I have been starting to research a family boat that I can enjoy wakeboarding behind, mainly because I want to seat around 10 people, with a tower, and find a boat under 25k. The wakeboard boats I have looked at under this range are generally quite a bit older and are direct drives (which I learned to wakeboard behind a slalom boat and the wake was frustratingly small, without fat sacks).
I have been looking at two boats, a 2004 220 SSI Chaparral (but it doesn't come with toys) and a 214 Four Winns Funship (that comes with all the toys). I have read some of the other forums where boat manufacturers are ranked and it appears that Chaparral always ranks higher than Four Winns. This is my first boat and I am not sure how much that should way in my decision (group up with a SeaRay and Dad had a 34 Four Winns that he loved).
One more piece of information, I am in no way delusional about my abilities to wakeboard. I really enjoy it, and if I can do a flip trick in my lifetime, that would be awesome. I am no way an advanced/expert, so I don't need the extreme wake/cost, but I do want a wake with enough pop that if I try to do flip tricks on, I won't get decapitated by the water below me.
So a few questions around this:
1) How does the dual prop on this effect the size/shape of the wake?
2) Is the Four Winns a good enough first/family boat, or should I go after the Chaparral even without any toys (that I would have to buy). I keep hearing friends compare Four Winns to a Ford and Chaparral to a higher quality, but I have a Ford truck that is inexpensive and has done the job without issue for 13 yrs.
3) And when buying a used boat (Chaparral is harder because it is 1.5 hrs away), is it best to ask about having the boat evaluated by a shop? What is the best/proper used boat etiquette to verify the quality of the boat?
Thanks for the help...jay
I have been looking at two boats, a 2004 220 SSI Chaparral (but it doesn't come with toys) and a 214 Four Winns Funship (that comes with all the toys). I have read some of the other forums where boat manufacturers are ranked and it appears that Chaparral always ranks higher than Four Winns. This is my first boat and I am not sure how much that should way in my decision (group up with a SeaRay and Dad had a 34 Four Winns that he loved).
One more piece of information, I am in no way delusional about my abilities to wakeboard. I really enjoy it, and if I can do a flip trick in my lifetime, that would be awesome. I am no way an advanced/expert, so I don't need the extreme wake/cost, but I do want a wake with enough pop that if I try to do flip tricks on, I won't get decapitated by the water below me.
So a few questions around this:
1) How does the dual prop on this effect the size/shape of the wake?
2) Is the Four Winns a good enough first/family boat, or should I go after the Chaparral even without any toys (that I would have to buy). I keep hearing friends compare Four Winns to a Ford and Chaparral to a higher quality, but I have a Ford truck that is inexpensive and has done the job without issue for 13 yrs.
3) And when buying a used boat (Chaparral is harder because it is 1.5 hrs away), is it best to ask about having the boat evaluated by a shop? What is the best/proper used boat etiquette to verify the quality of the boat?
Thanks for the help...jay