Upgrade or Purchase Different Boat???

[jackfly]

Hey all:
I've owed my 06 24V for 2 seasons. For the second year in a row, I've been debating weather to upgrade this boat, or trade up. My list of things I want to do before the summer starts includes:
Ballast install
Sort out the stereo
new cover

I like the boat, it is in very good condition , (interior shows a little wear) has 3## hours on it and runs great (now that I got the limp mode and speed set issues worked out).
I think I'm gonna be into this list $4-5K depending on what the stereo needs.
I'm just struggling with the question of taking that money and putting it down on something else. I can't see myself spending more than 80K (that's just me, the new Tige's are incredible, but I don't want to spend that much on a boat).

So my question is: what do I gain (other than a payment) by trading up. Most of what I've seen locally I'm getting into something smaller/ or with more hours .
Is the surf wave night/day better ? I'm a big guy (230) and have yet to get a wave out of my boat that I can surf well. That would be my only complaint with it.

Reliability is also important to me, as well as being able to maintain my own boat . (I love the simplicity of an '06 but HATE working on my engine. The 24V is a PITA to do anything).

Should I just spend the cash and do the upgrades, or trade up??
Thanks guys, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

[chpthril]

Trading up to a boat with an integrated surf system will get you a better wave. I do not see a newer boat being easier to work on.

[sandm]

if I had a good condition 24v in the garage I'd likely spend the money on the stereo and ballast depending on interior wear. a new interior is likely 6-8k so that would factor in.

I'm between 215 and 220 so I don't consider 230 big. I have not had any issues with waves from our supra 20ssv to our last 2 boats- a z3 and r23. been on a 24ve several years ago and wake was amazing. takes a lot of weight and a shaper but it was a great wave. your boat can do it if you want to put the ballast and time in.

really boils down to whether or not you want to tie up 75k in cash OR a $5-600 payment on a new boat vs one that is free and clear(assuming from your post it is) for one that would likely be a little shorter, as many hours and more tech to go wrong and whatever you buy could need the same 3-5k for stereo/ballast to get it to YOUR taste.

good luck. no easy decision.

[sandm]

this member hasn't been active on here for a while but search out his posts on the 24ve. surfed it back at the tige reunion in '16 I think and wave was solid...
https://www.tigeowners.com/member/8300-thegerman618

[bsreid]

If it were me and you are happy with the boat itself I would keep it for the season and do the upgrades. Get everything working, ballast, decent stereo, surf wave dialed in, and then if you still want more look at selling it. A used boat in that price range that is ready to go with integrated ballast and wetsounds stereo will be much more appealing to the first time buyer and you will likely get the 5k you put into it.

I have ridden pretty much every new boat out there in various competitions and coaching on and have also spent a bit of time behind a 22ve. When setup properly the wave is not bad at all. Especially when looking at boats in the 80k price range, there are a few that will be better of course but the 24v will compete with lots of them. You could get into a z3 or a fs44 and get a better wave but there are also others for 80k that would be a downgrade.

[N.Penley]

Keep it. I’m new around here but hate the idea of financing a toy. You’d spend more on taxes for a new or gently used boat then your gonna spend on the one you know and enjoy already. Like stated above any boat will need a few upgrades and they get expensive.


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[SurfinSnipes]

No brainer, keep it! After purchasing Dandy's 07 22ve' this summer we have been very impressed with the boat. If we can surf 2-up (roughly 320 lbs) behind a 22ve', that should let you know that the 24v would have no problem producing a great wake. Mike's liquid audio set that boat up years ago with switched ballast pumps, bags, and the stereo setup. You'll have to load it down with ballast, list it, and buy a wake shaper if you haven't already. Looking at the work Chpthril did, I'd say he's the probably the best resource to get your 24v dialed in the way you want!

[D&P Powell]

There are too many unknown variables here for me to give a recommendation. I hear all the comments above, and don't disagree, but when it comes to keeping an '06 or trading up, the decision isn't as easy as some may have made it sound (again, my opinion). You have mentioned not wanting to spend more than 80k on a new boat... I get it. However, I truly believe if you are willing to wait 18-24 months, you will see many good deals on used boats where people will be trying to dump them post-covid. It's been discussed here (and everywhere else these days) many times. Kids will be back in sports/dance/etc. Concerts, plays, and pro-sports will start to draw crowds, and all of these people who impulse purchased over the last year will realize boating isn't as important to them as they thought. I have seen what a 24ve can do with tons of weight and GSA tabs... GREAT surf wave. Not average, not good, but GREAT in my opinion. With that said, it took a long time and a lot of money for him to get it there. You can invest in a used 16-19 z23/r23 and have a comparable wave (with added weight of course). Again in my opinion, at the end of the day, the decision isn't as clear as some might suggest. Good luck with whichever direction you choose.

