What options would you order on a 2020 25ZX?

[robricketts]

75 percent of the time I would not need a thruster to dock. The other 25 percent when it’s blowing hard and I have to dock or put boat on the lift I’m sure the thruster would be awesome.

That’s for docking.

I think the biggest benefit would be when a rider falls and you use the thruster to assist in quicker turn around. Think of how much time you would save vs traditional cut the gas and turn as the boat slows to begin the turn. I tend to hit reverse to help spin in place and then go back for the rider. From most of the videos I’ve seen a thruster set up significantly speeds up the turn around process.

I’d pay up for it but that just me


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[little_criket]

What is an elite XL trailer? I don’t see that on the order sheet?

[akdoc]

75 percent of the time I would not need a thruster to dock. The other 25 percent when it’s blowing hard and I have to dock or put boat on the lift I’m sure the thruster would be awesome.

That’s for docking.

I think the biggest benefit would be when a rider falls and you use the thruster to assist in quicker turn around. Think of how much time you would save vs traditional cut the gas and turn as the boat slows to begin the turn. I tend to hit reverse to help spin in place and then go back for the rider. From most of the videos I’ve seen a thruster set up significantly speeds up the turn around process.

I’d pay up for it but that just me


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Never thought of using the thruster to pick up a downed rider, wonder how much time it would actually save....

[bsreid]

What is an elite XL trailer? I don’t see that on the order sheet?

Elite shield is the textured paint and the XL is the 10000lb rated trailer with thicker frame and heavier duty axles.

[zich6]

What is an elite XL trailer? I don’t see that on the order sheet?

Here is the trailer description from my order sheet: "** BOATMATE TRAILER - GVWR 10,000 Cap 8,200." I think this is the XL trailer.

[Matt Garcia]

5k for a thruster? Wow. Just get used to feathering the throttle back and forth.

[zich6]

5k for a thruster? Wow. Just get used to feathering the throttle back and forth.

That's what I'll be doing.

[UNSTUCK]

I don’t think a thruster would save me anytime when picking up a downed surfer. When they go down we come to a stop and wait for the wave to pass. At that point we usually turn wide then come back around for the pick up and continue heading in the same direction we were going.
I can’t imagine a surfer going down and doing a quick 180 with a thruster to go back and get them. I’d feel sorry for anyone asleep in the bow.

[Jdoc13]

Awaiting delivery of our 2021 25zx first week of July. I pulled the trigger on some of the new 2021 upgrades I felt would complete the package. No major upgrades, just creature comforts for our style.

For us some upgrades necessary as we need to extend our season living in South Dakota - seat heaters and pull out heaters a must. The 575 was a huge difference when we demo’ed and we have a huge family, running the boat full. Definitely larger engine needed. Clamp racks, again because we have so many people with different boards, a must. Cove cover, my wifes’s one request. Rear platform ladder, as grandma loves the boat and takes a dip in the back with the kids. She needed the ladder to help her get in. We also grabbed a rear seat cushion insert (what you have if you don’t choose the rear facing wake bench option ) to make a full back seat platform. Unconventional but It’s awesome! Underwater lights because at Lake Powell we love night time swimming. Power 10 because I hate hitting my head and two tower speakers really are enough. Rear transom remote because when my kids surf or swimming my wife is at the helm and I’m in back- she’s a terrible judge of music. Trailer runway lights because we’ve been known to forget about time on the lake, and a boat this big, lights showing the way at night pretty nice. Trailer transom steps a must too. We travel long distances so we also got third axel (big debate). having additional brakes and some stability going through the mountain makes me feel warm inside.

what I’m getting at is the upgrades necessary should reflect your style of boating. I’ve got lots of little kids that love jumping and flipping off the back, so we added all the upgrades that would make that aspect comfortable (plus a 2021 addition).

[little_criket]

Wow! That’s nice! I didn’t know about the extra cushion in the back...

[zich6]

Awaiting delivery of our 2021 25zx first week of July. I pulled the trigger on some of the new 2021 upgrades I felt would complete the package. No major upgrades, just creature comforts for our style.

