as the guys up north. If they do, I will order it for resale value.

[charlesml3]

So some things to keep in mind:

- At least on my 230, the cover does NOT cover the platform. Either version. If you want the platform covered, it's a separate cover from Correct Craft.

- If you're big on surfing, I'd sure go with the Surf Select system.

- The walk-through air dam is nice too and it's not a lot of money. Handy in the spring/fall.

- Are you really hot on that on-board battery charger? I just keep a regular battery charger in my boathouse.

Charles

[NautiqueJeff]

When I ordered my 230, I'd initially picked the larger 6.2L? engine and my dealer did not encourage it. It added about $8000 to the boat and he said nobody wants them. It burns more gas and adds very little value.

In a GS20, I would say that the base engine (ZR4) has plenty of power.

That being said, I am almost certain that the H6 (6.2L DI) would use considerably less gas than the ZR4. Being a DI engine, they are much more efficient than the older 6L ZR4. I know in my G23, going from the 6.0L 450 in 2015 to the 6.2L H6 DI in 2016, I used about 20% less gas over the year. I disagree with your dealer on the statement that the H6DI burns more gas.

[GemCitySurf]

If you want to enjoy that beautiful GS20 next summer, I would bump up your order time. I think they are out into April/May range now for that model.

I would stick with the base engine model. As far as the other accessories go, in my personal opinion, if you're spending a lot on a boat...get every single option you think you will want and/or will help with resale value. I just ordered a new 230 and loaded it up (with a couple of obvious exceptions). It's EXACTLY what I want and won't regret a single decision. Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[Evening Shade]

In a GS20, I would say that the base engine (ZR4) has plenty of power.

That being said, I am almost certain that the H6 (6.2L DI) would use considerably less gas than the ZR4. Being a DI engine, they are much more efficient than the older 6L ZR4. I know in my G23, going from the 6.0L 450 in 2015 to the 6.2L H6 DI in 2016, I used about 20% less gas over the year. I disagree with your dealer on the statement that the H6DI burns more gas.

This is a bit of a compelling argument for the H6 having better fuel economy. 20% less fuel consumption seems hard to believe, but I will take your word for it. Not that fuel costs are a huge issue to me, but having to fill the gas tank up less often does sound very appealing especially since the GS20 only has a 39 gal tank. It would be hard for me pay more for the H5, which has less hp, than he ZR4. So to me the engine decision is between the ZR4 and H6. I'm sure that price will make the decision easy!

[Evening Shade]

So some things to keep in mind:

- At least on my 230, the cover does NOT cover the platform. Either version. If you want the platform covered, it's a separate cover from Correct Craft.

- If you're big on surfing, I'd sure go with the Surf Select system.

- The walk-through air dam is nice too and it's not a lot of money. Handy in the spring/fall.

- Are you really hot on that on-board battery charger? I just keep a regular battery charger in my boathouse.

Charles

I'm pretty sure NSS come standard on the GS20.

I failed to mention that I would get a platform cover. Probably don't need the on-board battery charger, but figured that I wouldn't regret having it. The same is probably true for the air dam.

[NautiqueJeff]

This is a bit of a compelling argument for the H6 having better fuel economy. 20% less fuel consumption seems hard to believe, but I will take your word for it. Not that fuel costs are a huge issue to me, but having to fill the gas tank up less often does sound very appealing especially since the GS20 only has a 39 gal tank. It would be hard for me pay more for the H5, which has less hp, than he ZR4. So to me the engine decision is between the ZR4 and H6. I'm sure that price will make the decision easy!

I agree. I would avoid the H5. One of the local wakeboard shops here at Lake Norman had an H5-powered G23 this year, and it was underpowered for sure. In fact, Nautique doesn't even offer the H5 in the G23 anymore. I would think it would probably be underpowered for the GS20 as well, although I haven't driven one with the H5 yet.

PCM and Nautique said to expect something like a 28% decrease in fuel usage between the 6.0L 450 and the 6.2L H6DI. I didn't see quite that much difference, but my numbers over 120 hours of use this past year with the H6DI were certainly noticeably better than last year. For my use, I saw about 20% savings. My boat sees about 50% wakeboarding at full factory ballast, 20% wakeboarding at half ballast or less, 20% surfing at full ballast, and 10% cruising with no ballast.

[Evening Shade]

I agree. I would avoid the H5. One of the local wakeboard shops here at Lake Norman had an H5-powered G23 this year, and it was underpowered for sure. In fact, Nautique doesn't even offer the H5 in the G23 anymore. I would think it would probably be underpowered for the GS20 as well, although I haven't driven one with the H5 yet.

PCM and Nautique said to expect something like a 28% decrease in fuel usage between the 6.0L 450 and the 6.2L H6DI. I didn't see quite that much difference, but my numbers over 120 hours of use this past year with the H6DI were certainly noticeably better than last year. For my use, I saw about 20% savings. My boat sees about 50% wakeboarding at full factory ballast, 20% wakeboarding at half ballast or less, 20% surfing at full ballast, and 10% cruising with no ballast.

The ZR450 in my 210 does seem to use a lot of fuel, but I've never actually calculated consumption.

[markj]

450 in a 210??? WOW! I bet that thing screams.

[mcosub]

I keep my options to a minimum as I find it is hard to get that money back when you sell it. It may give your boat the nod over someone else's boat if the price is the same.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk