Malibu owner, thoughts on S23?

[RTDeeOC]

Hi all,
New to this forum, so hope I am posting in the right place. We have a Malibu 20 VTX up in the PNW. For a smaller boat it has a respectable wave, but gets kinda cramped when we have friends aboard, and get a lot of spray surfing and get wet frequently with rougher water.

We demoed a new 2023 S23 yesterday and I was really impressed. Little to no spray, engine (ZR4) was quieter and at surf speed faster than our VTX. I had a couple of questions.
-Is 150K a fair price for this leftover? It comes with full factory warranty.
-Is a G23 that much better?
-Any other thoughts about the model are most welcome.

Thanks!

[hal2814]

That’s a pretty good price. It’s well under a 2025 model S23 without a lot of change in the boat and probably about a $50k discount off MSRP for a 2023 model depending on how it’s optioned.

You’ll have to decide if a G23 is that much better. In normal circumstances there’s not a lot of price difference between the S and the G which puts the S in a tough spot. For a little more you can have the G. For a little less you can have the GS which puts out an impressive surf wave, solid wakeboard wake, and can recreationally ski. With a $150k budget I might go new S but there are some used 2021+ G23s starting to slip into the $180k range that I would much rather have if I could swing it. The 2021+ G23 is better at everything, easier to set up in my experience, and has better resale. The only caveat being that the 2021 model in particular needs a ballast upgrade or lead. It was underweighted from the factory for surf. They fixed this in 2022 by adding a supplemental ballast option.

The GS is an amazing crossover. The G Is amazing period. The S just sits in this weird spot where it needs the right buyer. Maybe that’s you. But I’d check out the other options first to make sure.

[Cadesun]

That is a great price! I just got quoted $149k for a left over 2024 S21.

[Ola]

I demoed the S23 a couple of times and tried to negotiate a deal to buy it and ultimately wasn't willing to cross the last few k that was needed for the deal. The MSRP was 250 and the real price was more like 20% off. This was last year. I really liked the boat, obviously. We were told, and only able to demo, boats with the ZZ6 as we wakeboard with full ballast plus the limited supplemental.
I wont comment on the surf wave, but in terms of the wakeboard wake, it is still nearly or as big as the G, but a little more approachable with less peak and more progressive ramp, similar to a big Malibu/Axis wake IMO. The G has the better storage set up with the battery and cooler not under the seats. Other than that, and the shape of the bow, the boats were pretty similar in my experience.
We also demoed the S21, and that boat didn't have the wake needed to make a change.
150 for a left over sounds like a good deal or a really good deal, depending on options, to me.
I did speak to a Nautique rep at my boat show. My dealer went from having 5 or 6 of the S models to none for this calendar year. I don't think they've had the success with the model that they were hoping. To me, they are priced to close to the G. People want to get into Nautiques. But if the well equipped real price was 200k for what is their "lesser" model, I think people decided to either jump to a G or spend similar or, in my case, less money on a different brand. The introduction of the model also came at the end of the peak of covid pricing, that may have impacted the outlook and MSRP. I hope there is a future for the model as obviously the 210/230 was popular. But the feeling I got from the rep is that they aren't seeing the S do what they need for it to be long term.

[Scooter G]

My apologies to S owners, but I think they look like a Porpoise, not that it's a bad thing.
Agree fully with what hal2814 said.
You may want to get some ideas from:
https://www.boattrader.com/boats/typ...ondition-used/

[Ola]

My apologies to S owners, but I think they look like a Porpoise, not that it's a bad thing.
Agree fully with what hal2814 said.
You may want to get some ideas from:
https://www.boattrader.com/boats/typ...ondition-used/

It is a "different" look for sure. I honestly hated it when I first saw it. Then I was told the wake is really good. Then I was invited on a pro ride event on one and was over the look. I mean lets be real, all the big boats these days look like barges compared to sleek pre-G look.

[Green Giant]

We really enjoy our 2023 S21 that we purchased last season as a Demo. Was down to Malibu, Nautique and Mastercraft. My wife really wanted the fold out swim platform, and it is one detail I wish Nautique had available. I felt the Malibu and Nautique threw the best surf waves, Mastercraft was also good. The Nautique I liked as the front end tended to stay a bit lower which is nice as the captain. I found the Malibu to throw a bit longer wave, the Nautique is a bit steeper. We make adjustments on the Nautique to lengthen it a bit, but so far haven't had to add extra ballast. Fit and finish I felt was best on the Nautique and Mastercraft, with the Malibu just a touch behind. That is a good price, we were at the 145 range OTD including tax on a 2023 s21 pretty heavily optioned up with 13 hours on it (Demo).

If it has the Thruster - even better (I would not buy a surf barge without one), or maybe try to negotiate the factory one as an addition. Suspect you would be quite happy with a new S23. These boats are all so darn nice. The freeboards on the Nautiques are a bit taller and help stay dry, but sure I make a mistake here and there and dump into a big wake too early sometimes when trying to get a rider picked up fast and I've put water over it... but that is on me.

Truth is, all of these boats are all darn nice, find one you like, scoring a good deal is the way to go though... they don't change all that much from year to year.

If you asked me two things I wish the Nautique offered.

1. Fold down swim platform.

2. I wish the stock wave was just a shade longer (my brother with a malibu wishes his had a bit more push though... so it's a trade off) both with a little work will get you a heck of a wave. When I am out with my 15 year old daughter and a "light" boat with few passengers - we run 100% port, 60-80% starboard, 100% bow and 6-7 NSS 11.2-11.4 mph. Good length and push, she doesn't mind being a bit closer to the boat. My 13 year old - goofy foot - 50-60% port 90-100% starboard, 100% bow and 11.5-11.6 mph as she likes a bit longer wave.

For a longer wave, if we have 4 with us, often we will put someone up front. IF I added any supplemental ballast at this point, it might be up front when we have a light boat. But that has not been necessary yet.

S23 is a heck of a boat. I don't think they move as many of the S as they would like, and it's a shame. BUT... the deals out there on them are killer and at those prices it's an amazing boat for the money. At MSRP they get a bit close to the G's (and it's probably 85% of the same boat), but with the deals I've seen it's really an amazing boat for the money.

Also, we have had a few smaller problems, and thus far Nautiques warranty has been excellent so far, with a couple things they already approved to take care of after the season.

[Ola]

I agree with the comments above - The Nautique driver's experience was the best. The little dip in the S bow line is not enough to make it prone to taking water over, but that dip, combined with the large windshield and boat behavior meant you have the best view as the driver. Some Bu/Axis were good, but not as good, and some were bad IMO.
The Nautique platform is quite aways off the water, and the ladder does feel like a step below the swing down platform.

[Merk44]

Do any of you have to add lead ballast to these boats? I’m in a 23LSV and idc what Malibu or dealer says, it’s a must to add couple hundred pounds of lead to the bow. Now this is based on 2-4 people and more I have a them sit up front but either way, I feel I shouldn’t have to do this. I’m looking at the G23 and dealer swears up and down I won’t have to add lead but we’ll see what it’s like when we lake test in a week or so.