For us some upgrades necessary as we need to extend our season living in South Dakota - seat heaters and pull out heaters a must. The 575 was a huge difference when we demo’ed and we have a huge family, running the boat full. Definitely larger engine needed. Clamp racks, again because we have so many people with different boards, a must. Cove cover, my wifes’s one request. Rear platform ladder, as grandma loves the boat and takes a dip in the back with the kids. She needed the ladder to help her get in. We also grabbed a rear seat cushion insert (what you have if you don’t choose the rear facing wake bench option ) to make a full back seat platform. Unconventional but It’s awesome! Underwater lights because at Lake Powell we love night time swimming. Power 10 because I hate hitting my head and two tower speakers really are enough. Rear transom remote because when my kids surf or swimming my wife is at the helm and I’m in back- she’s a terrible judge of music. Trailer runway lights because we’ve been known to forget about time on the lake, and a boat this big, lights showing the way at night pretty nice. Trailer transom steps a must too. We travel long distances so we also got third axel (big debate). having additional brakes and some stability going through the mountain makes me feel warm inside.

what I’m getting at is the upgrades necessary should reflect your style of boating. I’ve got lots of little kids that love jumping and flipping off the back, so we added all the upgrades that would make that aspect comfortable (plus a 2021 addition).

Very nice boat and analysis. You're exactly right about what others have said, as well, the upgrades should reflect your needs and style. Since I live on a very large lake with a dock and boat lift, 60 miles from Canada, I rarely travel with the boat on the trailer and this situation impacted my choices.

[Bamer]

Down here in Texas, we can use a cooling system sometimes....especially when there’s no breeze. I was sweating buckets sat on the lake....


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[BrentP]

Down here in Texas, we can use a cooling system sometimes....especially when there’s no breeze. I was sweating buckets sat on the lake....


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Ventilated seats! Water-cooled air vents? The options are LIMITLESS!!

Sorry it was like 95 yesterday. Can vouch, was hot. Spent a lot of time floating

(Enter the Nevada crew in 3.. 2... 1...)

Also, awesome write up above on options and why. Was fantastic.


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[Bamer]

Water temp last week was 80 when we splashed and 82 at end of the day. Saturday it was 88 at splash and 90 at end of day.....it’s going be a hot summer

[D&P Powell]

We spent the past weekend on Lake Havasu, and I wanted to follow up with my honest feedback on the stern thruster now that I have had some time to use it/play with it. Let's get the obvious out of the way first. It is an expensive option. No, it's not "needed", but a boat isn't "needed" either! Yes, I have as much experience as almost everyone on here driving boats (and ships for that matter, as a Retired Navy Chief). I know how to moor, and retrieve surfers just fine without a thruster. Ok, now that all of that is out of the way, my review;

• Launched in a marina that's protected, but winds were still strong (20mph). Used it to spin around instead of reversing and doing a 3 point turn. Also used it a little to moor while waiting on my wife to park the trailer. Started loving it right away.
• Went to a cove to set up our site for the day. Used it to spin around after dropping anchor. Appreciated not having to work too hard with rocks on either side of us in a tight cove. Drop anchor, spin in place, reverse a tad, tie up slide anchor to beach. Easy!
• After setting up, took a few newbies out surfing. Now, is it faster when a surfer goes down? I am not so sure. Does it make it easier than waiting for the waves to pass before heading back... absolutely. Surfer wipes out, go to neutral, spin in place, return to surfer, when close, drop to neutral (or less than 5 mph) and spin in place again to go back on same heading we were on before. Now, again, I know some of you will say "I can do the same thing without a thruster". You are right. No argument! But not waiting for the waves to pass is cool, spinning in place when you want to is even cooler. LOL.
• Mooring when we were finished for the day. I have become so comfortable at docking always to the Starboard side, letting the reverse do the push into the dock, that I never even approach to moor from the Port side of the boat. Until NOW! I am still learning how to do it, so this was a little more challenging. The closer I got to the dock, the more I would try to tap the thruster to inch us closer. That's good, but in order to successfully do it, you need a little throttle, or the front end will start to swing AWAY from the dock as the back end starts to creep closer. I think a couple more trys and I will have it down.
• Lastly, trailering. I didnt think I would ever use it trailering, but while getting the boat between the guideposts, I started to swing just a little bit off center... tap the thrusters, tap the throttle, centered and up to the winch.

Disclaimer; Our boat was reportedly used for R&D with this new thruster. We may not have selected it as an option if we were building our own boat. We will not be purchasing a new boat for many years. But if we were to win the lottery (then again, we don't even play it, LOL), I would choose the thruster every day and twice on Sunday over an upgraded stereo, trailer, or other expensive option. I will be the biggest proponent of this option going forward. Again, needed...no...WANT- ABSOLUTELY!