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Decision time, VLX vs LSV


PStew67

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I need help. 98 VLX at $16K or a 00 Escape LSV 23' at $20K. Same hours, same equipment, and about the same condition. We will use if for pulling 8 year olds on tubes, recreational skiing, recreational wakeboarding, and recreational surfing. I like the idea of having the longer wider boat but I also like the idea of saving $4k. I need to decide today. The 00 Escape is priced closer to Nada value. Thanks for you help...

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I had a 2000 Escape. Two negatives I will point out on the 23'. Low speed handling is poor compared to the VLX. This comes into play while docking or trailering. It takes a lot of weight to make even a modest surf wake.

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ive always had a lsv, I had the 23 lsv and its a great boat. Heck, theyre all great boats go with your gut! I say lsv tho :thumbup:

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both are nice boats. It should come down to which one do you think will meet your needs the best. Do you need the bigger boat? what about power, are they the same engines? I don't think you will be doing much skiing behind the 23ft.

For your stated needs, the Sunsetter would be my choice, unless you failed to mention you needed the extra seating capacity (15 instead of 10).

The Escape 23 is bigger and heavier and just that much more boat to handle on land and in the water. How much experience do you have with tournament style boats?

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First of all, thank you all very much for the replies. This forum is great for getting information.

No, I don't really need the bigger boat. I had a little of the bigger must be better mentality. However, bigger also means; heavier, less handling, won't fit in the garage as easy, towing an extra 500lbs, more fuel consumption, etc...

I thought the V25 Diamond hull was made specifically to get a better slalom wake?

I'm leaning towards the VLX, its supposed to be a good cross-over boat isnt it? Or am I thinking of the Sunsetter LX?

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First of all, thank you all very much for the replies. This forum is great for getting information.

No, I don't really need the bigger boat. I had a little of the bigger must be better mentality. However, bigger also means; heavier, less handling, won't fit in the garage as easy, towing an extra 500lbs, more fuel consumption, etc...

I thought the V25 Diamond hull was made specifically to get a better slalom wake?

I'm leaning towards the VLX, its supposed to be a good cross-over boat isnt it? Or am I thinking of the Sunsetter LX?

of the 2 boats you are considering, i am thinking the Sunsetter VLX will have the better ski wake.

The 2001 Sunsetter VLX was one of Malibu's first good cross-over boats. IMHO

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I need help. 98 VLX at $16K or a 00 Escape LSV 23' at $20K. Same hours, same equipment, and about the same condition. We will use if for pulling 8 year olds on tubes, recreational skiing, recreational wakeboarding, and recreational surfing. I like the idea of having the longer wider boat but I also like the idea of saving $4k. I need to decide today. The 00 Escape is priced closer to Nada value. Thanks for you help...

Hard to go wrong with either. If you have a family that likes to boat, I have learned that you can never have too much storage or seating capacity. Plus, your extra $4K gets you a newer model boat with more room - you'll get most or all of it back at resale time.

Good luck!

-- Mike

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call me crazy, but isn't a 98 sunsetter vlx basically the same boat as the 2000-04 wakesetter vlx and 2005-2008 vride, whereas the escape is basically the same as the 23' sunscape of the same era? 23' on diamond hull vs. 21 on wake, no?

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MalibuNation

of the 2 boats you are considering, i am thinking the Sunsetter VLX will have the better ski wake.

The 2001 Sunsetter VLX was one of Malibu's first good cross-over boats. IMHO

post-371-127082908726_thumb.gif

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but isn't the pre-2001 vlx basically a post-2001 wakesetter vlx? The 2001 sunsetter vlx came on the sv23 diamond hull whereas the pre 01's were on the sv23 wake (same as early 2000s vlx and prior model vride).

Edited by shawndoggy
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It sounds like you want the bigger boat. Sometimes I would like a bigger one too but what I have fills my wants nicely. Will your tow vehicle handle the bigger boat? And what about boating experience? Have you had boats before? The lsv will be more difficult to handle but youll learn how in time. As long as my budget could handle the extra cost I would go for the lsv.

Edited by WakingMeHappy
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