I'm looking at buying a used wakeboard boat in the 20-40k range. What's the best boat for the money? Best way to find a used boat? Brands to avoid?

I'm no help on brands, but if the boat market is anything like the RV, kayak, outdoor rec equipment market...there isn't sh*t to be had used, and every manufacturer is way out on new orders. Folks are scooping up anything and everything that can be used for outdoor play. Same was seen in western draw odds. Huge increases in demand.

Even outdoor work stuff is swamped. I called Texas Pride today to inquire and they are 3-5 weeks out on dump trailers. Crazy times.

I bought mine from a posting on https://www.onlyinboards.com/. I found that the owners there took better care of their boats than Craigslist. You can set an alert so that you get an email whenever a boat that meets your desired search parameters is available for sale.

Just like Chevy, Ford, dodge, Toyota, etc, it's all presence and budget. Mastercraft and Nautiques are more on the higher end.

If you can wait until the fall/winter you may find a better deal. I'd just call around the boat dealers all over Texas and tell them what you're looking for. They always have trade in's.

https://www.westtexaswatersports.com/Pre-owned-Inventory-2006-Tige-Boat-22VE-9239707?ref=list

It is a sellers market right now due to COVID/folks having limited vacation options. I'd say a Malibu 23 LSV is one of the best overall boats at a great size. The year will just depend on what you are willing to spend. These boats are great for surfing as well as wakeboarding. I own a Tige and It has been a good boat but I would go with the 23 LSV if I were in your shoes.

Nautique 210 2004-2008
Mastercraft X2 - 2006-2008
Malibu LSV - 2007-2008


If you want better waves and better driving boat then go for Nautique or MC. If you want room and smooth ride get an LSV.

IMO Used will give you the "value".

Season is almost over and the "buyers" will become "sellers".

I believe a "buyers" market is coming for many items.

Great info Ags! Thanks. I think I like this one.

MasterCraft or Nautique were the only brands I considered and in that order.

Also check out MC Team Talk. I bought my MC Prostar 209 from here.

https://teamtalk.mastercraft.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

Edit: the solid teak swim platform is my Favorite spot on the boat. It was a major criteria in my search

Apache

I have a good friend of mine that is opening a dealership for Tige in New Braunfels. Beforehand, he was a broker. So, he has connections all over. We sold our boat in May to upgrade, but he's advised me to wait until the Fall just because the market is so bad for a buyer right now. Now, he said if I didn't mind paying the 7-15k premium he'd help no problem, but.... If you want his contact info shoot me an email, austinrb1atyahoo

Ragoo said:

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MasterCraft or Nautique were the only brands I considered and in that order.

Also check out MC Team Talk. I bought my MC Prostar 209 from here.

https://teamtalk.mastercraft.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

Edit: the solid teak swim platform is my Favorite spot on the boat. It was a major criteria in my search

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I would add Malibu to that list too. And agree on the teak platform. It's a great spot to be.

The mid 2000s Nautique 210 is a great boat, but I'd steer away from it as a family boat. Kids will get their world rocked, that wake is steep and hard. Same issues tubing or slaloming behind it. My orthopedic surgeon sent his kids to college a few times thanks to my riding behind the 210s.

The 21 and 23 foot Malibu's are great (VLX, LSV, or XTI). Before the mid teens or so, the wake also could be buttery soft for non wakeboarding activities.

The x2 was the original x-star. Great boat, can make the wake do whatever you need it to.

Tiges do many things great.

Did you look on https://www.boattrader.com/ ?
We put our on their site and sold it within 5 days......In JULY!

One thing to consider - where do you plan to have your boat serviced? I'd try to buy from them.

There is ALWAYS maintenance, and having a good relationship with the dealer/shop can go a long way.

Also, call this guy - we've bought and sold several with him.

https://m.facebook.com/andrewsmarinemaintenanceandrepair/

Supra made a good boat as well in that 2000 year era. 23' Gravity Games was a nice boat.

Tige and Moomba were the more budget friendly boats.

In that price range I agree with others. Mastercraft and Nautique are the clear leaders. Those old boats are still the ones on the lake doing just fine today. We have a 2003 Super Air which is a great boat at around $30K today.

New these boats are 100-150K which has really helped keep the older boat prices up.

Planetnautique is a great correct craft resource. There is a ton of DIY there for the SAN boats which is very nice.

mosdefn14 said:

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The mid 2000s Nautique 210 is a great boat, but I'd steer away from it as a family boat. Kids will get their world rocked, that wake is steep and hard. Same issues tubing or slaloming behind it. My orthopedic surgeon sent his kids to college a few times thanks to my riding behind the 210s.

The 21 and 23 foot Malibu's are great (VLX, LSV, or XTI). Before the mid teens or so, the wake also could be buttery soft for non wakeboarding activities.

The x2 was the original x-star. Great boat, can make the wake do whatever you need it to.

Tiges do many things great.

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Good info! I just went wakeboarding with family in wa state on a Nautique and a sea ray. Forgot how much fun it was to jump wakes. Tried wake surfing too. It hurts less

Need a boat that can do many things.

Attababy! Assuming you live in Texas, check out Texas Ski Ranch, BSR, or Hydrous wake park. Cable is a great way to advance your skill set on a board without the boat commitment.

Nice. I pretty much only surf now. Wakeboarding is so much harder now that I am older but it is fun to blast across the wake. These old boats are ok surf boats. You won't get super high rolling wakes like the newer boats as they are built for it. You can add in a lot of extra weight and get a really good surf wake but you have zero interior room. The cost is the main thing. New wake boats are stupid expensive.

You can get a used X30 that will surf well for 30-35K.

CaptnCarl said:

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Attababy! Assuming you live in Texas, check out Texas Ski Ranch, BSR, or Hydrous wake park. Cable is a great way to advance your skill set on a board without the boat commitment.

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Well my gf loved all my families boats on this vacation to Wa State. A week on the lake has her wanting a boat...wanting me to have a boat. And honestly I just miss wakeboarding.

I forgot how cold the water is in Wa State!! God Bless Texas.

If you're in WA, might be a better buy than down here.

For a job in high school, I used to detail and make ready boats at a ski/wake boat dealership. Quite a good bit of money could be made buying 1-2 year old boats at auction in the off season in colder climates (Denver, Wichita, etc) and pulling them back to DFW to sell at a nearly new price.

mosdefn14 said:

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If you're in WA, might be a better buy than down here.

For a job in high school, I used to detail and make ready boats at a ski/wake boat dealership. Quite a good bit of money could be made buying 1-2 year old boats at auction in the off season in colder climates (Denver, Wichita, etc) and pulling them back to DFW to sell at a nearly new price.

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hmmm I didn't even think about that option. That's a long drive back to Texas though