[jackfly]

There are too many unknown variables here for me to give a recommendation. I hear all the comments above, and don't disagree, but when it comes to keeping an '06 or trading up, the decision isn't as easy as some may have made it sound (again, my opinion). You have mentioned not wanting to spend more than 80k on a new boat... I get it. However, I truly believe if you are willing to wait 18-24 months, you will see many good deals on used boats where people will be trying to dump them post-covid. It's been discussed here (and everywhere else these days) many times. Kids will be back in sports/dance/etc. Concerts, plays, and pro-sports will start to draw crowds, and all of these people who impulse purchased over the last year will realize boating isn't as important to them as they thought. I have seen what a 24ve can do with tons of weight and GSA tabs... GREAT surf wave. Not average, not good, but GREAT in my opinion. With that said, it took a long time and a lot of money for him to get it there. You can invest in a used 16-19 z23/r23 and have a comparable wave (with added weight of course). Again in my opinion, at the end of the day, the decision isn't as clear as some might suggest. Good luck with whichever direction you choose.

Hmm. I hadn’t really considered that the “market “ might be better next year ( or in a couple of years). I talked to a dealer today who has 13 brand new boats on his lot and claimed he’d be sold out by April, and another dealer told me he doesn’t have a build spot until June. You’re probably right about the market softening. I’d just settle for a few less people at the local ramps this summer.


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[Wakeman22]

The market last year has been very hot. It still is to some extent. I had the same decision to make a few times recently but decided to keep my 24ve, It makes a fantastic wave. I did all the upgrades a year after I bought it. Winter project. Expensive but I also own it free and clear. I have put 1200 hours on it and it still runs great and I feel very easy to work on. Talk with Mike he will help you out very well. He is a master at ballast and stereo upgrades and will give you all the assistance you may need.

As far as the market goes there may be a number of boats available in a year or two at a good price however yours then will be devalued. The used boat market is very hot. I am not sure about Tige but all Nautiques here in Utah have been sold. No new one available this year. All orders have been and available have been sold and those are being built for 21. Even the 22 year models are selling in advance.

My 2 cents is keep it and do the upgrades unless you are ready for that payment and taxes. You can currently get good money for your used boat, Many people sold theirs in less than a week. There are some good used buys out there to be had but the market has very few compared to 2 years ago.

[jackfly]

Thanks all for your input. I think I’m leaning more and more towards keeping it. I’m at least going to install the ballast and see if I can get a good wave. If I can get it to surf well for me, there is a lot to like about my boat.


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[boonecragun]

Keep it, sack it out and ride for a few more seasons. Then take a look at the market.
Take a look at Duffy's 24v build if you haven't already. He shows what kind of wave a 24V can throw.
https://www.tigeowners.com/forum/general-tigé-topics/ballast-discussion/15172-duffy-s-2005-24v-wakesurfing-mod-thread

[Wagonhound]

New boats are definitely nice, but when I consider how long it would take me to advance my surfing skills when we only get about 60-70 hrs a season, even the best wake is not going to progress my ability. I've seen really good amateurs do more surfs tricks than I could dream of, behind older boats than mine. Two of my friends both purchased new AXIS 22s @$80K last season, but honestly the wake is only different, not better. I have an 08 RZ2 and the storage is heads and tails above the AXIS and the fuel consumption is far less based on what they are telling me. I spent a lot of time experimenting on my set up and feel it's very dialed in for what I like to do. It's paid for free and clear, so I'm automating the ballast this spring just to add the convenience of a new boat. At less than 600hrs, I can easily see it lasting me at least another 10 years. Boats just don't lose their function like cars and trucks in the matter of a short period of time, they are kind of like airplanes in a sense.

[SONIC]

The 24V is a great boat and of that era IMO it has the best surf wake of any of it's contemporaries.
PM chpthril and he can hook you up with what you need for ballast (and stereo too) for better prices than anyone else I've seen.


IMO 2 enzo style bags filling the entire rear lockers, 2 ballast king or tallulah pumps, a front V bag under the seats and a smaller pump (the big boys aren't needed, you just need to get it full in the same timeframe as the rears).
That will probably run you about 3k if you can do the install yourself and will give you a wave that's very solid.

The biggest gain with a new(er) boat really is space and luxury.
I went from a 23V that I completely rebuilt to a '20 Supra SA.
Obviously much nicer on the inside, the wave is better (but not that much better relative to the pricetag once my 23v was setup well with GSA style tabs), and all the ballast is subfloor which is the biggest advantage IMO. With the 23V (or your 24V) there's just no storage if you're going to really weigh it down to throw the best wave. My 23V had the entire rear lockers full along with under the seats, the entire bow storage full, and lead stashed in several other spots. The only storage left was under the helm and the observer compartment. Fine for a few people but once you get 4+ it gets tight fast.
The SA (and several other newer boats including some Tige and ATX) is all subfloor, so even with ballast at 100% you still have 100% of your storage space.

IMO if you upgrade it needs to be because you want a nicer boat and more storage. If you're upgrading only to get a better wave you'll be disappointed.