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New boat advice- 2004 sunscape or vlx.


LiquidCourage

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I have a 25 sunscape with the diamond hull now. Need to move to 21'6" due to restrictions on the lake house we just bought. We are looking at both Sunscape with tower, ballast, perfect pass, shower, etc and VLX decked out- 2004's. The only other difference is engine- 300 hp on Sunscape vs 340 Monsoon on VLX. We mostly wakeboard but will be doing more skiing- including slalom. Looking for your takes- what differences are there, and would I even notice? Thanks in advance.

Edited by LiquidCourage
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How much riding do you do with ballast? When we have our tanks full on our 04 vlx, the pull gets interesting with more people in the boat. I think the monsoon is a must when having ballast. I would recommend getting a 537 prop if you get the vlx. The dealer put one on our boat after my parents hit rocks booze cruising. We're biased though as we usually barefoot and slalom and only wakeboard when conditions are bad and theres usually 5+ people in the boat.

The slalom wake on the vlx hull leaves a little to be desired though. It's doable, but you really have to have your form locked in and still take a bump from the curl when crossing. We usually slalom behind DD's

I have no experience with that base engine, but I have skiied and barefooted behind a 2010 20' sunscape with the base 330 LCR engine and that thing pulled me up quicker than our boat can. Test ride both and think about what percentage of each discipline you will be doing and what is of the most priority. I vote for sunscapes hull, but gotta have the monsoon if wakeboarding with ballast and people.

PS: Yes you would notice the difference but not by a crazy amount. VLX can throw a harder and bigger wake when ballast is full compared to suncape, sunscape would have a smaller softer wake when skiing/wakeboarding.

Edited by jaciche
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Most non-diamond hull owners will have you assume that the diamond hull can't make as good of a wakeboard wake. Probably a theory that if it can make a better slalom wake it must not be able to make as good of a wakeboard/surf wake. It will and you will be happy with it. The SV23 diamond on the Sunscape has one of the best V-drive slalom wakes out there. Very versitile hull. You aren't going to make surf/wakeboard wake the V25 hull can make, but it is still respectable for the size of boat. Even if I didn't slalom I would still pick the SV23 diamond over the wake hull, all other things being equal (price, options, condition).

Are you sure of what motor is in the Sunscape? Malibu didn't offer a 300HP motor in 2004 (last year was 2002 with the 300HP Mercrusier). The 2004 brochure doesn't list motor options, but the 2003 only lists the Monsoon, Hammerhead, and LS1 as being motors available in the Sunscape 21 LSV.

  • Like 1
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Average deal.

...but not bad? Similar boats here in TX are going for the upper 20's all day, and a 3 year drop in age is holding around 20k, so I figured I couldn't go wrong on this price point, seeing as I believe I will be trading up in 3-5 years

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...but not bad? Similar boats here in TX are going for the upper 20's all day, and a 3 year drop in age is holding around 20k, so I figured I couldn't go wrong on this price point, seeing as I believe I will be trading up in 3-5 years

You aren't shopping in the right places. When I was looking Texas was cheaper than most areas for boats.

Here is a 23 LSV in Texas for 22k:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2001-Malibu-Wakesetter-23-LSV-101857413

Another 23 LSV in Texas for 28k:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2001-Malibu-Sunscape-23-LSV-101832219

2000 VLX for 23k:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2000-Malibu-Sunsetter-VLX-101839938

1999 VLX for 20k:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1999-Malibu-Sunsetter-VLX-101827869

This is a bad time of year to find listings. Wait until March/April and there will be a LOT more to chose from.

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looking at those listings, the only thing similar is the 2003 vlx, with almost 800hours! The one I'm on has 189 hours. the other listings all need work too. I don't plan on doing much skiing. Mainly wakeboard and surf, so the pylon shouldn't really be an issue. I'm looking at it like this....1st boat, good price point. Keep for 3-4 years, trade out ad up, not lose too much.

Edited by pdrdlg
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You aren't shopping in the right places. When I was looking Texas was cheaper than most areas for boats.

Here is a 23 LSV in Texas for 22k:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2001-Malibu-Wakesetter-23-LSV-101857413

Another 23 LSV in Texas for 28k:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2001-Malibu-Sunscape-23-LSV-101832219

2000 VLX for 23k:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2000-Malibu-Sunsetter-VLX-101839938

1999 VLX for 20k:

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1999-Malibu-Sunsetter-VLX-101827869

This is a bad time of year to find listings. Wait until March/April and there will be a LOT more to chose from.

Wouldn't the market be in an up-swing closer to the boating season?

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Wouldn't the market be in an up-swing closer to the boating season?

Not really. Most listings this time of year are just carry overs from last year. I never found any good deals off season for the year+ of heavy looking then shopping I did.

Put it this way; summer 2011 we bought our '01 Sunsetter VLX for 20k. Basically the equivalent of buying a '03 today. Fairly loaded boat in good shape (Corvette LS1 motor/interior package, heater, docking lights, tower, wedge, etc.), 330hrs at the time. At the time we passed on a very good condition '03 Wakesetter for 23k (wasn't as well optioned with 600hrs) and another '03 Wakesetter for a little under 24k (didn't like the seller through online communication, around 600hrs with new motor, again not as well optioned ).

When I was looking on '10 and '11 I saw XTi's for 22k all the time...I was always disappointed when I saw the price and they didn't list it as an XTi only to click on it to see another direct drive. Shopping takes time; I refused to buy until I found the right deal at the right time. Don't forget you can negotiate as well...seller wanted 25k for our boat.

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