Looking to buy wake/surf Malibu or Axis

[kano]

Hello & thanks for reading. I'm looking at buying a boat for wakeboarding and surfing. We have a Sunsetter LXi that my brothers want to keep rather than buy a new crossover so I'll buy a wake specific boat on my own and slalom behind the LXi that we keep. 

I'm considering a VLX, MXZ 22, Axis A22 or T22 all 2013 onwards with surf gate.

I have however come across a cheaper option which I have some questions about. It's a late 2007 Malibu VLX with the LCR 320hp engine & V25 wake hull. It has power wedge, illusion tower, stereo & tower speakers, 3 x ballast tanks (no bow ballast), heater, fibreglass swim platform, is 1 owner, low hours and clean.

I have some questions I'm hoping you guys can help me with. How does the wake compare with this and the later Mals and Axis?

Is the 320 engine enough to surf and wakeboard when heavily loaded? 

Is the lack of bow ballast a problem?

Initially I'd list the boat to surf then hope to eventually use a Mission Delta or Wave Control surf system. Not sure if any of those ship to Australia. 

I've been lurking here for a while, love the forum there's lots of fantastic stuff here. 

Thanks in advance.

Kano

[itznowonder]

I think all of the heavily weighted boat owners will tell you the 320 will not cut it.

[boardjnky4]

11 minutes ago, itznowonder said:

I think all of the heavily weighted boat owners will tell you the 320 will not cut it.

On the flipside, I have an A20 with a 330 and it does just fine.

[geogilbert]

I can tall you I love my 22 VLX (2015).  The surf wake is massive, the wake board wake is pro level. I cant say enough good stuff about it. I have the 350 in it and it does fine with all stock plus 850lbs in each locker and 1100lbs on the bow. So it is weighted about as heavy as possible. Cant say enough good stuff about it. 

[carguy79ta]

I have a 15A22 that we primarily surf with.  all hard full.  750s(flyhigh) in rear burped full(I hear 800 burped full).  950 horseshoe in bow.  with 4 people wave is awesome don't need the wedge for me 205 lbs. with just me and the wife we add a 540 sack in bow center walkway.  awesome.  10.8 mph. I surf on hyperlite idlewood and Byerly 4'8" volt. with the wife only and ballast ed as stated I need the wedge to surf the Byerly Buzz.